What is sin?

Marcaunon

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Hi

Disclaimer 1: If this is in the wrong sub-forum I ask that it please be moved as appropriate, it was not my intention to cause anyone distress.

Disclaimer 2: Regardless of how you view this question the intent is not to cause duress but rather it's intent is merely for me to find some clearer answers to things I was wondering about (1 Pet 3:15)

Disclaimer 3: English is my second language.

So the question is quite simply: What is sin?

But some clarification perhaps is necessary.
It would be nice if the answer made sense in the biblical context, firstly new testament but hopefully in regards to all.

Let me expand a little bit more on this...

Perhaps you would argue that sin is not doing God's will. If this is so then how does one know what God's will or God's command is? Was this the same for all people in history?

Perhaps sin is simply what we earn upon birth as humans? Then why so much bothering in the bible with regards to what actions we take especially in the old testament prophets? Why give the 10 commandments therefore? Does this then mean we are all sinners regardless of what we did or will do, in effect rendering all actions by man irrelevant accept for this original sin?

Perhaps you would argue that sin in the most general terms is simply being immoral? I would be interested in how you argue this from the bible and not purely with philosophy. Also how can we ever really know what is moral then?

Another option I can think of is that sin is in your heart disbelieving or simply rebelling against God. Firstly does this mean God condemns the human for something as simple as a thought crime? Which in reality one might not even know he is committing?

Perhaps I'm way off base and sin is explained completely differently?

There are many following up ideas on this but I feel is a good place for me to start and try to understand my faith/religion better.

Thank you for your time in trying to answer my mad ravings. (I am not a theologian, just a person trying to understand things with more clarity)
 

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Hi

Disclaimer 1: If this is in the wrong sub-forum I ask that it please be moved as appropriate, it was not my intention to cause anyone distress.

Disclaimer 2: Regardless of how you view this question the intent is not to cause duress but rather it's intent is merely for me to find some clearer answers to things I was wondering about (1 Pet 3:15)

Disclaimer 3: English is my second language.

So the question is quite simply: What is sin?

But some clarification perhaps is necessary.
It would be nice if the answer made sense in the biblical context, firstly new testament but hopefully in regards to all.

Let me expand a little bit more on this...

Perhaps you would argue that sin is not doing God's will. If this is so then how does one know what God's will or God's command is? Was this the same for all people in history?

Perhaps sin is simply what we earn upon birth as humans? Then why so much bothering in the bible with regards to what actions we take especially in the old testament prophets? Why give the 10 commandments therefore? Does this then mean we are all sinners regardless of what we did or will do, in effect rendering all actions by man irrelevant accept for this original sin?

Perhaps you would argue that sin in the most general terms is simply being immoral? I would be interested in how you argue this from the bible and not purely with philosophy. Also how can we ever really know what is moral then?

Another option I can think of is that sin is in your heart disbelieving or simply rebelling against God. Firstly does this mean God condemns the human for something as simple as a thought crime? Which in reality one might not even know he is committing?

Perhaps I'm way off base and sin is explained completely differently?

There are many following up ideas on this but I feel is a good place for me to start and try to understand my faith/religion better.

Thank you for your time in trying to answer my mad ravings. (I am not a theologian, just a person trying to understand things with more clarity)
This verse covers all contexts.

Acts 17:30, 31
30“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Men have an idea about God which they know is wrong, the idea that God requires shelter and food (altars and offerings) and should be worshipped for earthly needs. They should repent, meta noia, change mind, to the idea that God does not need anything, but being our Father, is obliged to provide US with earthly needs, shelter and food. And we are obliged to act in a way that leads others back to Him.

This places ordinary actions in a different light. Are you working for your earthly needs? You are believing God cannot provide for you. You are wasting time that should be devoted to telling His children what He has revealed and confirmed by raising Jesus from the dead. You're sinning.
 
