SIN

Robert Meredith

  What is sin?  The Word of God tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  God also reveals that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  Therefore, all accountable people have sinned and the consequence is spiritual separation from God (Isaiah 59:2).  Since sin has such tragic results, let us turn to the Bible, the Word of God, and see what sin is.

  The Apostle John wrote, “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17).  If one were to look at Psalm 119:172 he would notice that “all Thy commandments are righteousness.”  Therefore, disobeying God’s commandments is sin.  Whether one does what God forbids, or if he does what God does not authorize, he would be doing that which is unrighteous.  John would also write, “for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).  The word “transgression” means to go beyond.

  Basically there are three different “forms” of sin.  The one we think of most often is the sin of commission, or sins that we commit.  For instance, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Let him that stole steal no more:  but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28).  Here one has a command not to steal.  When one steals, he is violating the law, or doing that which the law forbids.  He has committed a sin of commission.  Another example of this can be found in 1 John 2:9-10.  John wrote, “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”  To hate means to wish ill upon or to not do what is in their best interest.  Literally the word means to detest or to love less.  When one exhibits hatred, he is doing that which God forbids and is committing a sin of commission.

  Another “type” of sin is the sin of omission.  The Holy Spirit, through the pen of James, revealed, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).  When one knows that there is something that he needs to do, yet fails to do it, it is sin.  Wednesday Bible study, speaking words of encouragement, and trying to restore the erring are all good and if we know this, and still fail to do them it is sinful. 

  The third “form” of sin, and one we often fail to realize is the violation of one’s conscience.  Paul wrote, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).  In the context of Romans 14, Paul is discussing matters of conscience or scruples.  Verse 23 is showing that if we violate our personal faith (something we hold to), whether the Bible actually condemns it or not, then it is a sin to us.  The context is dealing with the eating of meats or such like.  If one believes it is wrong to do something (for instance, to eat pork), and he does it, then it is a sin for him.  Even thought it is not a sin in and of itself to eat pork, it would be to him because he believed it was wrong and did it anyway.

  The word sin means to miss the mark.  When one sins, he missed the “bulls-eye” for which he should have been aiming.  He fell short of God’s standard.  Ezekiel informs us, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20).  Sin is not inherited; it is something you do.  However, by God’s grace all sin can be forgiven, but you have to obey the Lord’s will.