Sin [Part 1 – What is Sin?]

Sin [Part 1 – What is Sin?]

An infection is an unnatural cause that leads to unexpected and abnormal behaviour in the body system. This can result in pain, lack of health or even death itself. Thus, there is need to learn to reason from cause to effect. If there’s a cause, there will be an effect. “...the cause causeless shall not come.” – Pro. 26:2. When we take a look at the world, we witness pain, misery, suffering, death, evil, unfairness, etc. In fact, “...the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” – Rom. 8:22. In this study we are going to learn about what sin really is. One person once said “sin is an intruder.” There’s literally a virus running down our blood stream and brain called sin. Though many in the scientific realm have not yet discovered it, yet in God’s book it has been identified and pointed out. One just has to look at our behaviour and you will see something is wrong with us. Think of all the evils we witness on a newspaper and reports every day. Things are not getting better, but evils “shall wax worse and worse” – 2 Tim.3:13. We surely need help for we cannot help ourselves. “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members, O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” – Rom.7:24. The sin that’s upon the earth is affecting all people of different levels: young and old, rich and poor. It does not care about the gender, race or nationality. Sin has affected the whole world as we have see from the book of Romans. “The earth also is defiled...” – Isa. 24:5. We will see why this is the cause in a moment. 

1   What is sin anyhow?

Unless we take time to understand what sin really is, we will never find its true solution. A thorough understanding of this disease is necessary. It is no question, when God performs a spiritual diagnosis He finds that we are literally infected, hence He says, “I have not found thy works perfect before God.” – Rev. 3:2. “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” – Psa. 14:3. Now we will take time to discover what is the biblical definition of sin. I’m going to start by making a statement that seems impossible, then we will investigative together to see if it holds substance. And that statement is:

“In the whole Bible, there’s only one definition of sin.

Take a look at the following verses:

(1)  “The thought of foolishness is sin... – Pro.24:9.

(2)  “..whatsoever is not of faith is sin. – Rom.14:23.

(3)  “...to him that knoweth to good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. – Rom.14:23.

(4)  “All unrighteousness is sin... – 1 Jn.5:17

(5)  “...sin is the transgression of the law. – 1 Jn.3:4.

We have cited five verses, and at first glance they all appear to be the definitions of sin. But let’s take a closer look. The verses from point 1-4 all end with the phrase: “is sin.” This is an example not a definition. If someone gets asked, ‘What is a plant?’ And they respond, “A mango tree is a plant.” Well, that’s not a definition, but an example. In other words when the subject is being placed at the end, typically that is an example, not a definition. When defining a plant you would put the subject at the beginning of the sentence, “a plant is.....” That how something is defined. Whatever is defined gets placed at the beginning of the definition, and the proceeding words is the definition itself. With this in mind you will see, in point 5, that’s the only definition of sin: “sin is the transgression of the law.” That’s why the Bible says:

“For by one’s disobedience many were made sinners...by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. – Romans 5:19, 12.  

“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants (people) thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant. – Isaiah 24:5.

In short, it is the breaking of the law that has resulted in sin. And that’s the real issue. Unless we understand that this is what the real problem is, we would not find the right solution.

2   Which one?

Since sin is breaking the law, which law is this? Let’s find out from the Bible:

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, ‘Thou shalt not covet’. – Rom. 7:7.

The apostle Paul clearly indicates that he had not known sin except by the law. This is true because “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” – Rom. 3:20. The law gives knowledge of sin. So Paul says he didn’t know lust, except the law said ‘Thou shalt not covet.’ Which clearly reveals that the law that says “Thou shalt not covet” is the one which if you break it, it is sin. Where in the Bible does this law or commandment come from? Exodus! It is the tenth commandment: “Thou shalt not covet...” – Exo. 20:17. Which means breaking the moral law (Ten Commandments) is sin. There is no sin that is not covered by the Ten Commandments. Remember that the “commandment” of God “is exceedingly broad.” – Psa. 119:96. It is broader than what man sees on the surface. Hence in Matthew 5 we find Jesus magnifying this law revealing that anger is murder; lust is adultery, etc.

The Bible clearly reveals that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory [character] of God.” – Rom. 3:23. We are all guilty of violating God’s law. Remember that breaking the law is sin. Which means we need to be saved from breaking the law. That’s what salvation is means – to be saved from sin (sin being the transgression of the law). Notice that we are never saved from the law but from the transgression of the law.

The fact that sin exists implies that the law exists because:

“...where no law is, there is no transgression [sin]. – Rom. 4:15.