What exactly defines a sin?

[Jarhead1407]

For a long time, I thought as long as you obeyed the ten commandments, you were sin-free, but I don't think that's the case.

Could someone please explain to me or list for me all sins that exist (generally speaking)?

 

[jwaitman]

What exactly defines a sin?

To be short, the law. (Rom 5:13, 7:8) When we do something we know is wrong, it's a sin. That's why the law was created, so we would know we are sinning. If you are wanting more specific answers, take into consideration that what is sin for one person may not be sin for another. (Rom 14:23)

 

[NatalieJan777]

If you are truly in CHRIST JESUS the HOLY SPIRIT will lead you to all truth and reveal all sin to you. I may be a woman, but I know the bible and I can honestly say that much of which is repelled by this world as sin is in actuallity rules made by man. Therefore, I beseech you to read your bible and have the HOLY SPIRIT reveal personally to you what sin is. I say this with all hope that you will, IN HIS NAME.

 

[Kutte]

Jarhead,

I wouldn't worry much for being a sinner. Because of the alleged sin of Adam and Eve we all became sinners, ergo, we can't be blamed for being sinners. Therefore, sin must be considered an inhereted attribute. No-one in his right mind would blame a baby for any birth defects, would they?

Even King David recognized this after some hanky panky with Basheba and killing her husband Urla. David's excuse: "I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me". Psalm 51:5

Kutte

 

[jwaitman]

I wouldn't worry much for being a sinner. Because of the alleged sin of Adam and Eve we all became sinners, ergo, we can't be blamed for being sinners. Therefore, sin must be considered an inhereted attribute.

Moreover, Jesus became the second Adam. Being a Christian, when Jesus died - you died as well. Having been born again, you are dead to sin. However, man is a Spirit, has a Soul, and lives in a Body. You're Spirit is perfect; it's your duty to renew your mind (which is a aspect of the Soul ); and we must choose to not walk after the flesh ( Body ). The body is the only part we can't/haven't renewed (YET), and is most likely to cause/persuade us to sin.

 

[Kutte]

jwaitman,

Your post reminds me of Paul claiming that "nothing good dwells in my flesh". (Romans 7:18)
This seems to be a statement of blaspheme, after all, isn't God the creator of our bodies consisting of flesh?
Since I agree with you that we are spiritual beings, any sinful behaviour originates with the mind, whereas the flesh, the body, acts as some sort of temptation.
Temptations on the other hand are a tool to test our character and willpower. As you know, even Jesus was tempted.

Kutte

 

[jwaitman]

@ Kutte

I believe we are in agreement here (unless you are saying Paul is a blasphemer). I was referring to the fact that Adam subjected himself to satan, therefore separating himself from God. Then, because of Jesus, we could be born again - receiving a new spirit. Since we don't receive a new mind, we must renew our mind (which now becomes the battlegrounds). We, however, have not received a born again body (Jesus has a Glorified body - hence my "YET" statement). This puts us in a war with ourselves, spirit vs flesh. Now we come full circle to what you said, that temptation comes through the flesh, but we must make a mental decision to choose life or death (btw, the power of this is in the tounge ). I know all things that come from God are good (including our body), but I also know that the creation was subjected to bondage.

 

[Kutte]

jwaitman,

Thank you for your post.
Actually, Adam cannot be blamed of subjecting himself to Satan since he had no awareness of good and bad in the beginning. Therefore his "sin" of obtaining this knowledge/awareness is questionable.

Kutte

 

[jwaitman]

Did he have an awareness of what God told him?

 

[Kutte]

jwaitman,

Adam likely heard what God was telling him but lacked any understanding thereof.
In order to understand right and wrong, truth and falsehood you need to be able to distinguish between both.
By the way, even ants have limited awareness of good and bad. Other living things, such as plants, don't.

Kutte

 

[cowboysfan1970]

The most simple definintion of sin is anything that separates you from God.

 

[Larry Michael]

All sin is covered under at least one of the 10 Commandments. God is amazing!

 

[Kittenshere]

In response to the previous postings on adam and eve, this is how I understand it.

God has a plan, a procedure, and a purpose for creation. Nothing is out of control from God's perspective. Nohting ever surprises God or catches him off Guard. God creates, destroys, heals, and kills. God causes and brings about all but it is NOT without a reason. God does not "allow" things that he has not foreordained to be. Also remmeber God is the creator, not satan.

take note of this..Rom 8:20-22 For the creature...(thats us)... was MADE subject to vanity NOT WILLINGLY but by reason of him..(him is God) who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature..(thats us) itself shall also be delivered from the BONDAGE (subjection) of corruption into the glorious libery of the children of God. For we know the WHOLE CREATION groans and travails in pain until NOW.