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What is sin? Generally speaking, sin is selfish behavior. Sin is failure to love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, and souls, and failure to love our neighbors as ourselves. More specifically, sin is failing to obey the Lord’s commandments.
 
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Sin is basically falling short of God's standards. We have all fallen short and therefore are condemned in our natural state. The only way we can meet God's standards is to acknowledge that we have sinned and need Jesus to be our Saviour. He died on the cross and took our sin on the cross with Him. Then He rose from the dead to give us the ability to receive eternal life. Jesus took the guilt and punishment on Himself for all our sins, past present and future. Trusting in Jesus as our Saviour means that God does not see us as forgiven sinners. He sees us through the righteousness of Christ as new creatures in Christ. Our sinfulness has been swapped for the pure righteousness of Christ. We are clothed with it, so that our sin is covered to the point where God can not only not see it, but He forgotten that it was even there. It says that for those who put their trust in Christ, God has buried their sin in the deepest sea of His forgetfulness and put up a sign "No Fishing!" Therefore, if God has forgotten our sin to that degree then it is well and truly forgotten for ever!
 
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Marcaunon

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This verse covers all contexts.

Acts 17:30, 31
30“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Men have an idea about God which they know is wrong, the idea that God requires shelter and food (altars and offerings) and should be worshipped for earthly needs. They should repent, meta noia, change mind, to the idea that God does not need anything, but being our Father, is obliged to provide US with earthly needs, shelter and food. And we are obliged to act in a way that leads others back to Him.

This places ordinary actions in a different light. Are you working for your earthly needs? You are believing God cannot provide for you. You are wasting time that should be devoted to telling His children what He has revealed and confirmed by raising Jesus from the dead. You're sinning.

This is indeed a very interesting verse! and perhaps one of the more interesting replies so far.
Can you expand on a couple of questions I have to try and understand this better.

If it says god has overlooked the times of ignorance, does this mean all people in times before Jesus are forgiven of their sin?

Maybe you didn't mean it quite like this? But why did you say "His children" rather than say "all people" ?

From what I've heard always in testimonies and also I think this can be gathered from Paul's epistles perhaps? Is that God usually provide via people? Are these people also sinning since they are so to speak not on the front lines of "telling" but rather "supporting"? Does this mean going to school to learn to say do math would be sinning as well then as math is definitely not required for telling people what Jesus did?
 
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Marcaunon

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Sin is basically falling short of God's standards. We have all fallen short and therefore are condemned in our natural state. The only way we can meet God's standards is to acknowledge that we have sinned and need Jesus to be our Saviour. He died on the cross and took our sin on the cross with Him. ...

Just to try and clarify a bit more what exactly you mean here?
Is this falling short of God's standards because of what we do?
It seems more you indicate that we have fallen short of God's standards just by being us (our natural state) therefore the moment we are born (perhaps even at conception) we have fallen short of God's standards and are therefore condemned and need Jesus.

Would you also then say that the reason for us having this "failed" natural state is because of the original sin of Adam and Eve?
 
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Marcaunon

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Sin is lawlessness, transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

I wouldn't mind to understand a bit more how to interpret 1 John 3:4. I would think that this most likely refer to the old testament laws as given in the Torah to the Jews? Not sure if I've 100% right about this?

The how does your statement apply to the non-Jews or the people that lived before the old testament law was given?

This must obviously apply differently in the new testament as the "law" is abolished now right...
 
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This is indeed a very interesting verse! and perhaps one of the more interesting replies so far.
Can you expand on a couple of questions I have to try and understand this better.

If it says god has overlooked the times of ignorance, does this mean all people in times before Jesus are forgiven of their sin?

Maybe you didn't mean it quite like this? But why did you say "His children" rather than say "all people" ?

From what I've heard always in testimonies and also I think this can be gathered from Paul's epistles perhaps? Is that God usually provide via people? Are these people also sinning since they are so to speak not on the front lines of "telling" but rather "supporting"? Does this mean going to school to learn to say do math would be sinning as well then as math is definitely not required for telling people what Jesus did?
Everything must be checked against the criteria of faith, loyalty.

