Theology of sin (in Greek refers to as ἁμαρτία) has always divided opinions among the church fathers. It has been rejected or tolerated by most of them, but has been accepted by a few. Theologians explain sin as a failure of will or purpose, therefore it is impossible to understand the concept of the will of the sinner. It also defines sin as being an act of detraction from God, therefore it cannot be denied that some sins have a negative result on the person while others do not have any effect on the sinner. Many believe that salvation is by grace and through faith in Jesus Christ alone, while others hold that salvation is by grace alone, without any participation of the will of the sinner. The former view finds favor with the absolutes of the Holy Bible, while the latter view, though not clearly stating the absolutes, at least admits the idea of grace and the necessity of faith.
Theology of sin, when understood theoretically, tries to show that sin is nothing other than the departure from the order of the created good and evil, which was instituted by God. According to the theology of sin, there is no difference between what is good and evil. Also according to the theology of sin, there is no difference between the will of the sinner and the will of the omnipotent God, because the will of the sinner is always defective, and so the act of the sinner is considered just like the act of the omnipotent God. In this way, the will of the sinner is considered as a detraction from God, which he does by disobedience.
Theologies of sin explain that the grace of God alone imparts to man the sanctifying grace needed for him to stand in the place of righteousness. Man must not allow himself to become guilty by falling into the place of unworthiness. Man must keep in mind that he is not standing alone before the Lord, but with the help of the Holy Spirit he can walk safely. Man must understand that the Holy Spirit will take him through the cleansing process, whereby he will be sanctified. It is in this way that we can say that theologies of sin are helpful in the sense that they help one to bear in mind the distinctions between the natural and the personal sin.
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