What does it mean to sin?

[alaric]

The superficial answer is “Breaking of God’s law.”

The deeper answer is “Sinning is the state or condition of all man.”

For example, a fish swims and a sinner sins. Everyone is born into a condition called sin (Except for Jesus who is without sin).

No one can escape this condition by obeying the law or doing righteous works. The bible compare the righteousness of a sinner to a filthy rag.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The law was given to make everyone aware that he/she is a sinner.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law cannot save anyone. But the law is necessary. Because without it, everyone will not know what is sin. Resulting in not having the need for a saviour (Jesus).

 

[Soyeong]

Sin is what is contrary to God’s way, which is the way to know Him by being in His likeness through being a doer of His character traits, such as with unrighteousness being sin, and sin is the transgression of God’s law because it was given to teach us how to walk in God’s way (1 Kings 2:1-3). The way to believe in Gods also by directing our lives towards walking in His way, which is why sin is also whatever is not of faith (Romans 14:23), and it is by this faith alone that we attain the character traits of God. So while the only way for someone to become righteous is through faith, what it means for someone to become righteous is for them to become a doer of righteous works in obedience to God’s law. In Isaiah 64:6, it is not God speaking, but rather it the people hyperbolically complaining about God coming down a making His presence known. The reality is that God is not a commander of filthy rags, but rather the righteous deeds of the saints are like fine white linen (Revelation 19:8). Obeying God’s law has nothing to do with trying to earn our salvation as the result, but rather Jesus graciously teaching us to be a doer of it is intrinsically the way that he is giving us his gift of saving us from not being a doer of it, so God’s law does not just reveal our need for a Savior, but also teaches us the way that He is saving us.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

The superficial answer is “Breaking of God’s law.”

The deeper answer is “Sinning is the state or condition of all man.”

For example, a fish swims and a sinner sins. Everyone is born into a condition called sin (Except for Jesus who is without sin).

No one can escape this condition by obeying the law or doing righteous works. The bible compare the righteousness of a sinner to a filthy rag.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The law was given to make everyone aware that he/she is a sinner.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law cannot save anyone. But the law is necessary. Because without it, everyone will not know what is sin. Resulting in not having the need for a saviour (Jesus).

In the context of the Gospel and salvation, I understand that the law is functional for one purpose: to show the unbeliever that he is fallen and in need of salvation by grace. The attempt to follow the law was an effort that was intended to fail.

Romans 3:19-20 KJV
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

My understanding of that last word "sin" = "sinfulness." The law was never meant to justify anyone. It was meant to condemn them and drive them toward the Gospel.

 

[Arleigh Crisman]

Sin is the absence of God's influence.
What Adam did, is ignore God's specific instruction. thus, sin entered the world.
Jesus reprimanded His disciples. "Why do you call me Lord, but do not do the things I tell you?"
Matthew 7;21,22,23, Jesus said, "not everyone that calls me Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven......"
Merely calling Him Lord does not make it so.
Jesus provided the Holy Spirit to teach in His place
Jesus Lordship is demonstrated in one's relationship of obedience on a personal level.
Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice."
Isreal sinned, doing what was right "in their own eyes". Or in the eyes of their leadership. corrupt kings and priests.
We wrestle against the flesh and the evil one, that uses the flesh and the fear of self preservation to challenge our walk with God. i.e. "what will people think?"
I need God's influence and intervention in my life every day. And yes, I fail, and I need God's mercy and grace every day as well. and I am deeply indebted to Him for this.

 

[David Lamb]

Sin is the absence of God's influence.
What Adam did, is ignore God's specific instruction. thus, sin entered the world.
Jesus reprimanded His disciples. "Why do you call me Lord, but do not do the things I tell you?"
Matthew 7;21,22,23, Jesus said, "not everyone that calls me Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven......"
Merely calling Him Lord does not make it so.
Jesus provided the Holy Spirit to teach in His place
Jesus Lordship is demonstrated in one's relationship of obedience on a personal level.
Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice."
Isreal sinned, doing what was right "in their own eyes". Or in the eyes of their leadership. corrupt kings and priests.
We wrestle against the flesh and the evil one, that uses the flesh and the fear of self preservation to challenge our walk with God. i.e. "what will people think?"
I need God's influence and intervention in my life every day. And yes, I fail, and I need God's mercy and grace every day as well. and I am deeply indebted to Him for this.

I don't agree that sin is the absence of God's influence. That makes it sound as if sin is God's fault, because He does not exert enough influence. Sin is any disobedience of God, whether by doing, thinking or saying things that He says we shouldn't, or by failing to do, say or think things that He says we should. These are sometimes called "sins of commission" and "sins of omission."