Is your action contradictory to the teaching that God must provide for His children? Then is learning math also a contradictory action? Think it through.
 
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Hi

Disclaimer 1: If this is in the wrong sub-forum I ask that it please be moved as appropriate, it was not my intention to cause anyone distress.

Disclaimer 2: Regardless of how you view this question the intent is not to cause duress but rather it's intent is merely for me to find some clearer answers to things I was wondering about (1 Pet 3:15)

Disclaimer 3: English is my second language.

So the question is quite simply: What is sin?

But some clarification perhaps is necessary.
It would be nice if the answer made sense in the biblical context, firstly new testament but hopefully in regards to all.

Let me expand a little bit more on this...

Perhaps you would argue that sin is not doing God's will. If this is so then how does one know what God's will or God's command is? Was this the same for all people in history?

Perhaps sin is simply what we earn upon birth as humans? Then why so much bothering in the bible with regards to what actions we take especially in the old testament prophets? Why give the 10 commandments therefore? Does this then mean we are all sinners regardless of what we did or will do, in effect rendering all actions by man irrelevant accept for this original sin?

Perhaps you would argue that sin in the most general terms is simply being immoral? I would be interested in how you argue this from the bible and not purely with philosophy. Also how can we ever really know what is moral then?

Another option I can think of is that sin is in your heart disbelieving or simply rebelling against God. Firstly does this mean God condemns the human for something as simple as a thought crime? Which in reality one might not even know he is committing?

Perhaps I'm way off base and sin is explained completely differently?

There are many following up ideas on this but I feel is a good place for me to start and try to understand my faith/religion better.

Thank you for your time in trying to answer my mad ravings. (I am not a theologian, just a person trying to understand things with more clarity)

Hello,

The Mosaic Law was given to make us conscious of sin (Romans 3:20), Paul would not have known what sin is if it weren't for the Law (Romans 7:7), and sin is defined as the transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4). Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent from our sins for the Kingdom of God is at hand and the Law was how the people knew what they should be repenting of doing, so repenting from our disobedience to the Law is an integral part of the Gospel message (Matthew 4:17, 23). Sin is going against God's will and God straightforwardly has made His will known through His commands, which we find out about by reading the Bible.

There are many verses that describe the Law as being God's instructions for how to walk in His ways, such as Joshua 22:5 and Deuteronomy 10:12-13, so it is about teaching us how to reflect God's attributes. God's attributes are eternal, therefore the way to act in accordance with His attributes is likewise eternal (Psalms 119:142, Psalms 119:160). As such, it is the same for all people throughout all history with the exception of when God has commanded someone to perform a specific task, such as with Gideon.

The one and only way that there has ever been to become saved from our sin is by grace through faith. Faith is always associated with a willingness to submit to God's commands, such as ever example of saving faith listed in Hebrews 11, whereas disobedience to God's commands is associated with breaking faith. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of the Law, so obedience to the Law is about having faith in God to guide us in how to rightly live and teach us how to walk in His ways.

You could also say that sin is immoral because it is always immoral to disobey God's commands. Morality is in regard to what we ought to do and we ought to obey God, so all of His commands are inherently moral commands. Disbelief and rebellion against God also work as ways to describe sin because rebellion against God is living in disobedience to His commands. The 10th Commandment is a prohibition against coveting. We can't be held responsible for things that we were unaware is sin, but after we become aware of them, we are required to live accordingly.
 
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Just to try and clarify a bit more what exactly you mean here?
Is this falling short of God's standards because of what we do?
It seems more you indicate that we have fallen short of God's standards just by being us (our natural state) therefore the moment we are born (perhaps even at conception) we have fallen short of God's standards and are therefore condemned and need Jesus.

