What Is Sin?
Editors Note: The following is based on a sermon given the second Sabbath in January, 2007. While some of the texts have been put in context, I've left the others solely as references. I encourage you to take out your Bible and search out each verse for yourself. Bible verses are in quotes
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." - 1 John 3:4
What is sin? - God's gives a clear definition in the above text.
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In order for us to have pardon for and to overcome our sins, we must first have a realization of what sin is. In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning. Jesus died to save us from our sins. The freedom offered us is freedom from sin; perfect liberty. Therefore it is absolutely essential that we have a clear and solid understanding of exactly what sin is. Then and only then may conviction set upon us and, as we act on that conviction, God will lead us to repentance.
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The Bible clearly teaches that we can overcome sin – Revelation 21:6-7 - “athirst” - Being “athirst” is a realizing of our need, being convicted, and drinking freely of the water of life
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As we study it is very important that we don't rely on our preconceived notions/understandings. Always pray before you study and ask God to grant you the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. As we search the scriptures, we can know by faith that God has heard and will answer our prayer.
Using John 3:4 as key to unlocking scripture, let's search the treasure of God's Word and learn what He has to say on this subject so essential to the Christian faith.
"He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." - Proverbs 14:21
To despise (or disrespect) your neighbor is to sin – If sin is a transgression of the law then to despise or disrespect, since the Bible clearly calls it sin, must be a breaking of God's law. But let's not assume, let's see what the Bible says.
- Matthew 5:21-22 - Romans 13:9-10
Bible love is that described in 1 Corinthians 13, which when we have in us keeps perfectly God's law. We cannot have this love of ourselves for it is God's love. Through conviction of sin and God-given repentance, Christ gives us that love.
"An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin". - Proverbs 21:4
- Isaiah 13:11 – iniquity = sin
When our heart is lifted up in pride and arrogance, we've committed sin. How? We've setup “self” as higher than God and broken the very first commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
"The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men." - Proverbs 24:9
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." - Psalms 14:1
By denying God we've setup the god of our own understanding in our hearts. - "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." - Exodus 20:3
Matthew 15:19 - By our carnal, fallen nature, we can do nothing but sin; we are slaves to it. Romans 8:7-8 (then 6) - To be spiritually minded we must exercise our will and ask God for repentance – (1) Recognize our need – 1 John 1:8 (2) Confess sins/helplessness to God - 1 John 1:9 – (3) Then, Philippians 2:13 (Hebrews 13:21)
"For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin." - Isaiah 31:7
- Exodus 20:4 – 1 Corinthians 10:14
Anything that diverts the mind from God assumes the form of an idol, and that is why there is so little power in the church today.
An idol is simply something, anything, we worship rather than God. Our idols can be our homes, our cars, our jobs; anything that we setup in our hearts to worship and serve above God.
"But when ye sin so against the brethren [by being a stumbling block – verse 9], and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ." - 1 Corinthians 8:12
"If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:" - James 2:8
By being a stumbling block in what we say or do, in the way we live our lives, if our actions would wound the conscious of one of our dear brothers or sisters in Christ, it is a sin against Christ, who loves them dearly and gave His life for them as He did for you and me.
"But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors." - James 2:9
- Deuteronomy 16:19 - 2 Chronicles 19:7 – Acts 10:34-35
To have “respect of persons” is to show preference for one persons over another, to treat one person better than another. In God's eyes we are all equal, so should we be in the eyes of one another. To treat each other otherwise is to break the law summarized in “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. - Romans 14:23
What is faith? - Hebrews 11:1
Faith, my friends, is simply taking God at his word; it is believing that God will do just as he has promised.
Numbers 23:19 – What has God said? - 1 John 2:25 | Romans 3:3-4
If we doubt God at His Word, we've put our own understanding, our own “truth” above His. We've made our understanding our own god. - Exodus 20:3
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." - James 4:17
What is good? - Romans 7:12-14– Also: Romans 7 (prayerfully read the entire chapter)
- 1 John 3:22 - Revelation 22:14
As seen in every verse, there is only one definition for sin - sin is the transgression of the law. Disrespect, pride, idolatry, foolish thoughts, being a stumbling block, treating some better than others, that not of faith, and knowing to do good and doing it not, all these are transgressions of the law – all of these are sin.
Now that we know clearly what sin is, let's take a look at the “nature of sin” and how it relates to us in our fallen condition.
Are we born into sin? Yes and no. While we are born in sin, that is, into a world of sin, we are not born “sinners”. Were this so then infant baptism could be conceived as a necessity.
- Romans 3:23 – Notice - “have sinned” - not “born into sin”
Sin is the transgression of the law so in order for us to be guilty of sin, we must trangress the law, no one else, including our parents, can do it for us.
Let's see what the Bible has to say on this subject.
- Ezekiel 18:18-20
Children are not guilty for the sins of their parents nor do they inherit their parent's righteousness. When child reaches an age of accountability, they are individually responsible to God for their choices.
Now, why is all this important? - In history, especially last days, there has been and will continue to be attempt after attempt from the enemy of souls to “redefine” sin and make it less objectionable.
In modern times, the doctrine that it is impossible to overcome sin has become very prominent, directly opposing God's Word. As such and in all cases, it is vital to understand exactly what sin is.
But we need not be deceived. Let's read 1 John 3:4 together again.
There is no other true definition for sin.
- Now.. Mark this. -
The results of varying from a principle of God's Word, in however slight a degree, will always be disasterous. Should we once accept that sin is anything else but what the Bible clearly defines, we open the door for a wide host of deceptions.
For example: If we accept the doctrine that we are “born sinners”, then some serious problems arise in our understanding of the plan of salvation.
One Problem - It raises a deep question in the hearts of parents as to what happens to the child that dies in infancy. Throughout history and even today there are many parents who are convinced that their child is lost if they are unable to get them baptized after birth.
Much deeper than that, though, it raises a question about the very nature of our Savior. You see, if we were all born sinners, then what about Christ? We know that He never sinned, so this false understanding of what sin is presents a problem as to how He was born.
The way false teachers get around this evil-conceived “problem” is to change the very nature of Christ. If we were born sinners and Christ never sinned, then the obvious explanation, as false teachers would have us believe, is that Christ must have taken on a *different* nature than ours.
This is contrary to the Scriptures. They clearly state:
Hebrews 2:16 – Romans 1:1-3 – 1 John 4:3 – 2 John 7
Now, if we accept that Christ came in any nature other than our fallen nature, as the Bible clearly teaches, we open the door even wider for deception.
For if Christ came in a different nature than ours, then, as false teachers present it, in order for Him to be born without sin, Mary needs to be without sin from birth. This eventually paves the way to the understanding of the “immaculate conception”, which then asks the question.. “If Mary was without sin, how could she have died?” - Which then leads the way to “Well, Mary didn't die.. She was “assumed” into heaven.”
..All that from a single deviation from God's truth.
Many paths lead away from truth – Let us, by God's grace, walk the straight and narrow path and stand firmly on the truths of His Word.
Let's read 1 John 3:4 together one last time.
In closing, I encourage you to search the Bible for yourselves on this subject and to be thoroughly convinced in your own minds.
Sin can and must be overcome and anything that teaches otherwise is not of God. To overcome we must (1) be convicted of our sins, (2) confess our sins to God (3) Yield our will so that He can work in us to create a clean heart/renew a right spirit -
We live in a time where false doctrine runs rampant all around us and if we aren't grounded solidly in God's Word, convicted of His truths, and standing on His promises, we will be swept away.
Let us not be swept away but be grounded firmly to the Rock of our Salvation.
