How are we saved from the condition we are in because of original sin, and from eternal damnation?

There is no possibility that we can be saved through the Law or by our own works. But God has given us another Word, namely His Gospel, in which He has made known to us the salvation, which our Savior Jesus Christ has earned for us. We can receive this salvation for ourselves as a free gift through faith and thus be free from the curse of sin, righteous and blessed in God’s sight. We will learn more about this in the Second Article of the Creed.

Rom. 1:16: The Gospel... is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.

Rom. 10:4: Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

How can we tell that we have not committed the sin against the Holy Ghost?

A person who is spiritually distressed and fears that he has committed the sin against the Holy Ghost, and is troubled about the possibility that he has been shut out from God’s grace in Christ, has not committed this specific sin against the Holy Ghost.

The strong influence of the Holy Ghost in him is evidenced by the fact that he is concerned about the condition of his soul and its eternal destiny. He is a believer, even though he is greatly troubled.

His weak faith must be strengthened with God’s gracious Word; for Christ has died in behalf of everyone, and wants all people to be saved.

The person, however, who has committed this particular sin against the Holy Ghost, is not troubled by the fact. Neither is he concerned about his soul’s salvation, but goes on living with a proud and rebellious spirit, his heart hardened beyond change, refusing to submit to the clear Word of God.

What is the sin against the Holy Ghost?

The sin against the Holy Ghost Spirit differs from all other sins in that it can never be forgiven.

Mark 3:28-29: All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme; but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness.

This sin occurs in the following manner: The Holy Ghost enlightens a person in such a way that a person must in his heart confess divine truth to be divine, but he nevertheless still deliberately and against better knowledge denies it, rebels against it, blasphemes, and shames the Holy Ghost. A person such as this becomes hardened, so that he cannot repent. Therefore we are to beware that we do not begin resisting and blaspheming the truth, which we have come to know from God’s Word. The sin against the Holy Ghost is not directed against the Person of the Holy Ghost, but against His office.

Luke 12:10: Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

1 Joh. 5:16: There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it.

Heb. 6:4-6: For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.

Assignment: Read Matt. 12:22-32: Jesus’ warning to the Pharisees, who
resisted the obvious truth and blasphemed.

What are actual sins?

A person, corrupted by original sin, breaks God’s Commandments in thoughts, words and deeds. These sins are called actual sins. They also include the sins of neglect or those works that we leave undone, even though God’s Word tells us to do them.

Matt. 7:17: A corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

James 4:17: To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Actual sins can be classed into different groups. For example: Sins committed against better knowledge and sins of ignorance; deliberate sins and sins of weakness; participation in the sins of others (1 Tim. 5:22), 2 Joh. 11), coarse manifest sins and wrongs, that cry to heaven for God’s punishment. Such sins are: open ungodliness Gen. 18:20, murder Gen. 4:10, Rev. 6:9-10, and the oppression of strangers, widows, orphans, the poor and the helpless Ex. 3:7-9; 22:21-24; Mal.3:5; James 5:4; and the destruction of those yet in a mother’s womb, Amos 1:13.

In what condition is a person by nature because of original sin?

By nature a person, because of original sin, is not acceptable to God and is subject to judgment and damnation. In order to be saved, he must be born again through Baptism and faith.

Eph. 2:3: We were by nature the children of wrath even as others.

Joh. 3:5-6: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The Lutheran Confessions: “Since the fall of Adam, all men begotten in the natural way are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with concupiscence; and that this disease, or vice of origin, is truly sin, even now condemning and bringing eternal death upon those not born again through Baptism and the Holy Ghost.” (Augsburg Confession II).

What is original sin?

Original sin is the total spiritual corruption of human nature, which we have inherited from Adam through our parents. Because of original sin people have lost the righteousness, which God gave them at creation. A person, corrupted by original sin, does not actually fear or love God and does not trust solely in Him, but is spiritually dead and blind, an enemy of God and full of evil, with a desire for it.

Joh. 3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh.

Rom. 7:18: I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.

Rom. 8:7: The carnal mind is enmity against God.

Note: With the word flesh, when it is used in this context, the Bible means a person, as he by nature is conceived and born, who is therefore corrupted by original sin and without the Holy Spirit (the old man or old Adam).

Ps. 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Gen. 8:21: The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.

Gen. 6:5: God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

1 Cor. 2:14: The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him.

Eph. 2:1: You... were dead in trespasses and sins.

What two types of sin are there?

The Bible speaks of two types of sin, original sin and actual sin.

How did sin come into the world?

Sin came into the world through the devil, who first fell away from God. Sin then came also through human beings, who, tempted by the devil, voluntarily succumbed to sin.

Joh. 8:44: He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1 Joh.3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

Rom. 5:12: By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.

Assignment: Read Gen. 3:1-7: the fall into sin.

What is sin?

Sin is all departure from God’s Commandments.

1 Joh. 3:4: Sin is the transgression of the Law.

The Bible also calls sin disobedience (Rom. 5:19), transgression, iniquity (Ex. 34:7), trespass, (2 Cor. 5:19), and unrighteousness (Rom. 6:13).