Would you also then say that the reason for us having this "failed" natural state is because of the original sin of Adam and Eve?
It is the sinful state of mankind that affected every person who was born after him. It is that sinful state that causes people to sin. A person could be perfectly sinless, like the fellow who told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments from his youth up, yet still be sinful in God's sight because of Adam's sin. When Adam sinned, his spirit died. So that everyone who came after him had physical life but their spirit was dead. This is what is called, being dead in our trespasses and sins. When a person accepts Christ, their spirit is made alive, and so they become a new creature in Christ. A person outside of Christ has a dead spirit, and so there is no connection or fellowship with God. They are under the total control of the god of this world. This is why they walk in darkness. But upon accepting Christ they pass from darkness to light, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Christ. Because Christless people are in the kingdom of darkness, their deeds will be evil in the sight of God. That is why God says that all their righteousness is as filthy rags before Him. These people can try to be good, but they will never be good enough because they have that element of darkness in them that will only be transformed to light when they accept Christ as Saviour.
 
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Marcaunon

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Everything must be checked against the criteria of faith, loyalty.

Is your action contradictory to the teaching that God must provide for His children? Then is learning math also a contradictory action? Think it through.

Ok will think about this... however I don't want to derail the thread from the original question to much, math here was simply an example of an action that is not directly "devoted to telling His children what He has revealed..."

So you are saying that all "actions" (meaning things we do in life) other than that of directly leading people to God (evangelizing) is sin?
I'm not sure if I'm deducing this correctly from what you are saying perhaps you can correct?
 
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So the question is quite simply: What is sin?

The answer very simply is.
1 Jn. 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

No Disclaimers, no, Interpretations.

There aren't any degrees of sin, all sin requires the same penalty, of DEATH, that is why Jesus had to die on the Cross for your sins.

Any and All Sin separates us from God, Jesus Sacrifice Reconciles us to God.

When Jesus died on the Cross, He did not only die for our sins, He actually became our sin, He took our sin on to himself, that is why He said.

Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Having taken upon Himself our sin, God could not look upon Him, He took upon Himself the separation we would feel for all eternity, so we would be reconciled to God through Him.

It's really that simple, don't complicate it for yourself.

Anyone who sins is a sinner......Period

1 John 3:8,9
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.
9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
 
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The answer very simply is.
1 Jn. 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

No Disclaimers, no, Interpretations.

There aren't any degrees of sin, all sin requires the same penalty, of DEATH, that is why Jesus had to die on the Cross for your sins.

Any and All Sin separates us from God, Jesus Sacrifice Reconciles us to God.

When Jesus died on the Cross, He did not only die for our sins, He actually became our sin, He took our sin on to himself, that is why He said.

Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Having taken upon Himself our sin, God could not look upon Him, He took upon Himself the separation we would feel for all eternity, so we would be reconciled to God through Him.

It's really that simple, don't complicate it for yourself.

Anyone who sins is a sinner......Period

1 John 3:8,9
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.
9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Okay. That's half the story. What happens to the person after He accepts Christ? Is he still a sinner, or is he someone else? There may be a clue in your quote of 1 John 3:9. Does that verse say that a person who has accepted Christ is no longer a sinner. If not, what is he then?
 
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Okay. That's half the story. What happens to the person after He accepts Christ? Is he still a sinner, or is he someone else? There may be a clue in your quote of 1 John 3:9. Does that verse say that a person who has accepted Christ is no longer a sinner. If not, what is he then?
A new creation in an unredeemed body.
 
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Hello,

The Mosaic Law was given to make us conscious of sin (Romans 3:20), Paul would not have known what sin is if it weren't for the Law (Romans 7:7), and sin is defined as the transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4). Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent from our sins for the Kingdom of God is at hand and the Law was how the people knew what they should be repenting of doing, so repenting from our disobedience to the Law is an integral part of the Gospel message (Matthew 4:17, 23). Sin is going against God's will and God straightforwardly has made His will known through His commands, which we find out about by reading the Bible.

