Possible to Sin

Posse non Pescare

Non Posse non Pescare

Non Posse Pescare

Those three Latin phrases are how Augustine explained man’s relationship to sin as part of a famous dispute with the liberal Pelagius, who believed man had the ability to live a sinless life.

Posse non Pescare (possible to not sin). Before the fall in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had the capacity to live without sin. We do not know how long they lived in this condition (between Genesis 2-3), but we certainly know they did. They had free will, but for a time they chose to keep their trust completely in God, and they lived totally without sin.

Non Posse non Pescare (not possible to not sin). After the fall everything completely changed. Adam and Eve still had free will, but they lost the ability to live a life free of sin. This does not mean that all we do is sin, because with every temptation there is a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13); but it does mean that being sinless is not an option for us. There is none righteous, and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This is why we need a Savior.

Non Posse Pescare (not possible to sin). Once we go to heaven and exchange our perishable bodies for ones that are imperishable, we will no longer be able to sin. In Glory sin will be but a distant memory, and like Christ, we will be perfect.

To transition from two to three, to go from not possible to not sin, to not possible to sin, something major has to take place. Only Jesus can account for this transformation. He offers you more than just heaven when you die; He offers a different kind of life right now.