|
||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||
Commentary on "Sin"
Day 5: Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Today's lesson is on the topic of “Corporate Versus Personal Sin.” Before we begin today’s study, it must be pointed out that the idea of corporate sin is rooted in God's condemnation of Israel at various points in its history. Other nations, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, etc. are also condemned in scripture. This has never meant that nothing good has ever come out of those places. As a group (corporation) of people has been identified and condemned in scripture, it is because of the sin of the individuals that make up that group, not just the group.
The writer of the quarterly states:
These facts raise many difficult questions. Foremost among these is whether we as individuals carry any responsibility for these things and if we should assume any guilt for this corporate state of sinfulness.
There is no such thing as corporate sin without individual sin. The priests in Israel are condemned in Ezekiel because they each are individually sinful. This does not mean that there are no true believers within these corporate groups. One may cry to God because of the sinfulness of his people, but one never assumes guilt for this corporate state of sinfulness. One only assumes guilt for one's sin.
This is the message of Christianity. As I recognize my guilt before a holy God, I accept His righteousness as He accepts my sinfulness, and deals with it once and for all on the cross in the person of Jesus.
The writer then states:
But also consider that we all have some influence. We can all make small decisions that at times may increase or diminish, however slightly, the evil in this world.
This suggestion is rooted firmly in Humanism. Everyone, believer and unbeliever alike, has some influence. It is not our influence that can diminish “however slightly” the evil in this world. The evil in this world was dealt with at the cross. It is only in pointing lost souls to the cross of Jesus Christ that we can ever affect the evil in this world.
The evil one will continue to do his work in this world until the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 says:
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Corporate sin is not the objective of the cross—it is personal sin. Corporate sin is merely the sin of a group of people. Until individual sin is dealt with, there is no solution for corporate sin.
As is stated above, in 2 Thess. 2:10, those who are perishing are perishing because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.
Any discussion of corporate sin is irrelevant until the individual sin has been dealt with. Once the individual sin has been dealt with, there is no corporate sin.
Summary
- Corporate sin is irrelevant. This does not mean it does not exist, but it is only dealt with individually.
- Having influence in this world can be understood to mean several things. As the lesson identifies it, this influence may mean small things that we can do to help lessen the evil in this world. As scripture states, lawlessness will exist in the world until the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
- Our greatest effort against evil in this world is to help unbelievers come to “love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thess. 1:10)
Copyright 2008 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised May 1, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
Official Adventist Resources
Standard Edition Study Guide Week 6
Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 6
Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 6
Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings
