What is Sin?

Sin is a word not many of us are comfortable hearing. In this modern era, some people feel that the word and concept of “sin” is outdated. They may also feel that the term sin as harsh and judgmental. Even so, as Christians, gaining an understanding of sin is crucial for appreciating the depth of God’s love and mercy in our lives. Without this knowledge, it’s impossible to comprehend God’s grace toward us. 

In contrast, the world focuses on moral relativism (the concept that there are no absolute moral principles. Right and wrong depend on the culture, social context, opinion, etc.). As believers, we must make a distinction between moral relativism and sin. 

What is the Nature of Sin? 

The Bible teaches us that there is a vast difference between what is right and wrong (sin).  To understand the concept of sin, it’s necessary to first understand the definition of this word. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, sin can be defined as “an offense against religious or moral law, an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible, a serious shortcoming (fault), a transgression of the law of God, or a vitiated (ruined—state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God).” 

Sin isn’t just failing to follow God’s rules or committing bad acts. It also includes deliberate rebellion against God and His perfection. However, sin can also be not doing what we know is right or even doing something without realizing we’ve committed a sin. 

The Bible uses various words for “sin” (depending on the translation you’re using), including: 

• Missing the mark: failing to measure up to God’s standards. 
• Transgression: a deliberate act of rebellion. 
• Iniquity: having a perverse heart. 
• Err/error: making a mistake. 
• Wicked/wickedness: active, destructive principle at work in the world (evil). 

You may also find a distinction between sin and sins in the Bible. Sin is a principle based on lawlessness, which is found within each of us. When it comes to sins, these can vary by different factors, including heredity, environments, disposition, and circumstances. Sin is not just an act; it can also be an attitude. 

Moreover, sin can be both active and passive. Active sins are those we commit consciously (knowingly). They can include lying, stealing, hurting others, and more. Passive sins can include choosing not to do something we know is right, such as ignoring those in need or staying silent in the face of injustice. Both types of sin separate us from God. 

Sin leads to the following: 

Disobedience: sin is a violation of God’s commands and laws. When we choose to disobey Him, we reject His authority and break our relationship with Him. 

Unrighteousness: sin also leads to a lack of moral integrity, which also separates us from God. God is perfectly righteous and holy; He cannot abide being in the presence of sin. 

Spiritual death: over time, sin can lead to spiritual death, which causes us to be separated from God’s presence and fellowship. This may be for a time in this world or for all eternity, depending on whether we seek our Father’s forgiveness through Christ. 

Guilt and shame: when we do something wrong (knowingly), sin can cause us to feel guilt and shame. This is where our conscience comes into play. Feelings of guilt and shame are strong and can separate us from God. Not only that, but we may feel as if we can no longer approach God with trust and confidence. It may become difficult to even think about approaching the Lord in prayer. 

Broken relationship: sin also damages our relationship with God. We feel separated from Him and/or He may feel distant from us. These feelings can cause loneliness and despair. 

Adam and Eve first experienced this separation in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). They ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They both had their eyes opened and they realized they were naked, causing them to feel ashamed. They even blamed others for their own faults. Adam and Eve also realized they had been disobedient. 

The result of Adam and Eve’s sin (rebellion) was permanent separation from God and they were thrown out of the Garden. Out in the world, they had to toil, experience pain, and death because of their sin. This was the curse laid on Adam and Eve by God for their disobedience. This is a great example of how we humans broke our relationship with God in the first place. And it’s where the concept of Original Sin comes from. 

However, God had mercy on them through His promise to “put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15) 

This pattern of committing evil (sin) was set by Adam and Eve, and it continues to this day in each of our lives. This is the nature of sin. All through the Bible, sin is seen as causing relational, moral, and eternal issues. It’s a destructive force within us; however, God has given us a way to seek forgiveness and mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ. Only through Christ can we be redeemed and find restoration with God. 

Sin is the Universal Human Condition

In Romans 3:23, Paul says, “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin is a universal condition for all humans. This condition helps us to understand our shared need for redemption in Christ. Not one of us can claim to be superior to others. Each of us struggles with sin in different forms. 

Common Misconceptions About Sin

There are several common misconceptions about sin we must also discuss, including: 

Sin only deals with our actions: it’s true that actions matter; however, sin begins in the heart. Jesus taught that even harboring anger or lust are sinful (Matthew 5:21-28). 

Some sins are worse than others: some sins may have different consequences in our lives; however, sin ultimately separates us from God and His perfection. Committing murder or feeling jealous can be of equal weight when it comes to sin.

Sin is breaking religious rules: sin is more about breaking our relationship with God. 

If it doesn’t hurt anyone, it’s not sin: all sins have consequences, even if we can’t immediately see them. The consequences affect our lives and cause a disruption in our relationship with God. They also damage our spiritual well-being. 

The Impact of Sin

The effects of sin fall through every area of our lives: 

Spiritual: damaged relationship with God. 

Relationships with others: our relations with others can be broken with those in our lives; trust may be irrevocably destroyed. 