There are many verses that describe the Law as being God's instructions for how to walk in His ways, such as Joshua 22:5 and Deuteronomy 10:12-13, so it is about teaching us how to reflect God's attributes. God's attributes are eternal, therefore the way to act in accordance with His attributes is likewise eternal (Psalms 119:142, Psalms 119:160). As such, it is the same for all people throughout all history with the exception of when God has commanded someone to perform a specific task, such as with Gideon.

The one and only way that there has ever been to become saved from our sin is by grace through faith. Faith is always associated with a willingness to submit to God's commands, such as ever example of saving faith listed in Hebrews 11, whereas disobedience to God's commands is associated with breaking faith. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of the Law, so obedience to the Law is about having faith in God to guide us in how to rightly live and teach us how to walk in His ways.

You could also say that sin is immoral because it is always immoral to disobey God's commands. Morality is in regard to what we ought to do and we ought to obey God, so all of His commands are inherently moral commands. Disbelief and rebellion against God also work as ways to describe sin because rebellion against God is living in disobedience to His commands. The 10th Commandment is a prohibition against coveting. We can't be held responsible for things that we were unaware is sin, but after we become aware of them, we are required to live accordingly.

Thank you for your very thorough and quite in detail reply! Especially thank you for giving so many bible references to clarify your point of view.

Am I correct in understanding that as referring to the law in this we are talking about the way Jesus represented it as the first 2 commandments (love the lord your god...) and we are therefore not including all the other laws given in the Torah? (I mean things like how to wash and offering and cleanliness etc.)

If I take the following statements from you: (I might be wrong in any of them sorry)
1. We know sin by the law given in the Bible/Torah
2. Until we are made aware of this law/sin we are not accountable

I might be understanding something wrong, but aren't there things in the bible that also indicate that God has placed somehow also given man a consciousness and therefore can sin even before the law/gospel is revealed to him?
 
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Okay. That's half the story.

1) What happens to the person after He accepts Christ?
2) Is he still a sinner,
3) or is he someone else?
There may be a clue in your quote of 1 John 3:9.
4) Does that verse say that a person who has accepted Christ is no longer a sinner.
5) If not, what is he then?
.
I thought it was pretty clear, what else do you require?

1) Through Baptism, he becomes a New Creature in Christ.

Gal. 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2 Co.5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2) No he is not a sinner.
Verse 8,9 of 1 John say it clearly.

3) Yes he is someone else.
Gal., and 2 Cor. above.

4) That is exactly what it says.
5) N/A
 
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Marcaunon

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I thought it was pretty clear, what else do you require?

1) Through Baptism, he becomes a New Creature in Christ.

Gal. 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2 Co.5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2) No he is not a sinner.
Verse 8,9 of ! John say it clearly.

3) Yes he is someone else.
Gal., and 2 Cor. above.

4) That is exactly what it says.
5) N/A

I would like us to please not derail the discussion to much by going totally into the teaching of salvation.

However I think here the definition of "sinner" is important.
Google gives: "a person who transgresses against divine law by committing an immoral act or acts."
Or as I would state it in this thread: "A sinner is a person that commits sin"

However you stated that sin is a transgression against the law.
Thereby I find your statement in nr 2 and 4 very confusing.
Perhaps you need to clarify what your interpretation is of "the law" here?
 
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God has placed somehow also given man a consciousness and therefore can sin even before the law/gospel is revealed to him?
The conscience is trained by many contributors, and continues being developed through life (Proverbs 22:6, Hebrews 1:14, Psalms 1:1-5, 1 Corinthians 15:33).

This is why judging sin is God's job (Matthew 7:1-2). Although all transgression is sin and we are condemned for it even outside of a covenant (Romans 2:12), there is a degree of grace available to someone who learns of his error and repents (James 4:17) that is not available to one who chooses to do sin wilfully after The Holy Spirit has taught them to know it (Hebrews 10:26-31).
 
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