 

[Aaron112]

"The terms "sin," "iniquity," and "transgression" are often used interchangeably in religious contexts but have distinct meanings. Sin is generally defined as any thought, word, or action that is in disobedience to the will of God, and it can be both intentional and unintentional.235

Transgression, on the other hand, refers to a willful violation of a known standard or law, often indicating a more deliberate act of disobedience.235 It can be seen as a specific type of sin that involves crossing a clear boundary or line of behavior.235

Iniquity is a type of sin that is related to inner character, often involving a moral uncleanness or a deliberate twisting or defiance of God's standard.235 It is a more persistent and deep-seated form of sin.235

Therefore, while sin is a broad term that encompasses any form of disobedience to God's will, transgression specifically refers to a willful act of disobedience."

answer

 

[stevevw]

I think we know when we are born again in Christ by the renewing of our hearts and minds. For by the law is the knowledge of sin our renewed mind and heart sees our filthy rags and we turn to Christ to wash those rags into a new robe which is not of this world but is one that desires to honor God and obey Him for His grace bestowed upon us.

In some ways the old testament prophets knew this like David who sang praises to God. How wonnderful and might He is that He understands us and cares for us that He would intervene into our world and show us His love.

The danger is in a world where sin is denied or rationalised away we can fall into complacency and need a jolt. Thats when the Holy Spirit kicks in through your concience. But you gotta keep the line open. Its natural that sometimes we try things our own way. But we are tapped on the should and the spirit of God is reminding us to hand over to God. Sometimes this may take a bit of a jolt.

But if we are trusting in God and keeping Christ in our lives no matter what God will transform us and we will become Christlike. Sometimes our hestitation is not necessarily sin but a fear of facing something which can lead to falling away. So that may also mean handing over your past, your fears, anger and anxiety or depression. Which also means getting help. But everything will work for good to make you a better person in Christ.

God is not a hard taskmaster in that sense. He will not give you more than you can handle and in Him you will find strength even in facing death.

 

[Jermayn]

To answer your question, "What does it mean to sin?" I’d say sin is any rebellious act against God. I think you did a great job going deeper by explaining sin as part of our fallen nature and how the law helps reveal that to us; that’s biblically sound.

The only point I’d offer some additional perspective on is the idea that we wouldn't need a Savior without the law. Even before the law was given, people still sinned, sin existed from the time of Adam (Romans 5:12-14). While God may have overlooked certain things due to ignorance (as Acts 17:30 suggests), those sins still separated people from God's presence. That's why even the righteous who died in faith, like Abraham, had to wait for Christ to open the way (Luke 16:22).

So, whether people were aware of the law or not, their need for a Savior remained the same.

 

[com7fy8]

What does it mean to sin?

to go the wrong way

in my thinking, included

emotionally going the wrong way

feeling the wrong way

But what about anger? Is there a right way to go with anger and a wrong way . . . for the same anger??

"the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (in James 1:19-20)

It looks like this means that the anger of man will go the wrong way, in any direction it goes. Because the spirit of it is wrong, it can not do what is right. So, sinning in wrong anger can mean going the wrong way because of being wrong. The thing you do might not be a wrong thing, but the anger having me do it is wrong.

To sin, then, can mean going the wrong way because the person *is* wrong, acting in what is wrong.

 

[com7fy8]

There is sinning which is doing anything that God is not leading me to do.

This can include getting into a relationship, without making sure with God and without obeying how He guides us in our relating.

 

[com7fy8]

"Let all that you do be done with love." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

So, in case I do anything not in love, I am not obeying God. And so, I am sinning by not doing a thing in God's love.

So, sinning can mean not loving the way God desires.

"if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" (in Matthew 5:46)

So, if we pick and choose whom we love, maybe **judging** who is worth loving, this is against God and His way of loving.

So, selfish loving is sinning . . . including if we are loving only certain people . . . maybe only friends and family members, perhaps ones we hope to use.

 

[Soyeong]

The law has faded, become obsolete, passing,

God's righteousness is eternal (Psalms 119:142, therefore all of God's righteous laws are also eternal (Psalms 119:160).

nailed to the cross...

In Matthew 27:37, they nailed a handwritten ordinance to Christ cross that announced the charge that was against him that he was the King of the Jews. This fits perfectly the the concept of the charge that was against us being nailed to Christ's cross and with him dying in our place in order to pay the penalty for our sins, but had nothing to do with nailing any laws to the cross.

It is not binding on anyone within the context of Christianity. Following the mosaic law for any other reason that "you feel like it" is abject heresy in the Christian realm.

In Matthew 4:15-23, Christ began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, which was a light to the Gentiles, and the Mosaic Law was how his audience knew what sin is (Romans 3:20), so repenting from our disobedience to it is a central part of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Christ also set a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in obedience to the Mosaic Law and as his followers to we are told to follow his example (1 Peter 2:21-22) and that those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way that he walked. So Christ seen this ministry teaching his followers to obey the Mosaic Law by word and by example and Christianity is about following what Christ taught, not about refusing to follow him.

2 Cor 3:15 : But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.

The veil was preventing people from seeing that the goal of everything in Scriptures was to testify about how to know Jesus, which is preventing you from seeing the same thing.

