Article of Faith 2
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins,
and not for Adam’s
transgression.
Sin – What
is the nature of sin? To this question the Apostle John replies: “Sin is the
transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4) …. As God is the embodiment of
perfection, such opposition is rebellion against the principles of advancement
and adherence to the practices that lead to degradation. Sin is any
condition, whether omission of things required or in commission of acts
forbidden, that tends to prevent or hinder the development of the human soul. [Emphasis
added.] As a righteous course leads to eternal life, so sin tends toward the darkness
of the second death. Sin was introduced to the world by Satan; yet it is by
divine permission that mankind are brought in contact with sin, the contrast
between evil and good thus being learned by experience.
According
to the technical definition of sin it consists in the violation of law, and in
this strict sense sin may be committed inadvertently or in ignorance. It is
plain, however, from the scriptural doctrine of human responsibility and the
unerring justice of God, that in his transgressions as in his righteous deeds
man will be judged according to his ability to comprehend and obey law. To him
who has never been made acquainted with a higher law the requirements of that
law do not apply in their fulness. For sins committed without knowledge – that is,
for laws violated in ignorance – a propitiation has been provided in the
atonement wrought through the sacrifice of the Savior; and sinners of this
class do not stand condemned, but shall be given opportunity yet to learn and
to accept or reject the principles of the Gospel….
Punishment for Sin – As rewards for righteous deeds are proportionate to
deserving acts, so the punishment prescribed for sin is made adequate to the
offense. But, be it remembered, both rewards and punishments are natural
consequences. Punishment is inflicted upon the sinner for disciplinary and
reformatory purposes and in accordance with justice. There is nothing of
vindictiveness or of desire to cause suffering manifest in the divine nature;
on the contrary, our Father is cognizant of every pang, and permits such to
afflict for beneficent purposes only. God’s mercy is declared in the
retributive pains that He allows, as in the blessings of peace that issue from
Him…. Comparison with physical pain, such as the tortures of fire in a
sulphurous lake, serve to show that the human mind is incapable of
comprehending the extent of these penalties. The sufferings entailed by the
fate of condemnation are more to be feared than are any possible inflictions of
physical torture; the mind, the spirit, the whole soul is doomed to suffer, and
the torment is known by none in the flesh.
Consider
the word of the Lord regarding those whose sin is the unpardonable one, whose
transgression has carried them beyond the present horizon of possible
redemption; those who have sunk so low in their wickedness as to have lost the
power and even the desire to attempt reformation. Sons of Perdition they are
called. These are they who, having learned the power of God afterward renounce
it; those who sin wilfully in the light of knowledge; those who open their hearts
to the Holy Spirit and then put the Lord to a mockery and a shame by denying
it; and those who commit murder wherein they shed innocent blood; these are
they of whom the Savior has declared that it would be better for them had they
never been born. These are to share the punishment of the devil and his
angels – punishment so terrible that the knowledge is withheld from all except
those who are consigned to this doom (emphasis added), though a temporary view
of the picture is permitted to some. These sinners are the only ones over whom
the second death hath power….
The Duration of Punishment – As to the duration of
punishment, we may take assurance that it will be graded according to the sin;
and that the conception of every sentence for misdeeds being interminable is
false. Great as is the effect of this life upon the hereafter, and certain as is
the responsibility of opportunities lost for repentance, God holds the power to
pardon beyond the grave. Yet the scriptures speak of eternal and endless
punishment. Any punishment ordained of God is eternal, for He is eternal. His
is a system of endless punishment, for it will always exist as a place or
condition prepared for disobedient spirits; yet the infliction of the penalty
will have an end in every case of acceptable repentance and reparation. And
repentance is not impossible in the spirit world (emphasis added). However,
as seen, there are some sins so great that their consequent punishments are not
made known to man; these extreme penalties are reserved for the sons of
Perdition.
The
false doctrine that the punishment to be visited upon erring souls is endless,
that every sentence for sin is of interminable duration, must be regarded as
one of the most pernicious results of misapprehension of scripture. It is but a
dogma of unauthorized and erring sectaries, at once unscriptural, unreasonable,
and revolting to one who loves mercy and honors justice. True, the scriptures
speak of everlasting burnings, eternal damnation, and the vengeance of eternal
fire, as characteristics of the judgment provided for the wicked; yet in no
instance is there justification for the inference that the individual sinner
will have to suffer the wrath of offended justice forever and ever. The
punishment in any case is sufficiently severe without the added and supreme
horror of unending continuation. Justice must have her due; but when “the
uttermost farthing” is paid, the prison doors shall open and the captive be
free. But the prison remains, and the law prescribing punishment for offenses
is not to be repealed….
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