I know this sounds crazy but we were MADE to sin. It is not a willing choice for us. God made it this way as the above scripture says and it was for a reason as also states above.

It was not possilbe for satan to not sin. he was created for that purpose. he was a sinner from the beginning as was God's plan. It was not possilbe for Adam and Eve to not sin either. They were created for the purpose of being molded into the image of God. Without knowledge you cannot know both Good and Evil. You cannot be God like if you do not know both Good and Evil

look at this scripture..gen 3:22 And the Lord God said, behold the man is become as one of us TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL. Knowing good and evil both is essential in being formed in the image of God. But to truely know both good and evil one must partake in it which for adam and eve was the tree of knowledge of both good and evil. they had to sin in order to obtain that knowledge.

IT WAS GOD who created the tree of knowledge of both good and evil.
IT WAS GOD who placed it in the middle of the garden of eden to catch eve's eye.
IT WAS GOD who made the tree desireable and attractive.
IT WAS GOD who placed in the humans the desire and passions that would CAUSE adam and eve to sin.
IT WAS GOD who placed the serpent which was satan in the garden to tempt her to begin with.

It was not the deception and temptation that entered INTO eve. It was already made in her that cuased her to sin. Mat 15:9 for out of the HEART proceed evil thoughts and so forth....

When eve saw (in her heart) tht the tree was good for food,and pleasant to the eye (in her heart) and a tree to be desired (in her heart)she took of the fruit and ate it. Now eve actually sinned before she ate the fruit. I say this because she had already sinned by looking, lusting, and fantasizing about her potential wisdom. It was after she sinned that she ate the fruit.

God knows all in advance. God doesnt just know what will happen in the future, he cuases all that will happen in the future. GOD IS THE FUTURE, THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA--HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END. nothing can be different from what God says MUST be. For of him, and through him and to him, are all things. rom 11:36 isa 45:6-7 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light,and create darkness,I make peace, and create EVIL. now as you see above at the beginning he created evil for a purpose. Man nor Satan is running God's creation...God is. In fact Satan does nothing without God's permission. But through all the horrible things we suffer on earth it brings us to salvation in the end. Remember we must know both good and evil in order to be brought to salvation and be God like.

 

[JaredHughBohland]

Sin is anything that is any thing or action that is void of God or perverts the Godly nature of it. in essence, anything can be a sin if it is perverted from God's perfect nature.

 

[Kittenshere]

Yes and its completely impossible not to sin. If you want for something someone else has your sinning believe it or not. If you tell your friend you like her new outfit and you really hate it well thats a sin too becuase you lied lol. Sins are impossible to avoid.

 

[jwaitman]

@Kittenshere

From reading pieces of your posts, I believe I know what you mean. However, some of the things you have written makes it sound like man doesn't have the ability to make choices - which is not correct. It is not God's fault that man sinned/sins.

Yes and its completely impossible not to sin.

Aren't all things possible with God? And, aren't Christians dead to sin?

In fact Satan does nothing without God's permission.

Are you entirely sure of this? God gave man dominion - man gave satan dominion. Since God can't go back on His Word, He created a Way (Jesus) so that man doesn't have to be under satan's authority. God cannot directly interfere with satan's dominion that was received from man. Hence why the demons were upset/inquisitive with Jesus in Mat 8:29/Mark 5:7/Luk 8:28.

 

[hopeinGod]

Has any thought been given to why the writer to the Hebrews listed as one of the foundational principles "repentance from dead works" and not "repentance from sin?" Why not simply write "sin?"

This passage is one of the best references for the definition of sin. It is a dead work. And what is a dead work? It is an action not birthed out of our love for the Lord by the faith that He placed in our hearts.

Dave

 

[Kittenshere]

Aren't all things possible with God? And, aren't Christians dead to sin?

Yes but flesh and blood as we are cannot be without sin. And no indeed, christians are not dead to sin. They are a sinner just like everyone else. you cannot be of flesh and blood and be sinfree. God is gonna change us by raising us...the corruptible incorruptible. So we will be sinfree after death and not a minute before.

 

[jwaitman]

So we will be sinfree after death and not a minute before.

Agreed!

... don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

And no indeed, christians are not dead to sin. They are a sinner just like everyone else.

Rom 6:2: "... We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

How can you be a sinner and the righteousness of God?

 

[Svt4Him]

For a long time, I thought as long as you obeyed the ten commandments, you were sin-free, but I don't think that's the case.

Could someone please explain to me or list for me all sins that exist (generally speaking)?

You obey the ten commandments, you will be sin free.