Nature of sin

The basic nature of sin

All sin is directed against God

Psalm 51:4 ESV

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

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Sin is essentially a lack of faith in God

Romans 14:23 ESV

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

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Descriptions of sin

Corruption of God’s good purposes

Deuteronomy 32:5 ESV

They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation.

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Doing evil in God’s sight

John 3:19–20 ESV

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

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Ungodliness

Jude 14–15 ESV

It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

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Rebellion against God’s authority

Isaiah 30:9 ESV

For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord;

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The breaking or transgression of God’s laws

1 John 3:4 ESV

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

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Straying from the right path

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

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Incurring a debt

Matthew 6:12 ESV

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

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Falling short of a standard

The words most commonly used for “sin” in the OT and NT originally signified “missing the mark”.

Uncleanness

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Kinds of sin

Sins of omission

James 4:17 ESV

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

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Deliberate sins

Luke 12:47 ESV

And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

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Unintentional sins

Luke 12:48 ESV

But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

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Sin against the Holy Spirit

Mark 3:29–30 ESV

but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

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