Category Archives: Hamartiology

Therapeutic vs. True Gospel

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Wisdomforlife

Jesus Christ died for my sin and the most vivid expression of my sin is my willful self-preoccupation. A gospel message that invites me to stay at the center is not the true gospel. Listen closely to the emphasis when you hear someone invite people to follow Jesus. Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church Leadership, Church Planting, Confession, Depravity, Disciple-making, Doctrine, Evangelicals, Evangelism, Evil in the world, Faith, God's Love, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Hamartiology, Kingdom, Poor in spirit, Pride, Reconciliation, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Salvation, Seeker Services, Seeking God, Self esteem, Self love, Self-deception, Selfishness, Sin | Tagged Evangelism, Gospel, Seeker Churches, Selfish, Sin, Therapeutic gospel, True gospel, Witnessing | 6 Comments

How did Adam’s sin affect Humanity?

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Wisdomforlife

One of the deepest discussions among biblical scholars concerns the way Adam’s sin affected humanity. Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Anthropology, Audio, Audio Resource, Cain, Depravity, Depression, Devil, Evil in the world, Evil One, Hamartiology, Hermeneutics, Human depravity, Origin of Sin, Problem of evil, Reformed Theology, Salvation, Sin, Theology | Tagged Adam, Cain and Abel, Fall of Man, Reformed Theology, Sin, Sin nature, Sovereign Grace | 2 Comments

The dignity and worth of human beings

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

Viktor Frankl endured three years of anguish in the Auschwitz concentration camp. After his rescue, he became a professor of Psychiatry and Neurology in the University of Vienna. Frankl recounted his horrific experiences and some lessons to be learned in his book, … Continue reading →

Posted in Annihilation, Anthropology, Apologetics, Atheism, Call to ministry, Christian worldview, Christianity, Common grace, Culture, Depravity, Despair, Evil in the world, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Hamartiology, Holistic ministry, Human depravity, Human dignity, Humanism, Identity, Imago Dei, Main problem, Meaning of life, Nihilism, Origin of Sin, Philosophy, Postmodern, Problem of evil, Progressive?, Self esteem, Self love, Self-deception, Selfishness, Sin, Social work, Theology, Wisdom, Worldview | 2 Comments

Unlocking the enigma of our existence

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

There are surprisingly few places to turn for thoughtful answers to the deeper questions about suffering, life and death. Continue reading →

Posted in Afterlife, All religions the same?, Anthropology, Atheism, Atheists, Bible, Bible from God, Bibliology, Birth of Jesus, Christian worldview, Christianity, Common grace, Conflict, Culture, Culture of Honor, Death, Death of Christ, Depravity, Evil in the world, Fear of death, Final judgment, Forgiveness, Hamartiology, History, Hope?, Human depravity, Human dignity, Humanism, Jesus Christ, Meaning of life, Morality, Narrative, Origin of Bible, Origin of Sin, Philosophy, Problem of evil, Progressive?, purpose, Restoration, Salvation, Selfishness, Sin, Suffering, Theodicy, Worldview, Worship | Tagged Evil in the world, Meaning of life, philosophy of life, Purpose of life, Worldview | 1 Comment

A worker who does not need to be ashamed

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

Determination to be diligent students of Scripture with compassion and wisdom must be pursued with deep humility to the glory of God. Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Bibliology, Bloggers, Call to ministry, Church Leadership, Communication, Depravity, Discernment, Elders, Evil in the world, Exegesis, God's Heart, God's Will, Hamartiology, Hermeneutics, Leadership, Life of a pastor, Pastors, Preaching, Wisdom | 1 Comment

If God is all-loving and all-powerful, why…?

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

The late Chuck Colson suggested that, “No question poses a more formidable stumbling block to the Christian faith than this, and no question is more difficult for Christians to answer. Yet the biblical worldview does have an answer, and it accounts for universal … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Anthropology, Atheism, Atheists, Bible, Christian worldview, Culture, Democracy, Evil in the world, God, Government, Hamartiology, Hope?, Human depravity, Humanism, Justice, Law, Main problem, Meaning of life, Origin of Sin, Peace, Questioning God, Republican, Restoration, Sin, Worldview | 1 Comment

The history of evil

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

The ambition of an angel led to the suspicion of Eden (that the best life is outside of the will of God not within it). This led to the delusion of self-rule (which only resulted in bondage to sin and death). The cycle continues — ambition, suspicion, delusion, death.

Creation took its first turn toward disaster when the ambition of angles incited a revolt against the Creator. It was a delusional and arrogant bid for autonomy.

How irrational for a created being to think of autonomy as a possibility! The only real option for created beings is dependence. It’s a delusional and dangerous fantasy for creatures to make a bid for self-rule and self-determination. Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Afraid to die, Afterlife, Anthropology, Atheism, Atheists, Christian worldview, Christianity, Creation, Death, Death of Christ, Depravity, Despair, Devil, Evil in the world, Evil One, Fear of death, Forgiveness, Freedom, God, God's Patience, God's Heart, God's Will, Gospel, Grace, Hamartiology, History, Imago Dei, In Christ, Jesus Christ, Loss, Mercy, Origin of Sin, Problem of evil, Punishment, Radical love, Reconciliation, Repentance, Resurrection, Salvation, Self-deception, Sin, Suffering, Theodicy, True Christianity?, Violence, Wisdom, Worldview | Tagged How dod the world become so evil?, Satan, Sin, Suffering, Where does evil come from?, Why is there so much suffering in the world?, Worldview | 3 Comments

The bad news we need to hear

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

The solution will not help the person who doesn’t understand the problem. This couldn’t be more true than in relation to the gospel. If the bad news behind the good news of the gospel isn’t clearly understood; the gospel will … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthropology, Behavior, Christian worldview, Christianity, Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Counseling, Forgiveness, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Grace, Hamartiology, Salvation, Sin, Wisdom | 1 Comment

Total Depravity?

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

Caution is needed about articulating a doctrine of human depravity from the wrong starting point. Can a misguided understanding of this important truth lead to over-renunciation? Continue reading →

Posted in Christian life, Christianity, Depravity, Dysfunctional, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Hamartiology, Human depravity, Human dignity, Humanism, Image of God, Imago Dei, Problem of evil, Reformed Theology, Sin, Wisdom | Tagged how to understand SIN, human beings, Reformed Theology, total depravity | 2 Comments

A truncated view of sin?

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Wisdomforlife

After many years of studying Scripture, I developed a growing concern over the possibility that the reformed tradition has articulated its doctrine of depravity from the wrong starting point. Continue reading →

Posted in Anthropology, Christian worldview, Cliches, Counseling, Depravity, Doctrine, Evangelicals, Evangelism, Fundamentalism, Hamartiology, Holistic ministry, Human depravity, Human dignity, Imago Dei, Main problem, Origin of Sin, Problem of evil, Reformed Theology, Salvation, Sin, Theology | Tagged depravity of man, doctrine of sin, Sin, Theology, total depravity | 1 Comment