Sunday School Lessons
Lesson Three
Sin and Its Kinds
Keywords
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Sin - an offense against God Original Sin - the sin committed by Adam as the head of the human race, which he passed to every human being Actual Sin - personal act or omission that does not conform to God's will or law |
Venial Sin - an offense against God which does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace Mortal Sin – an actual sin that destroys sanctifying grace and causes the supernatural death of the soul Sanctifying Grace - the supernatural state of being infused by God |
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Catechism Original Sin: Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called "original sin". – CCC, 417 Degree of Sin: Sins are rightly evaluated according to their gravity. - CCC, 1854 Mortal and Venial Sin: Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God's law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him. Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it. - CCC, 1855 Sanctifying Grace: Sanctifying grace is the gratuitous gift of his life that God makes to us; it is infused by the Holy Spirit into the soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. Sanctifying grace makes us "pleasing to God." - CCC, 2023-2024
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Scripture Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned Romans 3:23 - All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. 1 John 5:17 - All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly. John 1:29 - The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 8:11 -Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more." Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Original Sin
Adam's sin and the fact that he has transmitted to us a sin with which we are all born afflicted, a sin which is the "death of the soul." Because of this certainty of faith, the Church baptizes for the remission of sins even tiny infants who have not committed personal sin.
Through the concept of the Immaculate Conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was born free of Original Sin.
Mortal Sin
A grave violation of God’s law. (Murder, Adultery, Idol Worship, Theft, etc.) Mortal sins kill the spiritual life of the soul. Mortal sin separates us from God. Mortal sins deprive the soul of salvation unless the person repents.
For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."
Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother."
Mortal Sin must be confessed to a priest. Death with mortal sin on the soul will lead to condemnation. You cannot receive the Eucharist with mortal sin present. (CCC, 1385)
1 Corinthians 11:27 - Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.
Venial Sin
One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin can cause us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God's grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness."
Venial Sins are “everyday sins”. (Ordinary anger, impatience, gossip, bad thoughts, etc.) These are not serious sins. They do not keep us from heaven. These are sins that surely need to be forgiven, but will not cost our soul if we die before asking for forgiveness. The Eucharist absolves venial sin. (CCC, 1416)
Summary
While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call "light": if you take them for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession. - St. Augustine
The Ten Commandments
1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods
(Lesson Three, 2004-05 Catechetical Year)
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