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SUBJECT: Sin
QUESTION: What is sin?
ANSWER:
FROM SEVERAL BIBLE
DICTIONARIES
SIN
Sin as Disobedience: A fairly exact definition of sin based
on Biblical data would be that sin is the transgression of
the law of God (1 John 3:4). Ordinarily, sin is defined
simply as "the transgression of the law," but the idea of
God is so completely the essential
conception of the entire Biblical revelation that we can
best define sin as disobedience to the law of God. It will
be seen that primarily sin is an act, but from the very
beginning it has been known that acts have effects, not only
in the outward world of things and persons, but also upon
him who commits the act.
~from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia
SIN (Heb. hatta'a; Grk. hamartia, a falling away from or
missing the right path). Also numerous other Heb. words.
General. The underlying idea of sin is that of law and of a
lawgiver. The lawgiver is God. Hence sin is everything in
the disposition and purpose and conduct of God's moral
creatures that is contrary to the expressed will of God (Rom
3:20; 4:15; 7:7; James 4:12,17).
The sinfulness of sin lies in the fact that it is against
God, even when the wrong we do is to others or ourselves
(Gen 39:9; Ps 51:4).
The being and law of God are perfectly harmonious, for "God
is love." The sum of all the commandments likewise is love;
sin in its nature is egotism and selfishness. Self is put in
the place of God (Rom 15:3; 1 Cor 13:5; 2 Tim 3:2,4; 2 Thess
2:3-4). Selfishness (not
pure self-love, or the exaggeration of it, but in opposition
to it) is at the bottom of all disobedience, and
it becomes hostility to God when it collides with His law.
All sin therefore has a positive character, and the
distinction between sins of commission and those of omission
is only on the surface. In both cases sin is actual
disobedience (see Matt 23:23).
~From The New Unger's Bible
Dictionary
SIN
Lawlessness (1 John 3:4) or transgression of God's will,
either by omitting to do what God's law requires or by doing
what it forbids. The transgression can occur in thought (1
John 3:15), word (Matt 5:22), or deed (Rom 1:32).
Mankind was created without sin, morally upright and
inclined to do good (Eccl 7:29). But sin entered into human
experience when Adam and Eve violated the direct command of
God by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (Gen
3:6). Because Adam was the head and representative of the
whole human race, his sin affected all future generations
(Rom 5:12-21). Associated with this guilt is a corrupted
nature passed from Adam to all his descendants. Out of this
perverted nature arise all the sins that people commit (Matt
15:19); no person is free from involvement in sin (Rom
3:23). ~from Nelson's
Illustrated Bible Dictionary
SIN
Viewed as chatha', "coming short of our true end," the glory
of God (Rom 3:23), literally, missing the mark; Greek
hamartanoo (NT:264). `awen, "vanity," "nothingness"; after
all the scheming and labour bestowed on sin nothing comes of
it. "Clouds without water" (Jude 12; Prov 22:8; Jer 2:5; Rom
8:20). Pesha` (OT:6588) rebellion, namely, against God as
our rightful king. Rasha` (OT:7561) "wickedness," related to
ra'ash (OT:7326) "restlessness"; out of God all must be
unrest (Isa 57:20-21); "wandering stars" (Jude 13). Ma`al
(OT:4604), "shuffling violation of duty," "prevarication" (1
Chron 10:13). 'aashaam (OT:817), "guilt," incurring
punishment and needing atonement, Ra` (OT:7451), "ill,"
"ruin," the same word for "badness" and "calamity"
literally, breaking in pieces. 'Awal, "evil," "perversity."
Amal (OT:2550), "travail"; sin is weary work (Hab 2:13).
'Avah, "crookedness," "wrong," a distortion of our nature,
disturbing our moral balance. Shagah, "error." `abar
(OT:5675), "transgression through anger"; "sin is the
transgression of the law," i.e. God's will (1 John 3:4). Sin
is a degeneracy from original good, not an original
existence, creation, or generation; not by the Creator's
action, but by the creature's defection (Eccl 7:29). As God
is love, holiness is resemblance to Him, love to Him and His
creatures, and conformity to His will. Selfishness is the
root of sin, it sets up self and self will instead of God
and God's will. ~from
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
SOME SPECIFIC VERSES
Sin is the transgression of the Law:
1 John 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin
is the transgression of the law.
Sin is of the devil:
1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
devil.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and
abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a
liar, and the father of it.
All unrighteousness is sin
1 John 5:17
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto
death.
Omission of what we know to be good is sin:
James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not,
to him it is sin.
Whatever is not of faith is sin:
Romans 14:23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth
not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
The thought of foolishness is sin:
Proverbs 24:9
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an
abomination to men.
No man is without sin:
Ecclesiastes 7:20
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and
sinneth not.
Christ's blood redeems us from sin:
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Christ's blood cleanses us from sin:
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
This is a basic overview of what sin is
God Hates
Sin.
Genesis 6:6-7
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the
earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created
from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the
creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth
me that I have made them.
Numbers 22:32
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou
smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to
withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
Deuteronomy 25:16
For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously,
are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 32:19
And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the
provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
2 Samuel 11:27
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her
to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son.
But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
1 Kings 14:22
And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they
provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had
committed, above all that their fathers had done.
Psalms 5:4-6
4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness:
neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all
workers of iniquity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will
abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
Psalms 10:3
For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth
the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Psalms 11:5
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that
loveth violence his soul hateth.
Psalms 78:59
When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred
Israel:
Psalms 95:10
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and
said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they
have not known my ways:
Psalms 106:40
Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his
people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
Proverbs 3:32
For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret
is with the righteous.
Proverbs 6:16-19
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an
abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed
innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be
swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth
discord among brethren.
Proverbs 11:20
They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the
LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
Proverbs 15:8-9
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD:
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but
he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Proverbs 15:26
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD:
but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Proverbs 21:27
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more,
when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Isaiah 43:24
Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast
thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast
made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with
thine iniquities.
Jeremiah 25:7
Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye
might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to
your own hurt.
Jeremiah 44:4
Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising
early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable
thing that I hate.
Jeremiah 44:21-22
21 The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in
the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings,
and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the
LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?
22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the
evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which
ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and
an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at
this day.
Habakkuk 1:13
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not
look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal
treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked
devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Zechariah 8:17
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his
neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things
that I hate, saith the LORD.
Luke 16:15
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves
before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is
highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of
God.
Revelation 2:6
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Revelation 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
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