What IS sin, anyway?

[Guest]

It seems to me that there is a wide variety of opinions as to what sin actually is. Some limit sin to sexual immorality. Others limit it to activities such as smoking, drinking, attending R-rated movies, or gambling.
Some are blind to the sins by which we wound other people.

Some think that it is impossible for a Christian to go for a single day without sinning. One the other hand, I encountered one woman who claimed she had never sinned for more than 50 years.

As a young person, I had some problems with anger. I was helped by keeping in mind the verse which states "The anger of man does not work the righteousness of God". Yet, anger per se cannot be sin, for God gets angry ---- and we also have the verse, "Be angry and sin not."

There are a number of different Greek words which have been translated as "sin", and they do not all have the same meaning. Perhaps I will share these in a future post.

In the meantime, I would be glad know the specifics of your own concept of sin. Please don't be content with the definition "anything which separates us from God." For there is a great deal of difference in opinion as to what things do in fact separate us from God.

[Guest]

Sin is "missing the mark", the mark God has established regarding every facet of our life. Even when we do not know what the mark is, failure to adhere to God's will is still sin. There are at least three categories of sin: sin, wickedness, and iniquity. These categories are mentioned several times in the OT, often in the same verse.

I suppose a person can claim to live sinlessly but this would require knowing God's will in every instance.

[Guest]

I like to think of sin as doing what we ought not to do, or not doing that which we ought.

i know this is simplistic and perhaps may be culturally based.

however, i believe, in general, that we know full well what we ought to do (or ought not to). so in a sense sin is rebellion against our conscience, which of course is rebellion against God.

i enjoy reading CS Lewis' treatment of this in Mere Christianity-- the first several chapters deal with some of these issues.

TK

[Guest]

I think the 10 commandments virtually covered every sin until Christ seemed to expand the definition in the Sermon on the Mount.
He exponded the real meanings behind the 10 commandments like mercy,humility,poor in spirit,lustfulness in the heart etc.
Another words the beautitudes have a flip side, meaning if you are not merciful or not humble or not poor in spirit you are not being in God's will therefore by definition you are sinning.

[Guest]

The Law of Christ is to love your neighbor as yourself. I believe we have a scripture which gives a simple explanation of sin.

James 4:17
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Isn't this what we are taught in the parable of the sheep and the goats?

Todd

[Guest]

Sin= disobedience to God
Major sin = teaching you must believe trinity to be part of the Body Of Christ and be saved.
Separating and calling a member of the Body a heretic concerning the above.

[Guest]

At this point, I would define sin as the failure to govern the desires of the flesh according to morality (God’s law). “Missing the mark” as Homer says. This morality is internal to everyone in the form of a conscience.

We sin when we fail God’s moral tests and choose to follow our desires rather than obey our God-given conscience (which is continually refined by the on-going revelation of His will).

That’s my current understanding anyway...

Lord bless.

[Guest]

Sin is lawlessness (1John3:4).

So I guess the next question should be what does he mean by lawlessness?

[Guest]

At this point, I would define sin as the failure to govern the desires of the flesh according to morality (God’s law). “Missing the mark” as Homer says. This morality is internal to everyone in the form of a conscience.

It appears that Christopher answered my question as I was posting it!

[Guest]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about sin. Here are the eight words for "sin" in the New Testament. The number in brackets at the beginning of each word gives the number of occurences in the New Testament. The literal meaning of the Greek word is given in capital letters. The scriptures quoted are from the King James, from Revised Standard, and from other translations. The translated word for the given Greek word is underlined.

[1] agnoama — NO KNOWLEDGE, error due to not knowing

Heb 9:7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.
1Es 9:20 They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and to give rams in expiation of their error.

[151] hamartia — MISSING THE MARK and thus used in early Greek for “mistake”. In New Testament times, its use was broadened to include any wrongdoing.

Mt 1:21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Ac 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forsaking of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Ac 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
[Ananias spoke these words to Paul after Paul had given his testimony. First Paul’s sight was restored to him. Then Ananias told him that God had chosen him to know His will, and to be a witness to all people.]

Mr 1:4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forsaking of sins.

Ro 6:4-6
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.

1Pe 2:24 He himself endured our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1Jo 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Heb 10:26,27 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

[13] anomia — LAWLESSNESS

Ro 6:19 For just as you once yielded your members to uncleaness and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.

2Co 6:14 Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2Th 2:7 For the secret of lawlessness is already at work; only there is the restraining one just now until it is out of the way.

Tit 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades."

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."

Heb 10:17 then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more."

1Jo 3:4 Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

[1] paranomia — BEYOND THE LAW, breach of the law

2 Pet 2:15,16
Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

[6] asebia — NO REVERERANCE, irreverance

Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth.

Titus 2:11,12
For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world,

[3] parakoa — BEYOND HEARING, unwillingness to listen

Ro 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous.
[Then as through the unwillingness to listen of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, so also through the listening of the one man, the many will be constituted righteous].

2Co 10:6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
[in readiness having to correct every unwillingness to listen, whenever is fulfilled in you a willingness to listen.]

[7] parabasis — STEPPING BEYOND, transgression

Ro 2:23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Ro 4:15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

Heb 9:15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

[20] paraptoma — FALLING BESIDE, a false step, a blunder

Matt 6:14,15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Ro 11:12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!