Some time ago I had this idea about the law of sin and death and what it means, so I want to check if it is an orthodox idea or too much of an eisegetical thing.
The idea goes like this, the law of sin and death describes how sin causes evil to happen. IE, when Adam and Eve sinned, they brought this sin and the resultant death into the world. IE, their death many centuries later was a result of becoming sinful.
Now when God in the bible punishes Israel for their sins this is not the law of sin and death at work. In fact when God punishes people for their sins it is to rouse them to the truth so they would not sin and so there would not be so much death happening. Death in many ways, from contracting bad diseases that do not heal, over the death in relationships where people's love for each other cools down, to the death of culture and social responsibility in societies. The law of sin and death describes a connect between our sin and evil happening without God's will dictating this. So when God punishes someone it is actually aimed at preventing the law of sin and death to work its evil.
God as the sovereign Creator of all allows this law to stay in effect because it's simply a serious matter. Knowing that touching the hot stove will hurt me is a principle necessary for the moral development of man who is a creature in God's image. So that's why we have proverbs that tell us to acquire wisdom to avoid sin for the sake of good and that evil will not come to pass. We shall take the law of sin and death serious and by doing good instead of evil we minimize the evil that happens. This is our duty as children of God who are worth a lot and valuable in God's sight and whom God requires to fulfill the duties He gives us, for the glory of God and for humiliation of the devil.
Does this make any sense? How do you view the law of sin and death? I've never come across this idea as expressed above before, but I take it with a grain of salt because I know it could be wrong. I know it could be possible that the law of sin and death simply includes God's punishments for sin and that it is his will that if we sin, we usually must suffer for our transgressions unless we ask for forgiveness. On the other hand, it is my impression that forgiveness doesn't come always with healing or lifting the natural consequences of our mistakes. So I think there could be some truth in seeing a connection between sin and death which is not juridicial but, at the same time, natural and mystical.
Let me know your thoughts. God bless!
The idea goes like this, the law of sin and death describes how sin causes evil to happen. IE, when Adam and Eve sinned, they brought this sin and the resultant death into the world. IE, their death many centuries later was a result of becoming sinful.
Now when God in the bible punishes Israel for their sins this is not the law of sin and death at work. In fact when God punishes people for their sins it is to rouse them to the truth so they would not sin and so there would not be so much death happening. Death in many ways, from contracting bad diseases that do not heal, over the death in relationships where people's love for each other cools down, to the death of culture and social responsibility in societies. The law of sin and death describes a connect between our sin and evil happening without God's will dictating this. So when God punishes someone it is actually aimed at preventing the law of sin and death to work its evil.
God as the sovereign Creator of all allows this law to stay in effect because it's simply a serious matter. Knowing that touching the hot stove will hurt me is a principle necessary for the moral development of man who is a creature in God's image. So that's why we have proverbs that tell us to acquire wisdom to avoid sin for the sake of good and that evil will not come to pass. We shall take the law of sin and death serious and by doing good instead of evil we minimize the evil that happens. This is our duty as children of God who are worth a lot and valuable in God's sight and whom God requires to fulfill the duties He gives us, for the glory of God and for humiliation of the devil.
Does this make any sense? How do you view the law of sin and death? I've never come across this idea as expressed above before, but I take it with a grain of salt because I know it could be wrong. I know it could be possible that the law of sin and death simply includes God's punishments for sin and that it is his will that if we sin, we usually must suffer for our transgressions unless we ask for forgiveness. On the other hand, it is my impression that forgiveness doesn't come always with healing or lifting the natural consequences of our mistakes. So I think there could be some truth in seeing a connection between sin and death which is not juridicial but, at the same time, natural and mystical.
Let me know your thoughts. God bless!
