What is Sin?
1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
The Bible warns that “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23), and “The soul who sins is the one who will die.” (Ezekiel 18:20). These are strange days, however, and there are many “that call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Who is to say what is right and wrong, when even our U.S. Supreme Court implies that there are no absolutes?
God is the one who defines sin because it is He who will judge sin. The definition is multifaceted, for sin takes many forms. Most basically, as our text says, sin is the transgression of the law—not just certain laws but all of God’s law. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
But there must be more than just formal obedience to God’s commands, for “all unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17). Furthermore, there are sins of omission as well as sins of commission. “Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin." (James 4:17).
When there is no specific law or command to guide our actions in a particular situation, the principle to follow is that of faith—that is, the confident inward assurance that we are doing that which honors the Lord, for “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).
There is much more that could be noted, but it is clear that no one could ever measure up even to these demands, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). All of us deserve the wages of sin, “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ” (Romans 5:8). Now “the righteousness of God without the law is manifested....Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:21-22).
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