This is for a guest presentation given to a criminology class at Grand Canyon University on September 24, 2014.

1. A Christian Perspective On Crime
Dr. Timothy G. Jacobs
Grand Canyon University
September 24, 2014

3. 1) According to the Bible, what is the
fundamental cause of crime?

4. The fundamental cause of crime,
according to the Bible: SIN in the human
heart.
What is sin? Any failure to conform to the
moral law of God in act, attitude, or
nature.
Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An
Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England;
Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan
Pub. House, 2004), 490.

5. Sin is universal – everyone is born
with it
Sin is comprehensive – it permeates
every aspect of the soul

6. as it is written: “None is righteous, no,
not one; no one understands; no
one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they
have become worthless; no one
does good, not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave; they use
their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and
bitterness.”

7. “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not
known.”
“There is no fear of God before their
eyes.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton:
Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 3:10–18.

8. 2) How does a biblical understanding of
the root cause of crime contrast with
other theories?

10. …if it had not been for the law, I would
not have known sin. For I would not have
known what it is to covet if the law had
not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin,
seizing an opportunity through the
commandment, produced in me all kinds
of covetousness.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton:
Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ro 7:7–8.

11. 3) What is the relationship between
"God's moral law" and laws in our
society?

13. 4) What solutions can a Christian
understanding of crime and moral law
offer to society and law enforcement
entities?

14. 4) What solutions can a Christian
understanding of crime and moral law
offer to society and law enforcement
entities?
a) Sin – eliminates victimhood and
promotes responsibility for one’s
actions

15. 4) What solutions can a Christian
understanding of crime and moral law
offer to society and law enforcement
entities?
a) Sin – eliminates victimhood and
promotes responsibility for one’s
actions
b) Moral law – supersedes societal laws

16. 4) What solutions can a Christian
understanding of crime and moral law
offer to society and law enforcement
entities?
a) Sin – eliminates victimhood and
promotes responsibility for one’s
actions
b) Moral law – supersedes societal laws
c) Grace – produces gratitude which is
the foundation of ethics