Sin -
What Is It?
God's definition of sin, and His way of deliverance
This question is of vital importance because of the fearful
judgment against those who commit sin. "The soul that sinneth, it shall
die," thunders the Old Testament (Ezekiel 18:20). In like tones, the New
Testament declares: "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The
one who lives in sin throughout his earthly life and faces God without having
obtained divine forgiveness will be sentenced to eternal perdition.
Sin sprang full-grown among men. Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God. The
first boy born on this earth grew to manhood and murdered the second - his own
brother! And sin has existed in every generation since.
In our time, however, there is one difference: many no longer know what sin
actually is. Things evil are sometimes designated as good; things good, as evil.
Isaiah condemned such a practice, declaring, "Woe unto them that call evil
good, and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20).
Since this confusion exists, and since a person will not seek forgiveness for
sin until he knows what sin is, a clear-cut definition, both negative and positive,
is urgently needed.
Sin Is Not Necessarily Crime
Some equate sin with crime, feeling that to commit sin one must be a murderer,
robber, rapist, or the like. Once, an evangelist passing out revival circulars
was told that he should go to the local jail and try to convert a woman who
had recently murdered her father. Certainly this woman needed forgiveness, but
no more so than other sinners who had not committed a crime.
A crime is a sin, but not every sin is a crime. Crimes are committed against
people; sin is committed against God. As an example, David wronged Bathsheba,
and committed the crime of murder against Uriah her husband, but he affirmed,
"Against thee [God], thee only, have I sinned" (Psalm 51:4).
Sin Is Not Unbelief Alone
Near the end of His ministry, Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Ghost would
"reprove the world of sin ... because they believe not on me" (John
16:8-9). Misinterpreting His meaning, some have concluded that sin is nothing
more than unbelief. But Jesus meant that unbelief would form the basis of sin.
People sin because they do not believe on Jesus Christ. Unbelief is sin, but
it leads to further sin.
"Sin Is the Transgression of the Law"
This definition is given in I John 3:4. By law, the apostle meant the
Word of God, which originally was the Old Testament but which now includes the
New Testament as well. Sin, then, is the transgression (breaking) of a commandment
found in the Bible.
Sins of commission. Someone is guilty of such a sin when he does something
that the Word of God forbids.
Sins of omission. He who fails to do what he knows God has commanded
is guilty of a sin of omission. "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth
it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
"All Unrighteousness Is Sin"
I John 5:17 declares this truth. A person is unrighteous when he does what is
wrong. According to this verse, then, when someone does wrong, he commits sin.
We should note that all unrighteousness is sin. Men are prone to classify sin
as little or great, black or gray, mortal or venial. But to God, all sin is
offensive and objectionable. As an example of the difference between man's and
God's judgment of sin, man classifies the sin of lying as one of the lesser
evils, but God places "all liars" in the same category as the abominable,
murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, and idolaters (Revelation 21:8). Moreover,
He pronounces the same judgment upon all of these sinners - eternal perdition
in the lake of fire and brimstone.
What, then is sin? Simply put, sin is doing what God forbids or failing to do
what He commands.
Is There a Remedy for Sin?
The Bible declares, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Then it
adds, "For all have sinned." These two verses place everyone under
the sentence of eternal death.
But Jesus did not sin (I Peter 2:22). Thus He, not being under condemnation
for sins of His own, could die for the sins of others. Therefore, Isaiah could
proclaim, "All we like sheep have gone astray; . . . and the LORD hath
laid on him
the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
The only remedy for sin is found in Jesus' expiatory death upon Calvary's cross.
"Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22), and in
Christ "we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
(Colossians 1:14).
Must a person respond in any way to obtain this remedy for sin? Yes! The Bible
says, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth
[to God] and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). And these
encouraging words are found in I John 1:9: "If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
In Acts 2:36-37, sinners who had rejected Jesus as Lord and Messiah asked the
apostles, "What shall we do?" Acts 2:38 records the answer: "Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."