Biblical Position Paper 1
Biblical Position Paper
Humphrey Doku
CJUS700 Theories of Crime
February 18, 2024
Dr. Latreace Flynt Introduction
Sin can be defined in the Bible as any action that goes against the will of God. These
actions can stem from our thoughts, actions, attitudes, or any doings that contradict what the Ten
Commandments stated. Sinning does not only constitute disobedience to God but also strains the
relationship Christians have with God. Sin goes a long way to cause distance and damages the
harmony people have with God. Sin is introduced in the Bible after the creation of Adam and
Eve; God created both in His image to enjoy all God had created and procreate to fill the earth.
However, Genesis 2:16-17 states: "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every
tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall
not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." This verse warned Adam and Eve to
obey God's instructions and not go against His will. However, Adam and Eve decided to go
against God's command and eat from the Tree of Knowledge with the help of the devil, who
posed as a snake. Genesis 3:6-7 recounts: "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for
food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit
and ate. She also gave it to her husband with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them
were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made
themselves coverings."
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Their disobedience began sin; Adam and Eve's sin is known as the original sin. Their
disobedience caused a separation from the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:22-24 describes: "Then the
Lord God said, 'Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now,
lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever'— therefore the
Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He
drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming
sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life." This paper will shed light on
the sin nature and whether the sin nature plays or does not play a role in criminal behavior.
The sin nature refers to the inherent tendency or inclination towards disobedience and
rebellion against God that all humans possess due to the Fall. This concept is rooted in the
narrative of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, which introduced sin into the
world and corrupted human nature. The Apostle Paul explains the sin nature in Romans 5:12, he
writes, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in
this way, death came to all people, because all sinned." This verse emphasizes the universal
impact of sin on humanity, inherited from Adam. As a result of the actions of Adam and Eve,
humans have been rooted in sin. Thus, when a sin is committed through crime, offenders are
quick to relate to the beginning of time that committing crime is a human nature that cannot be
changed. Paul explained the nature of sin in Romans 7:18-19, stating, "For I know that good
itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good,
but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—
this I keep on doing." Here, Paul acknowledges the internal struggle between the desire to do
what is right and the inability to consistently act accordingly due to the influence of sin. In
Ephesians 2:3, Paul also describes humanity before coming to faith in Christ as being "by nature
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deserving of wrath." This highlights the sinful condition inherent in human nature apart from the
transformative power of God's grace.
God's abundant love for his children did not let Him abandon Adam and Eve after they
sinned and were sent away from the Garden of Eden. God showed mercy on them and forgave
them. God's action of forgiving Adam and Eve has extended to all of creation. Thus, as sinners
stated in Romans, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." However, God has
shown us the way to overcome the sinful nature. The sin nature can only be overcome if one is
willing to forgo their sinful ways. Overcoming our sinful nature begins with having faith in
Christ Jesus and believing God sent him to come to die for our sins. The death and resurrection
of Jesus serve as the promise God gave mankind that He is willing to forgive us of our sins if we
are willing to surrender our lives back to Him.
The first step to be taken to overcome the sin nature is to have faith in the Trinity. True
Christians believe in the power of God and accept that Christ came to die for our transgressions.
Thus, believing in the Lord will make you willing to give your life back to Christ. After
believing and having faith in the Lord, the next step is to acknowledge one's sin and repent. The
only way God will forgive one's sin is when the individual is readily available to accept that he
or she has sinned and is ready to accept Jesus as His Lord and personal savior. This is proven in
Acts 3:19, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of
refreshing may come from the Lord."
After having faith in Christ, believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
will dwell and empower a person to live the life that pleases God. Accepting the Holy Spirit is
known as the regeneration or being born again. Being born again gives a person a new self,
mind, and way of life. All the old lifestyle that was led back is left behind. Titus 3:5 states, "He
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saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us
through the Holy Spirit's washing of rebirth and renewal." The rebirth leads a person to study the
Bible to be closer to God and soak in His word. Believers are transformed in their thinking and
behavior, aligning more closely with God's will. Romans 12:2 encourages believers, "Do not
conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you can
test and approve God's will—his good, pleasing, and perfect will."
Overcoming the sinful nature through rebirth does not mean a person is never going to
sin, nor may they not have thoughts of sinning. However, the obedience one has for Christ and
walking in God's word and commandments helps one stay away from sin. The Holy Spirit is the
helper who empowers the individual by reminding them of what they can and cannot do. 1 Peter
1:14-16 urges believers, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when
you lived in ignorance. However, just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it
is written: 'Be holy because I am holy." God created us in His image, so this verse is always a
reminder to let humanity know that if God is Holy, mankind can stay away from the sin nature
and be holy just as God is.
The sin nature came about due to disobedience to God's word. The more people sin,
crime increases. Sin should not be seen only as lies told or stealing candies from a store. Sin
nature encompasses robbery, rape, murder, etc. The sin nature distorts the moral compass,
blurring the lines between right and wrong, and fostering a culture of selfishness and moral
relativism.
Consequently, individuals may prioritize their desires and interests over the well-being of
others, leading to broken relationships, social injustice, and widespread suffering. Moreover, the
nature of sin perpetuates a cycle of sin and its consequences, as the ripple effects of deviant
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behavior impact individuals, communities, and societies at large. Despite the destructive
influence of the sin nature, the Christian faith offers hope through redemption and transformation
through Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness for sin and empowers believers to live by God's
will.
Sin nature can lead individuals to commit crimes and turn selfish. When people commit
crimes, that shows how they do not have a relationship with God and they do not love God.
Criminal behavior can be related to greed, pride, anger, and pursuing self-interest. Criminal
behavior often stems from various factors influenced by sin, including greed, pride, anger, and
the pursuit of self-interest at the expense of others. These deviant behaviors can manifest in acts
such as theft, assault, fraud, and even more serious crimes like murder. Furthermore, the nature
of sin may contribute to a lack of empathy and disregard for the well-being of others, leading
individuals to rationalize or justify their criminal actions. While not all sinful behavior results in
criminality, the nature of sin undoubtedly contributes to the propensity for individuals to engage
in actions that harm others and disrupt the social order.
The nature of sin gives a fundamental understanding of crime. However, it is essential to
perceive that criminal behavior is impacted by a perplexing exchange of variables past the
tendency towards disobedience and moral corruption innate in the sin nature. While the sin
nature adds to people's affinity to participate in activities disregarding moral and ethical
standards, other factors such as socioeconomic conditions, upbringing, psychological factors,
peer influences, and societal norms also play significant roles in shaping criminal behavior. In
addition, not all people with a sinful nature commit crimes, and not all criminal acts can be
attributed solely to their sinful nature. Consequently, despite the nature of sin providing insight
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into the propensity toward wrongdoing, it is only one piece of the puzzle in comprehending the
intricate nature of criminal activity.
In conclusion, the sin nature plays a fundamental role in understanding criminal behavior,
contributing to individuals' propensity towards disobedience and moral corruption. However,
criminal behavior is influenced by a complex interplay of factors beyond sinful nature, including
socioeconomic conditions, upbringing, psychological factors, peer influences, and societal
norms. While the nature of sin underscores the inclination towards wrongdoing, it is only one
aspect of the multifaceted nature of criminal activity.
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References
Access your bible from anywhere (no date) BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in
over 150 versions and 50 languages. Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/
(Accessed: 12 February 2024).
