Simply Put – The Noetic Effects of Sin

Host: Barry Cooper
Date: September 9, 2025

Main Theme

This episode of Simply Put demystifies the theological concept of “the noetic effects of sin”—the way in which sin impacts our minds and intellectual faculties. Barry Cooper explores what it means to love God with “all your mind,” how sin influences human understanding, and why this should humble both Christians and non-Christians in their pursuit of truth and relationship with God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Loving God with Our Minds (00:00–01:47)

• Jesus’ Greatest Commandment: Barry begins by referencing Jesus’ instruction to “love the Lord your God with all your heart…soul…mind…and strength.”
• What Does It Mean to Love with Our Mind?
  • The Greek word nous denotes our intellect—the ability to perceive, understand, discern good and evil, consider, reflect, and make sober judgments.
  • Loving God with our minds means engaging with God intellectually and rationally, not “switching off our brains.”
  • Scriptural Emphasis: Isaiah 1 is quoted: “Come now, let us reason together,” emphasizing that God welcomes intellectual engagement.

“The Lord doesn’t want us to switch off our brains and just feel. In fact, as it says in Isaiah chapter one, he says to his people, ‘come now, let us reason together.’”
— Barry Cooper (00:49)

• Practical Examples:
  • Actively reading and wrestling with God’s Word.
  • Setting our minds on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, etc. (Philippians 4:8)

2. The Challenge: Sin Disrupts the Mind (01:48–03:48)

• Sin’s Universal Corruption: Sin affects every part of our being—hearts, souls, strength, and minds—like “toxic waste dumped at the source of a river.”

• Defining the Noetic Effects of Sin:

  • “Noetic” comes from the Greek nous (mind)—it refers specifically to sin’s impact on our intellectual faculties.

• Scriptural Evidence:

  • Romans: God gives those who turn away over to “a depraved mind.”
  • 2 Corinthians: Minds are “hardened” and “blinded.”
  • Ephesians: “Futility of their minds,” “darkened in their understanding.”
  • Philippians: Minds are “set on earthly things.”

3. Clarifications and Implications (03:49–04:45)

• Does Sin Destroy All Rationality?

  • No—non-Christians and Christians alike are capable of reasoning, science, daily life, etc.
  • However, sin leaves much of God’s truth “obscure to the unbelieving mind.”

• Practical Influence:

  • When sharing the gospel, remember that others may be “similarly unable to understand what we now think is self-evident.”
  • This calls for patience, kindness, and prayerful humility.

“There’s also a great deal of truth that, because of the noetic effects of sin, remains obscure to the unbelieving mind. When we’re talking to others about Christ, it’s good to remember that, to be patient, to be prayerful, to be kind, and perhaps recall a time when we ourselves were similarly unable to understand what we now think is self-evident.” — Barry Cooper (04:11)

4. The Ongoing Struggle for Christians (04:46–05:02)

• Sin’s Lingering Presence:
  • Even Christians still experience the noetic effects of sin—God is “renewing our minds” but “we’re very much a work in progress.”
• Humility and Openness:
  • Christians should remain teachable, realizing they can learn from non-Christians.

“Just because we’re believers doesn’t mean that we can’t learn anything from those who aren’t.”
— Barry Cooper (05:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “To love God with our nous, our minds, is to love him by engaging with him intellectually and rationally.” (00:41)
• “Sin affects every part of us…like toxic waste dumped at the source of a river, making everything downstream undrinkable.” (01:52)
• “Noetic effects of sin” clearly defined and consistently referenced throughout.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction; The greatest commandment | | 00:41 | What it means to love God with your mind | | 01:10 | Practical ways of loving God intellectually | | 01:48 | Sin's effects compared to toxic waste | | 02:15 | Defining the “noetic effects of sin” | | 02:30 | Scriptural evidences for sin’s impact on minds | | 03:49 | Addressing misunderstandings about reason | | 04:11 | Implications for sharing the gospel | | 04:46 | Christians and the ongoing noetic struggle | | 05:01 | Call to humility and openness |

Conclusion: Grateful for Renewal (05:02)

Barry concludes by reminding listeners to be grateful for the Redeemer who came “to redeem and renew every part of us, including our minds.” The episode closes with encouragement to both appreciate the intellect as a means of loving God and to remain humble about its limitations due to sin.