Personal: our sins can result from guilt, shame, and inner turmoil. 

Societal: systems and structures can be developed that cause and perpetuate harm. 

Let's take a look at a simple analogy of sin. Throwing a rock into a pond or lake is an excellent example of how sin works. When you throw a rock into a pond, the impact of the rock hitting the water causes ripples to go out from its center. The ripples flow all around where the rock impacted the water and spread out from that point. Sin is very much like this. 

When we commit a sin, its effects ripple through all areas of our lives, including our families, communities, and future generations. Understanding this concept should not make us feel shameful. It should help guide our decisions and help us live responsibly as we seek redemption in Christ. 

God’s Response to Sin

God’s response to sin always involves judgment; however, He loves us and wants to see us redeemed from sin. Our Lord knows and understands we live in a fallen world where evil runs rampant. God is merciful and He wrote the Bible to show us His plan to rescue us from the power and consequences of sin through Jesus Christ, His Son. 

Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate demonstration of the effects of sin and God’s love. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we read, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” This verse is one of the most powerful descriptions of the Gospel message and Paul’s teaching on Jesus’ role in salvation. 

Here, Paul helps us understand the profound truth about why Jesus died for us. Christ died on the cross for each of us. It is only through His righteousness that we can be reconciled with God. Jesus is the only sinless human who has ever lived. He perfectly obeyed God’s will in all things during His life. Hebrews 4:15 NKJV says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” 

Even so, Jesus took on the penalty of sin for us—he died on the cross in our place. When Christ died for us, he took on the weight and consequence of sin on the cross. In doing so, Jesus became a sacrifice that satisfied God’s justice. Isaiah 53:6 NKJV beautifully says this: 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.”

 In other words, Jesus took on our sins—taking the punishment that each of us deserves (death). Through faith in Jesus, we are forgiven and receive the righteousness of God (forgiveness). You may hear this referred to as “imputed righteousness.” All this means is that Jesus’ righteousness is credited to those who trust in and believe in Him. 

Because of Christ, we can stand before God, our Father. He sees us in Christ, therefore seeing us as righteous. This is not because we are righteous—it is due to Christ’s righteousness that we can come before God. 

What Does This Mean for Christians? 

Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, those who believe in Him are reconciled to God. Our broken relationship is mended. God no longer sees us as sinful humans. Instead, He sees us as His children, who are transformed by Christ’s sacrifice. 

This is the Good news of the gospel and the New Testament. Jesus took our place on the cross so our relationship with God might be restored. 

Does this mean we can sin and get away with things? No! The Christian walk is a matter of growing our faith, listening to God’s guidance, and making better choices in His strength. We can’t save ourselves through our own efforts. That’s impossible. But when we believe in Jesus Christ, that He is God’s son, that He died and rose again, then we are saved from the death sentence of sin. 

This is the great truth of the Bible. 

Practical Steps Forward

There are steps we can take to deal with the sin in our lives: 

Regular self-examination: this doesn’t mean “studying your navel” or making ourselves remember everything wrong we’ve done throughout the day. But what it does mean is to take time and honestly evaluate your life before God. Set aside time for reflection, use Scripture as guidance for self-examination, and journal about your spiritual journey to learn as you go. 

Confession: when we confess to God or a trusted priest/pastor, friend or counselor who can offer their support, we receive relief from shame and guilt. Regular confession keeps these feelings from accumulating. But it’s essential to find a trustworthy accountability partner who can help you. This might be a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor who is a true believer. 

Accountability: build relationships that encourage spiritual growth. For instance, you might want to join a Bible study group, meet regularly with a mentor or spiritual director, and consider using technology to keep your life on track. 

Service: channel your energy into helping others rather than always focusing on yourself. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care for yourself (prayer, Bible study, eating healthy, exercise, etc.). It’s just a good idea to help others to keep from becoming obsessive about yourself and your sin. 

One note about confessing your sins. It’s not enough to tell God or another person about your sins. You must truly repent (turning away from sin and feeling sorrow for the offense) and seek God’s forgiveness. This is a lifelong process that must be driven by the love of God. 

Repentance means changing your heart or mind. This is best done through spiritual discipline, such as daily Bible reading and study, prayer, and more. Each day is a new opportunity to repent and get right with God. 

Conclusion

The reality is that each of us commits sins daily; however, that’s not the end of the story. Through belief in Christ, we have received forgiveness. Not only that, but God’s forgiveness also carries the power of transformation and the hope of complete restoration of our relationship with Him. It’s OK to recognize and acknowledge our struggles with sin. But by accepting Christ as our Savior, we can repent of our sins and experience God’s eternal mercy, grace, and love. 

God’s love isn’t based on our works, it’s based on His character and the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. He doesn’t want us to despair in our sin, but look to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to find redemption, forgiveness, and restoration. It’s through Christ and at the foot of His cross, that we find forgiveness, healing, and the power to live redeemed lives in Christ. 

God bless,

PS If you'd like to find apps for prayer, Bible study, etc., head over to our Resources page!