1 Tim. 3:14-16, What do ya’ know: Man is Sinful (1)

Doctrinal Statement: on this subject we are going to present two paragraphs on the “sinfulness of man” taken from doctrinal statements of two churches with which I have been involved. 

“We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and therefore incurred not only physical death, but also the spiritual death which is separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and in the case of those who reach the age of moral responsibility, are sinners in thought, word and deed.”

“We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26,27; Rom. 3:22-23; 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3,12).”

Let’s make a few observations about “doctrinal statements.”  Both of these are brief.  I have seen detailed doctrinal statements that seek to stake out a position on many of the details.  Further, while these statements have much in common (created in God’s image, sin and death) these statements also highlight different issues.  The first speaks of “the age of moral responsibility.”  The second addresses “total depravity.”  These issues we will briefly consider as part of our study.  Differences like that can often be attributed to the issue having been raised in the church and that led to significant disagreement.  Thus, the fellowship felt the need to make a specific statement.  Sometimes a doctrinal statement will make a statement on an issue that is controversial in society.  I recently saw a statement that noted the fact that “gender” was part of God’s good creation from the beginning.  There was never a need to make that statement until recent years in American society.  One could argue that this is one way to be the “pillar and ground of the truth,” holding up the basic truths of Scripture for all to see.

In churches where I have served never, in any of them, did we make a change to our doctrinal statement.  We made changes from time to time in our congregational “worship style” or in the ways we reached into our community.  We made changes to staff, including “lead” or “senior” pastors.  But the conviction was that the “doctrinal statement” was a statement of “orthodoxy” for that church.  These were doctrines that were clearly Biblical.  On the other hand, we did, through the teaching ministry of the church, address our society. 

Part of being the “pillar and ground of the truth” is that you know the truths that matter, with which there can be no variation.  The inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, the triune nature of the Godhead and the full deity and humanity of the Christ are just such truths.  And so is the sinfulness of man.