What is sin?

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

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.

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Everything that’s in the world – evil temptations of both the flesh and eyes along with pride – is not from God but from Satan.

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).

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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.

Paul, much like he does in the letter to the Romans, is imploring and encouraging the Christians (this time in the churches of Galatia) to remain obedient in the walk of faith. He begins the letter with strong language about resisting false teachers and begins this chapter saying, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” He contrasts practicing the works of the flesh and its result (e.g. not inheriting the kingdom of God) with the work of the Spirit and its result (Galatians 6:7-8).

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

We should pray to the Father for any brother we see committing sin, that God would have mercy on him. But there is sin such that prayers will not help. All wrongdoing is sin, but not all sin must lead to death.

John is defining one’s love of God by the obedience (doing) of His word (vs 3). Indeed, this is the very basis of John’s letter to begin with – confronting those that are denying that Jesus (the Word incarnate) came in the flesh (1:1-4). 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).“Death” in this passage is understood by the context to be of a spiritual sort that is unforgivable by God.

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

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…”

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

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.

Paul is addressing the brethren of Corinth that are relatively new to the faith. He is writing in response to several issues and challenges that have arisen in the congregation and reminds them that they have been “washed”, “sanctified” and “justified” in Jesus Christ (vs 11) and should act accordingly.

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

Continuing in or practicing sin is lawlessness, therefore sin is lawlessness.

John is stating the case for fellow believers to continue in the love of God, here reminding them of the contrast between those that practice sin and those that have accepted Jesus and been cleansed of their sin.

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

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.

Paul has dealt with numerous issues that have sown division and discord among the Christians in Corinth. In this chapter/section, he addresses yet another problem — apparently, some have negatively influenced the church to the extent that they were false teaching. Paul cites several passages from the Law and Prophets and combines them together here to apply to first-century Christians (which he has every right to do as an inspired writer). The quotes and references include but are not limited to:

• Vs 16 – Leviticus 26:12, Exodus 6:7, 29:45, Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 11:20, Zechariah 2:10-11
• Vs 17 – Isaiah 52:11, Ezekiel 20:34, 3:20
• Vs 18 – Isaiah 43:6-7, Jeremiah 31:9-10, Hosea 1:10

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

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.

The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Keep your faith between yourself and God as there is no reason to pass judgment on yourself for things that He approves. But if you have doubts [think God doesn’t approve], you’re condemned in eating, since you are not acting by faith. Proceeding in anything not by faith is sin.

Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome and a section dealing with disagreements on matters of opinion with those “weak in faith” (vs 1). He illustrates with things that can be eaten (vs 2) and days that might be celebrated (vs 5). His concluding point is, “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (vs 13) and again in this passage.