We no longer need a schoolmaster now that Jesus has come.

Someone who disregarded everything that their schoolmaster taught them after they graduated would be missing the whole point of a schoolmaster. Christ did not begin his ministry with the message to stop repenting because God's law has ended now that he has come, but just the opposite.

We cannot do anything that makes us righteous, that is what Jesus did for us on the cross.

While the only way for someone to attain a character trait is through faith, what it means for someone to attain a character trait is for them to become a doer of that trait. For example, the only way for someone to become courteous is through faith apart from being required to have first done enough courageous works in order to earn courageousness as the result, but it would be contradictory for someone to become courageous apart from becoming a doer of courageous works, and the same is true for righteousness and every other character trait. This is why the same faith by which we are declared righteous apart from works does not abolish our need to be a doer of righteous works in obedience to God's law, but rather our faith upholds it (Romans 3:28-31).

In Titus 2:14, Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people of his own possession who are zealous for doing good works, so the way to believe in what Jesus spent his ministry teaching by word and by example and in what he accomplished through the cross is by repenting and becoming zealous for doing good works in obedience to the Mosaic Law (Acts 21:20).

Further:
GAL 3:17 : This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.

We (Believers in Christ) are the Children of the (Abrahamic) Promise and have nothing to do with the mosaic law other than historical reference.

The Law was given only to Israel, and only for a specific reason and for a period of time.

The Hebrew word “yada” refers to intimate knowledge gained through experience, such as in Genesis 4:1, Adam knew (yada) Eve, she conceived, and gave birth to Cain. The Bible begins and ends in the Garden with the Tree of Life and the goal of everything in between is to teach us the way back to it, or in other words, the goal of everything in the Bible is to teach us how to know (yada) God and Jesus, which is His gift of eternal life (John 17:3). God’s way is the way to know (yada) Him by being in His likeness through experiencing being a doer of His character traits, such as in Genesis 18:19, God knew (yada) Abraham that he would teach his children and those of his household to walk in God’s way by being a doer of righteousness and justice that the Lord might bring to him all that He has promised. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way that he and Israel might know (yada) Him, in 1 Kings 2:1-3, God taught how to walk in His way through His law, and in Matthew 7:23, Jesus said that he would tell those who are workers of lawlessness to depart from him because he never knew them, so the goal of the law is to teach us how to know (yada) God and Jesus, which is eternal life.

The Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus taught in Matthew 4:15-23 is in accordance with him being sent in fulfillment of the promise to bless us by turning us from our wickedness (Acts 3:25-26), which is the Gospel that was made known in advance to Abraham in accordance with the promise (Galatians 3:8), and which he spread to those in Haran in accordance with the promise (Genesis 12:1-5).

In Genesis 26:4-5, God will multiply Abraham’s children as the stars in the heavens, to his children He will give all of these lands, and through his children all of the nations of the earth will be blessed because he heard God’s voice and guarded His charge, commandments, statues, and laws. In Deuteronomy 30:16, if the children of Abraham will love God with all of their hearts by walking in His way in obedience to His commandments, statues, and laws, then that will live and multiply and God will bless them in the land that they go to possess. So the promise was made to Abraham and brought about because he walked in God’s way in obedience to His law, he taught his children and those of his household to do that in accordance with spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom, and because they did that. In John 8:39, Jesus said that if they were children of Abraham, then they would be doing the same works as him, so the way that the children of Abraham are multiplied and are a blessing to the nations in accordance with inheriting the promise through faith is by turning the nations from their wickedness and by teaching them to do the same works as Abraham by walking in God’s way in obedience to His law in accordance with spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom.

"Olam" often translated in English as Forever, is a Hebrew word that means long duration, antiquity, or futurity. It does not specifically mean "forever" as we understand it. Hebrew Roots and other Torahism beliefs seems to ignore this.

"Olam" can refer either to forever or to a long duration. Do you think that God's righteous is forever or just for a long duration?

Jesus is our high priest; he is not a Levite. Thus, NO LEVITCAL LAW.

A priesthood that is headed by God's word made flesh should be considered to be in accordance with God's word, not to be rejecting it.

 

[FaithT]

The superficial answer is “Breaking of God’s law.”

The deeper answer is “Sinning is the state or condition of all man.”

For example, a fish swims and a sinner sins. Everyone is born into a condition called sin (Except for Jesus who is without sin).

No one can escape this condition by obeying the law or doing righteous works. The bible compare the righteousness of a sinner to a filthy rag.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The law was given to make everyone aware that he/she is a sinner.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law cannot save anyone. But the law is necessary. Because without it, everyone will not know what is sin. Resulting in not having the need for a saviour (Jesus).

And except Mary.

 

[David Lamb]

And except Mary.

Not according to the bible. In her song of praise, sometimes called the Magnificat from its first word in Latin, she rejoiced in her Saviour. If she was sinless, she wouldn't require a Saviour.