Sin

If we understand sin and our part in it; we will be brought to the door of Saving Faith.

If the word sin makes you cringe and awakens unpleasant thoughts of death or hell… It’s because it is uncomfortable. It is uncomfortable for a reason. Brokenness was not meant to be normal, and the world is broken because of sin. Images flash across newscasts as horrific stories are broadcasted. Death tolls rise as natural disasters seem never-ending. Shootings have become common. Lewdness in television is “usual.” We have even become numb to the effects of sin. And many Christians do not give this topic the attention it deserves because it is offensive. It is offensive to tell someone that they are a sinner in need of a Savior, yet that is the truth.

Why is it important to know?

A proper perspective of sin will correct weak theology, correct self-righteousness, correct liberal Christianity, and correct religiousness. It helps us to understand who WE are and who GOD is. Sin is used in both the Old Testament (Hebrew), and the New Testament (Greek).

Strong’s Number 2403 -  חַטָּאָה chaṭṭâʾâh,- khat-taw-aw´- means an offense

Strong’s Number: 266 - Greek expression: hamartia - means an offense

Understanding what sin is is essential to understanding salvation because we have to know what we are saved FROM. This article seeks to explain the definition of sin, the origin of sin, and the solution to our sin “problem.”

Definition of sin:

Sin can be defined as doing, saying, thinking, or imagining anything that is not in perfect harmony with the mind and law of God, a violation of God’s Divine standard for people. It can often be expressed by missing the mark or not being perfect. It implies going beyond set limits in thought, deeds, or actions. The Word of God says in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In our human flesh, we cannot live up to God’s standard, but He did not leave us in our hopeless state. We are all born with a sin nature, yet God made a Way. In a relationship with Christ, there is the hope that we will someday live with Him, removed from all sin, death, and tears (Revelations 21:1-21). 

Origin of sin:

We see the first act of sin in Genesis 3:6 when Eve took the fruit of the tree that God told her not to eat of. She and Adam both disobeyed God. Sin entered the world. As a result, God cursed woman, man, and the serpent that tempted Eve. 

Paul writes in Romans 5:12-13: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned- (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”

The Law that God gave Moses at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20), made people aware of their sin. We know what sin is as God has given us His Word to help us know what is right, what His standard is. Romans 3:20 says, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” No one has to tell us how to do wrong. Jeremiah 17:9 says that “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Movies portray following one’s heart as respectable and even honorable. But how often does our heart lead us astray? So often, we think that something will satisfy us, whether sex, entertainment, drugs, travel, education, family, alcohol, packages… and the list goes on. Yet… none of it works. It’s because we were created for God, and only He can satisfy us. 

So, who does sin affect?  

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, James wrote, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). At first glance, this may seem harsh to deserve eternal punishment because of one sin (although we sin daily), but let me ask you this: Have you ever seen a white sheep? From far away, the sheep looks white! Yet, it snows, and you look at that same sheep against a pure blanket of snow and it does not look so white anymore. You see it’s impurities. Maybe it only walked through one puddle, yet that sheep is dirty compared to the pure snow. That is how it is with God. He is perfect, blameless, and holy. He has never sinned, and He will never sin. Against His purity, we are filthy! From afar, we might look good, but what about our thoughts? What about our motives? What about how we treat our neighbor or our parents? We don’t look so clean anymore. Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.” We are all born sinners. Jesus is the only one who is unaffected. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and lived a perfect life. He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11), but He never sinned.

Let me give you just one more example of sin: It is a “disease” that infects all of us regardless of status, ethnicity, background, language, experience, or economic status. In the Word of God, leprosy is used as an illustration of sin. It slowly devours its host by first removing the sense of feeling, then it begins to rot their body, and eventually leads to death. This illustration connects leprosy and sin in their similarity as they lead to disgusting and painful life that separates one from their family and friends, until one is unrecognizable and completely destroyed. Satan is a master deceiver, and he tempts us with just a “little” taste of sin that can lead to a slippery slope if not interrupted.

Does this count?

You may have heard that a half-truth is still a whole lie. This goes back to that slippery slope. Sometimes, we wonder how much we can get away with. Well, the Bible talks about two types of sin: omission and commission. The first sin in the Garden was a sin of commission as Adam and Eve intentionally disobeyed God. We intentionally do things that we know are wrong. These could be visible or private. Yet God goes as far to say that even looking at someone with lust is considered adultery (Matthew 5:27-28). Yet, sins of omission are when we fail or neglect to do what we know that we should do. It could also be defined as leaving things undone that need to be done. James 4:17 says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” God also instructed the Israelites to make sacrifices for unintentional sins (Leviticus 4). Sin is a big deal, it is what separates us from God. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Praise God, the story does not stop there.

The first thing that God does to a person when He makes them a new creation is to shine light in their hearts and show them that he or she is a guilty sinner. Once we have recognized that we are sinners, it is kind of overwhelming. Thankfully, there is one who cannot be overcome, and His name is Jesus. Jesus came to die for the smallest and most insignificant, imperfect of men, yet His sacrifice was so powerful because of who He was that it covered all sin! It covered the sins committed by all people in history and all sins to be committed. He is the Savior that we needed. All we have to do is to receive His gift of salvation. “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (NKJV, 2 Corinthians 4:6). Look to Jesus. Put your faith in Jesus and His atoning work on the cross, along with His resurrection. Trust Him. Start a relationship with Him. And… know that you are not too far gone. A man who persecuted Christians was not too far from God’s grace. A tax collector was not too far. A fisherman was not too far. Let today be your day of salvation.

“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21).

Are you stuck in sin, or have you come to Salvation through Christ? Freedom is waiting. 

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4)