WHAT IS SIN: PART A

What Is Sin? Part A

     In modern times the word “sin” has become a sort of antiquated or archaic word. Many in our culture do not even want to use such a word; however not knowing what it is can leave a person extremely vulnerable. So for the next couple of days I would like to simply blog about, in part A the definition of sin. In the next blog-- or part B--I want to talk about what Jesus said about sin and how it can impact a person's daily life. You might be surprised to hear that he has a very unique take on what habitual sin does to us… It “ain't” a pretty picture.

     Sin is not temptation. First Corinthians 10:13b tells us that everyone is tempted when “the individual is drawn away by their own lust and enticed.” Therefore, temptation is an unhealthy utilization of healthy desires. Notice what comes next "then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin."  Even Jesus was tempted; for example, in the book of Hebrews we are told that Jesus was tempted in every way like we have been taking yet he never sinned”

     Why is this important? It is important because many people do a lot of unnecessary guilt and shame because everyone is tempted. There's no way to avoid being tempted. So when people confuse temptation with sin they really get themselves in a guilty state of mind. Staying in a healthy state of mind really damages a person's spiritual journey. Hopefully this one thing is clear. Sin is not temptation and temptation does not sin. I do hope this helps.

     Sin is to break God's law. That is to say “sin is transgression of the law.” God has given us 10 Commandments. If we violate one of them, we have broken God's law. You can find these 10 Commandments Exodus 20; for example, worshiping false gods is against God's law. Or if we lie or steal we break God's law. Committing sexual immorality is to violate God's law… You get my drift? There is not a one of us who has not broken God's law.

    Iniquity is another word for sin. Iniquity refers to our corrupt nature that was developed when our DNA was impacted when phone human beings first began sinning. Genesis 8:21 tells us "Every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.” In Matthew 15:19, Jesus said, "From out of the heart comes evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immoralities, theft, false testimony, slandered." If you leave the young people unsupervised on the street over a period of time they will tend to get into trouble. If you don't rear children with a value system that is sensitive to God's law, they will not need anyone to teach them how to break it… even though they may have never memorized the 10 Commandments. This is true because as the ancients teach a iniquity now is in the heart of each human being.

     Sin is also described as trespass. In one version of the Lord's Prayer, we are advised to ask God to “forgive us our trespasses.” People know what this word means today. A person trespasses when they unlawfully go where they are not supposed to go. Most of us have seen no trespassing signs. I have to admit each time I've seen one I have been tempted to jump the fence and trespass just for a few moments. See there's that iniquity thing. The Bible says in Ephesians 2 that we were dead in our press passes and sins. It also says that we were- "By nature- children of wrath." We commit trespasses when we fail to center our lives on God. Instead we center our lives on ourselves. To say that another way, we live independent of God rather than dependent on God. This is what Adam and Eve did.

    Sin is unbelief. In first John 5 and following verses, the apostle John said,  “He does not believe God has made God out to be a liar because that person does not believe the record that God gave of his son, and this is the record that God gave of his son: eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that has the son has life. He has not the son of God has not life. These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” One time Jesus literally wept over Jerusalem because of their unbelief, which meant they would experience God's judgment. Their unbelief broke his heart.

Okay Christ followers that's it for today.  I do hope you found something that you could use for that you could share with someone that will change their lives forever. Note: be blessed today especially today.

SoJourner