The ICC’s doctrine of sin actually does not go far enough

When it comes to human sin, the International Christian Church takes it very seriously. In fact, your every sin needs to be listed and confessed in detail even before you can be baptised! So it may come as a surprise to hear that the ICC’s doctrine of sin is actually too weak.

In the ICC’s First Principles Bible studies, the chapter on “Light and Darkness” speak about our human spiritual condition in black and white terms.

The First Principles study is correct in highlighting that there are only 2 types of people in the world according to 1 Peter 2:9-10: you are either in the light, or still in the darkness.

There is actually much to commend about the study as it correctly teaches (using their provided Bible references) that:

• Our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2)
• Everyone has sinned before God (Romans 3:23-25)
• The wages of sin is death, hell and darkness (Romans 6:23)
• Sin includes things that are committed as well as omitted (Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; James 4:17)

Therefore, the ICC rightly concludes that everyone is in “darkness” and needs rescuing from our problem with sin.

The problem with the ICC’s view of sin

So what is the solution to human sin?

The First Principles study teaches that in order to be saved from our sins, we must make the decision to be baptised in order to be “born again”. This is based on their interpretation of John 3:1-7 where Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”

The study emphasises that it is through making a personal decision (especially as an adult) to receive baptism that ultimately saves you.

What does the Bible teach about our human will?

The ICC simply assumes that the human will is somewhat “spiritually neutral” and could therefore make a free decision to accept the gospel of Jesus and be baptised. However, the Bible is actually much more pessimistic about our human ability.

In Romans 3:9-12, the Apostle Paul makes a remarkable conclusion about the natural human condition of all people, no matter Jew or Gentile:

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
¹² All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”

Romans 3:9-12 NIV

Paul is saying that sin has made us fallen to such an extent that by nature “there is no one who seeks God”. In other words, our human wills are naturally held captive by sin and rejects God.

We are spiritually dead and cannot save ourselves

This should be no surprise since the Bible describes our natural state as being “dead in our transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and without fear of God (Romans 3:18).

Because we are spiritually dead, Jesus speaks of the need to be “born again” (ie. spiritual rebirth or regeneration) through the Holy Spirit in John 3:6-8.

⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

John 3:6-8 NIV

Special attention must be given to verse 8. Jesus is saying that the Spirit isn’t under control of the human will. Just like how the wind isn’t under human control, the Spirit does whatever He pleases – implying that only He can to bring about new spiritual life in a person. And definitely not the human will in getting baptised.

This is not cherry-picking Bible verses to prove a point. Earlier in John’s Gospel, the apostle writes exactly the same thing in regards to our salvation being entirely God’s will, rather human will.

¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:12-13 NIV

Later, in the same Gospel, Jesus further clarified this point by saying:

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

John 6:44 NIV

On top of this, Jesus further stated in John 15:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.

John 15:16a NIV

Just like Jesus and John, the Apostle Paul also taught his readers about the inability of the human will to save us.

⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:7-8 NIV

Remarkably, Paul teaches that even making the claim that “Jesus is Lord” is an act that has to be supernaturally enabled by the Spirit (not by the human will):

Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV

Conclusion

As shown above, the ICC’s view of sin is far too weak because it has a very positive view of the human will. So it should come as no surprise the ICC also rejects the traditional doctrine of Original Sin held by mainstream Christians. Perhaps I will dedicate another post about this in the future.

Having a weak view of sin (and its effects on the human will) also distorts their view of salvation. Salvation becomes less a total work of God, but it is somewhat dependent on our human will to cooperate with God in some way. This is demonstrably wrong in light of the teachings of Scripture. Our spiritually dead state means that our human will is also fallen. So even our will requires God’s saving work to restore!