What is Sin?

Moving Right Along...

What is man? A being created in the image of God Himself that had the ability to live eternally without sin, but instead chose to intentionally disobey God, to reject His truth, and to believe the lie of Satan. As a result, all of mankind is now born with and bound to a sinful nature. Which begs the question...

What is Sin?

This next section of studies is going to be centered on the topic of sin. First we must:

Define Sin

To miss the mark or the standard which God has set

John 1:29 KJV 1900

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

There are several synonyms for sin used in the OT, such as:

Transgression

Iniquity

Unrighteousness

Each of these has their own definition, but they all generally refer to some for of sinful behavior.

I can’t read minds, but if I could I bet you would be thinking this right now:

Why Should We Study Sin?

Well, while we’re all experts on sinning, there are some practical reasons we should study the topic:

Every person has been affected by sin - in fact, when you understand this simple truth you can understand why the world is in the condition it is.

Sin is a powerful force which enslaves mankind. We are slaves to sin.

Every person’s eternal destiny depends upon God’s forgiveness of sin, or rather, what they choose to do with God’s forgiveness of sin.

The difference between serving the Lord and serving the devil is determine yb our defeat from or victory over sin.

Topics we will discuss in the coming weeks:

Sin’s origin

Sin’s effects

Sin’s penalty

Sin’s expression

Sin’s forgiveness

Something important to remember before we leave:

Don’t judge someone just because they sin differently than you.

Matthew 7:1–6 KJV 1900

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Too often Christians set themselves as the standard to follow. “I’m not as bad as that person.” The truth is God is our standard and we all come short of His glory every day.