Do plants sin? Or how else should I explain Romans 6:23 to myself?

Question

Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death". Does this mean animals sin as well? Or uni-cellular organisms? Or plants? Because they all die as well, not just humans. Why does an animal or plant die, if it doesn't know the moral difference between right and wrong?

Answer 1

It is something I never really thought of in those terms before. But I think I know the answer. This earth was created for the express purpose of providing us, the children of God, a place to come and learn things that we could not learn in any other way. Because God new that we would all sin, he in his infinite mercy did not want us to live forever in our sins. So, he created an earth where death became a natural function of all living organisms so that we could die. Then he included in his plan a savior that, because of his great love for God and mankind, would come to earth and live a sinless life and open the doors to resurrection for us all that we might gain a perfected, immortal body.

It stands to reason that plants and animals will also go through the same resurrected change at some time, though I do not believe that such a doctrine has ever been revealed in one way or the other.

Answer 2

I think you misunderstood the meaning of "death" in this passage. It does not mean "death" in the literal sense, as we know it. Death symbolizes eternal death, not just death here on earth. The passage is talking about how our sin will cause us to be eternally seperated from God. Plants, animals, and all of those things don't go to heaven anyways, so they cannot eternally die. I hope that helps. It is good, though, that you question everything you read. It helps you understand things.

Answer 3

Animals don't sin nor plants, They die because all things are under the curse of death from where mankind sinned.

Answer 4

You're close. When cursing the serpent (Satan) at Genesis 3:14, God also cursed the cattle and beasts of the earth. Part of this curse is that they would die -- not because of their sin, but because of Adam's. We know this because God killed several animals to serve as tunics for Adam and Eve. We then see Abel's sacrifice of a lamb in the next chapter.

It is for this reason that Paul wrote at Romans 8:

19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Paul recognized that the entirety of creation -- humans AND animals -- are burdened by the wages of sin that Adam brought to all living creatures (Romans 5:12). The animal kingdom actually yearns for redemption as much as we do.

Answer 5

How can they sin if they were eaten to bring sin into the world...?
God gave humans power over plant and animals.
Though they may have been effected by sin.
And Death meaning eternal death...in HELL

Answer 6

Because when Adam & Eve sinned in the beginning it affected the whole world. The stain of sin brought into the world cursed all living things.

Answer 7

It means that sin causes death. Remember in Genesis when all those people lived to be like 800. Well, they didnt sin as much but when they did sin, they died. If you think about it, all sin does have some connection to something deadly.

Answer 8

I'm not a Christian, so I have no need to defend that doctrine - but I was just thinking: perhaps one could say sin is ONE of the reasons for death, but not the only one.

Maybe like saying, "The wages of stealing is prison." But stealing is not the ONLY way you can end up in prison.

Answer 9

It means that the whole of creation is contaminated by sin. We must be regenerated (reborn) as a new creation to escape the results of the sin that fill the world... Jim

Answer 10

i think of the main confusing question with regard to the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Our female arises from the reality that interior the Roman Catholic Church, non-consummation is grounds for an annulment. Does the Church rather have self assurance that the Holy kinfolk became into formed out of a null union? purely a theory.