Sin

Definition and Meaning

In Christianity, sin refers to acts that transgress God's will and law, as well as to the state of having departed from a right relationship with God. The Old Testament Hebrew term chata and the New Testament Greek term hamartia are commonly explained as meaning "to miss the mark."

Theology distinguishes two categories of sin:

• Original sin: the root sin that all humanity is held to have inherited through the fall of Adam
• Actual sin: the sins that each person personally commits

Protestantism regards the consequences of sin as separation from God and death. It teaches that people are brought to salvation through the atonement of Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for sin in their place.

Biblical and Historical Background

Passages commonly cited in support of the doctrine of original sin include the account of the fall in Genesis 3, Psalm 51:5, and Romans 5:12.

In the early fifth century, Augustine argued that because of original sin, human beings had lost the ability to choose the good on their own. In opposition, Pelagius held that human nature had not been corrupted, and the Western church subsequently rejected Pelagianism.

During the Reformation, the Reformed tradition took up Augustine's position and emphasized humanity's "total depravity," meaning that the whole of human nature has been corrupted by sin. The Westminster Confession of Faith likewise devotes a separate chapter to the fall and original sin.

Arminianism and Wesleyan theology also affirm original sin. They hold, however, that people are able to respond to the gospel because of "prevenient grace," the grace God extends beforehand to all people.

Practice in Korean Churches

• Presbyterian churches generally follow the Calvinist tradition in emphasizing original sin and total depravity. They teach that salvation is accomplished entirely by God's grace.
• Methodist and Holiness churches emphasize not only the forgiveness of sin but also sanctification, the process of being freed from sin and made holy. The Holiness Church places "holiness," that is, entire sanctification, at the center of its doctrine.
• Baptist churches administer baptism only to those who have personally recognized their sin and professed faith. The question of how original sin relates to young children is also bound up with the infant baptism debate.
• Across denominational lines, Korean churches tend to place strong emphasis on repentance. A well-known example is the public confession of sins by church members during the Great Pyongyang Revival of 1907. Today, confessing sin through praying aloud together remains common at revival meetings and special early-morning prayer meetings.