Sin is an ugly word that has its root and meaning in Scripture. Webster attests to the severity of this word in human terms. In the New Testament, the Greek word that’s translated as sin is “hammeria” which literally means to “miss the mark” (from archery). Our interest here is in how God defines it.
how Scripture answers "What is sin?"
Sin is any deed or action that is contrary to God’s law2,3,5,6 – His word5 – as well as anything a Christian might do against their ‘faith-trained’ conscience9,10. It is characterized as “wrongdoing”4, “lawlessness”7, anything “contrary to sound doctrine”5, “works of the flesh”3, “from the world”2, unrighteousness6, or anytime one doesn’t do what they know to be right9 or does do something they believe to be wrong10. Sin begins with being tempted by a human desire1 (e.g. lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes, pride2) which can then lead to spiritual death1, or not inheriting the kingdom of God3,6, but it doesn’t have to4. This distinction between sin and the practice of it – or continuing in it – is noteworthy1,3,4,7,8.
the answer above is built on and footnoted with the following scripture-blocks
1
Any person is tempted when they are attracted and encouraged by their own desire. Left unchecked, that desire turns into sin which then leads to death.
James is speaking about the “perfect law of liberty” (vs 25) – God’s word – and being doers and not just hearers of it.
Sin is predicated by one’s own, unchecked desire that can advance to spiritual death.
2
The Apostle John is writing to Christians to remain steadfast. After reminding them that they are “not of this world”, he calls to their attention those that are personally antagonistic to Jesus (“antichrist”) and His teaching. He marks those false teachers and implores his “children” to “let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” (vs 24).
Contrasted with doing the “will of the Father” in the very next verse, sin is doing (acting on) “desires” (lust) of the flesh, eyes (e.g. coveting, etc.) and pride (e.g. materialism, vanity, etc.).
3
The works of the flesh include things such as sexual immorality, acts of hatred, discord, jealousy, uncontrolled anger, divisions, drunkenness, covetousness, murder, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I [Paul] am warning you again, as I did before, not to practice such things in order to inherit the kingdom of God.
Sin is various deeds “of the flesh” not in keeping with God’s word, the practice of which will jeopardize one’s heavenly reward.
4
John is defining one’s love of God by the obedience (doing) of His word (vs 3). Opposed to this is “the world” which stands in the way of a “victory” made possible by Jesus Christ (vss 4ff). John wants to remind brethern to remain stong and remember to pray to God for help (vs 13-15).
Sin is various deeds “of the flesh” not in keeping with God’s word, the practice of which will jeopardize one’s heavenly reward.
!! scripture-block context extra important here !!
5
We know that the law is good if applied justly, and it is not for the obedient, but rather for the lawbreakers and disobedient. The same that are ungodly, sinners, unholy, profane, those who strike their parents, murderers, sexually immoral, practicing homosexuality, slave-trading, liars, perjurers, and anything else contrary to sound doctrine and not aligning with the gospel of the glory of God with which I [Paul] have been sent to preach.
Paul’s instructions to the young preacher Timothy, ending chap 1 with two named individuals that were engaged in false teaching and as a result made a “shipwreck of their faith” and have been “handed over to Satan to learn…”
Paul lists several, specific sinful lifestyles but condemns any lifestyle lived that does not align with God’s word.
6
You already know that those that do evil deeds will not enter heaven. Don’t be deceived into thinking that they will! This includes anyone that is sexually immoral (any sexual behavior outside of marriage), worships anything other than God, forsakes their spouse, practices homosexuality, steals, loves money, drinks excessively, gossips, or takes advantage of others will inherit heaven.
The “unrighteous” are categorized as those that are practicing certain things contrary to God’s law which will jeopardize their inheritance of heaven.
7
Continuing in or practicing sin is lawlessness, therefore sin is lawlessness.
Sin is lawlessness, particularly continuing in it.
8
God’s temple has nothing to do with idols. We are God’s temple, just as He said that He would make His dwelling among us and go with us as our God and His people. Therefore He says we must separate ourselves from idols/the world and touch nothing unclean in order that He will welcome us as a father welcomes his children.
The full context points to this instruction being applied to “believers” in the plural, congregational sense. This is the more natural application in the immediate context as well as the general tendency of application in both of the recorded letters to Corinth.
Sin is likened to touching things unclean and the practice of sinning is how we jeopardize God welcoming us as a father does with his children.
9
It is a sin for anyone to know the right thing but fail to do it.
James’ letter throughout is about encouraging and warning Christians to live out the “word of truth” (1:18) in their lives and gives many practical examples of what that looks like.
Sin is failing to do what you know to be right.
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…and if you’re wondering more about what we’re doing and why, here are some links we hope can help explain it (and maybe even get you excited about contributing):
- the Bible Study Framework and scripture-blocks
our format and the anatomy of a question
the Bible study standard that we follow
- our top four obstacles to letting scripture interpret scripture
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