Summary of "What Is the Doctrine of Sin?"
Doctrine Matters with Kevin DeYoung
Released: April 29, 2025

In the episode titled "What Is the Doctrine of Sin?" from the podcast Doctrine Matters hosted by Kevin DeYoung, listeners are guided through a comprehensive exploration of the theological concept of sin. DeYoung, a pastor, bestselling author, and associate professor of systematic theology, meticulously dissects the essence, origin, and transmission of sin, providing biblical insights and thoughtful analogies to elucidate these profound topics.

Introduction

Timestamp: 00:03

Kevin DeYoung opens the episode by outlining the podcast's mission: to equip Christians with a deeper understanding of foundational theological doctrines. He emphasizes the importance of examining misunderstood or historically challenged doctrines through scripture and reason, aiming to transform listeners' thinking. The focus of this episode is the doctrine of sin, a crucial subset of anthropology—the study of humanity in theology.

The Essence of Sin

Timestamp: 00:03 – 07:30

DeYoung begins by defining sin in its most fundamental terms as "lawlessness," referencing First John 3:4. He explains that sin involves breaking God's commandments and falling short of His glory. However, he delves deeper, highlighting that sin transcends mere mistakes or imperfections.

• Idolatry and Spiritual Adultery: Sin is characterized as idolatry—worshiping false gods, whether tangible or intangible—and spiritual adultery, akin to seeking fulfillment outside of God.

• Sin as Pervasive Pollution: He describes sin as pollution and a universal problem, asserting, "The problem of all problems is sin. This God-hating rebellion that is endemic to fallen human nature" (07:15).

• Strong Biblical Language: DeYoung emphasizes the importance of using the Bible's robust terminology for sin—words like iniquity, rebellion, transgression, wickedness, and evil—to convey its seriousness. He warns against diluting sin into therapeutic terms such as "brokenness" or "imperfection," which can obscure its true nature.

The Origin of Sin

Timestamp: 07:31 – 18:45

Exploring where sin originates, DeYoung acknowledges the biblical account of the first human sin in Genesis but extends the discussion to pre-Adamic events.

• Pre-Adamic Rebellion: He references Jude 6 and other scriptures like Ezekiel 28 to suggest that before Adam and Eve, there was an angelic rebellion led by Lucifer (Satan). This rebellion, characterized by pride, resulted in these angels being bound and unable to redeem themselves, thus setting the stage for the temptation of humanity.

• Consequences of the Fall: The original sin in the Garden of Eden brought about significant ramifications:

  • Shame and Fear: Adam and Eve's realization of their nakedness introduced shame and fear.
  • Blame and Pain: Post-fall, blame is cast—Adam blaming God and Eve blaming the serpent. Pain in childbirth and frustration in labor emerged as direct consequences.
  • Cursed Ground and Serpent: While God curses the serpent and the ground, humans themselves are not directly cursed, though they must live in a world marred by sin.

• Original Sin Defined: DeYoung clarifies that "original sin" refers to the hereditary depravity and corruption that make humanity inherently guilty before God, leading to sinful thoughts, desires, and actions. He distinguishes this theological term from the notion of the very first human sin, emphasizing its role in universal human fallenness.

Original and Actual Sin

Timestamp: 18:46 – 28:30

Delving deeper into theological distinctions, DeYoung differentiates between "original sin" and "actual sin":

• Original Sin: Described as inherited guilt and depravity stemming from Adam's fall, affecting all of humanity.

• Actual Sin: Unlike original sin, which is hereditary, actual sin pertains to the specific sins individuals commit through their own volition—whether in thought, word, or deed. DeYoung stresses that actual sin includes internal actions, such as wrongful thoughts and desires, not just external behaviors.

• Biblical Emphasis: He underscores the Bible's frequent and forceful teaching on humanity's pervasive sinfulness, citing verses like Romans 3:23 ("All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God") and Isaiah 53 ("There is no one who does not sin").

Transmission of Sin

Timestamp: 28:31 – 38:45

The discussion transitions to how sin is transmitted across generations:

• Imitation vs. Imputation: While some believe sin is spread merely through the imitation of sinful acts, DeYoung introduces the concept of imputation. According to him, humanity inherits sin not just by copying but through being counted as sinners because of Adam's original act.

• Romans 5:12–23: DeYoung examines Paul's argument in Romans, where sin enters the world through one man (Adam), leading to death spreading to all because "all sinned" (Romans 5:12). He explains that Paul means all have sinned through Adam's transgression, not necessarily in their own lifetimes.

• Three Imputations:

  1. Adam's Sin Imputed to Humanity: Our sinfulness is a result of being united with Adam.
  2. Christ's Sinlessness and Righteousness Imputed to Us: Christ took upon Himself the sin of humanity, despite being sinless.
  3. Christ's Righteousness Imputed to Believers: Through faith, Christ's righteousness is credited to us, offering justification and eternal life.

• Fantasy Football Analogy: To illustrate imputation, DeYoung likens human involvement in sin and salvation to fantasy football:

  • Adam on Our Team: Just as having a losing team in fantasy football results in personal losses, being united with Adam results in spiritual condemnation.
  • Christ on Our Team: Conversely, being united with Christ, who "wins," ensures our justification and eternal life.

• Romans 6:23: He cites this verse to encapsulate the doctrine: "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," emphasizing the stark contrast between the consequences of sin and the salvation offered through Christ.

Conclusion

Timestamp: 38:46 – End

Kevin DeYoung wraps up the episode by reiterating the centrality of understanding sin within Christian theology. He encourages listeners to delve deeper into scripture and theological resources to grasp the magnitude of sin and the profound solution offered through Christ. DeYoung invites the audience to subscribe to Doctrine Matters and explore further materials, such as his mini systematic theology book "Daily Doctrine."

Notable Quotes

• On the Nature of Sin:
  "The problem of all problems is sin. This God-hating rebellion that is endemic to fallen human nature."
  — Kevin DeYoung (07:15)

• On Original Sin:
  "Original sin refers to that hereditary depravity and corruption that makes us guilty before God and yields in us sinful thoughts, sinful desires, sinful actions."
  — Kevin DeYoung (16:30)

• Fantasy Football Analogy:
  "It's like fantasy football. You pick your players, and if they get yards or receptions or score a touchdown, you get points... Similarly, Paul's argument in Romans is that every human being, past, present, and future, had Adam on their fantasy team, which means we all lost."
  — Kevin DeYoung (31:10)

Final Thoughts

This episode of Doctrine Matters provides a thorough and accessible examination of the doctrine of sin, blending theological depth with relatable analogies. Kevin DeYoung effectively communicates the complexities of sin's essence, origin, and transmission, making it a valuable resource for listeners seeking to understand this fundamental aspect of Christian theology.