The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 298

—

XII.

Sin Not a

Mere Negation. "

I

see another law in my members, warring against the law of my

mind."

Rom.

vii. 23.

Dr. Bohl's theory, that sin is a mere loss, default, or lack, is an error almost as critical as Manicheism. This should not be misunderstood. This theory does not deny that the sinner is unholy, nor that he ought to be holy. It says two things: (i) that there is no holiness in the sinner; but— and (2) that there ought to be this indicates the real character of sin nor a book see yet the hear, not does stone him. A in holiness the man who lost both But blind. other the deaf, nor not is one hearing and seeing is both for to his being as a man both are es-

—

;

;

sential.

A chair

But the cripple

pected to walk. being.

A

man

is

it is

not lame, for

it is

not ex-

lame, for walking belongs to his

But man is a is not holy, neither is it a sinner. unholy, and holiness belongs to his being; an unSin, says St. John, " is undefective and unnatural.

horse

he

sinner, for

holy

can not walk; yet

is

is

righteousness," non-conformity to the law, or, literally, lawlessness, anomy. Hence sin appears only in beings subject to the divine,

moral law, and consists in non-conformity to that law. Thus far this view presents only clear, pure truth; and every effort to give sin positive,

independent entity contradicts the

and leads to Manicheism, as may be seen and conscientious Moravian Brethren. it

Word

in the otherwise fervent

Scripture denies that sin has a positive character implying that Independent being is either created or

has independent being.

uncreated. If created,

If

uncreated,

God must be

not sin's Author. of evil inheres in

it

its

must be

eternal,

and

this is

God

Creator; which can not be, for

Hence Scripture does not teach matter, but in Satan. And what

He

is

power Satan? Not

that the is

alone.

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