Biblical Answer

Understanding the Nature of Sin

The Bible teaches that sin is a universal problem that affects all people. The passage in Romans 5:12 states that "sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned." This suggests that sin is a fundamental aspect of human nature, and that everyone is guilty of sin. The Bible also assumes that all people are sinners, as seen in the commands to repent that relate to everyone (e.g., Matthew 3:2, 4:17, Mark 1:15).

The Consequences of Sin

While all sins are mortal and make us legally guilty before God, not all sins lead to hell. However, persistent unrepentant sins, such as sexual sin, can lead to eternal damnation (Matthew 5:27-32, Romans 1:18-2:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). This is because such sins bring more dishonor to God and harm to ourselves and others. The Bible teaches that sin is cumulative, and that the amount of guilt is accumulating in the future life (Romans 2:5). Therefore, it is not just the initial sin that determines our eternal fate, but our ongoing rebellion against God.

The Hope of Salvation

Despite the severity of sin, the Bible offers a message of hope through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), and promised that whoever hears his word and believes him who sent him has eternal life (John 5:24). This means that those who turn to Jesus in repentance and faith can receive forgiveness for their sins and avoid eternal damnation. The Bible teaches that God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), and that Jesus is the Savior of the world (John 3:16). Therefore, while all sins are mortal and can lead to guilt before God, it is possible to avoid eternal damnation through faith in Jesus Christ.