What is Sin?Worship Team SeriesWilmington Guide to the Bible

“Often the painful words, not the smooth ones,Ultimately bring the

greatest freedom and protection.”

THE DEFINITION AND MEANING OF SIN

A. Hamarthema “ to miss the mark” Here sin may be pictured as an attitude or act of man which does not hit the bull’s eye of God’s glory target. This meaning is strongly brought out by Paul in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

THE DEFINITION AND MEANING OF SINB. Parabasis - “ to overstep a forbidden

line” According to this definition, sin occurs when man deliberately (or accidentally) steps over the line of the law of God. The following passages bring this out:

“Whoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

(I John 3:4)

Various Theological Definition of Sin

“Sin is lack of conformity to the moral law of God, either in act, disposition, or state (A.H. Strong)

“Sin is a transgression of, or want of conformity to the divine law. (Charles Hodge)

Various Theological Definition of Sin

“Sin may be defined ultimately as anything in the creature which does not express, or which is contrary to, to the holy character of the Creator.”

“Sin is the restless unwillingness on the part of the creature to abide in the sphere and limitation in which the Creator, guided by infinite wisdom, had placed him.” (L.S. Chafer)

SIN DEFINED

The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of

our sinful nature.

SIN DEFINED

The bible declares, “Sin is lawlessness”

“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4

The Greek word for “lawlessness” is anomia.

SIN DEFINED

Thayer’s Greek dictionary states that this verse gives the real meaning of the word [sin]. Vine goes on to say, “This definition of sin sets forth its essential character of rejection of the law, or will, of God and the substitution of the will of self.”

SIN DEFINED

As a result of Adam’s disobedience, “many were made sinners,” or we can say it like this:

“Many were made lawless or disobedient to the authority of God.” This is true sin.

Now hear what Jesus said about those men who made very polite excuses but did not submit themselves to the calling voice and authority of God: “For I say unto you that non of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.” Luke 14:24

How sobering! Those men would not be permitted to dine at the wedding supper to which they had previously held honorary invitations. They were barred from the marriage supper of the Lamb, not because of sexual misconduct, or drug or alcohol abuse, but because of simple disobedience to the word of God.

Why should this surprise us? If we think it through, was it not Adam’s disobedience that brought the greatest consequence of judgment on mankind?

Isn’t it interesting there is no mention in this parable of drug addict, prostitutes, pimps, alcohol, murderers, or thieves right?

Wrong!

If you read on, you will notice the servant reported to the master and relayed all the excuses. The master of the house instructed the servant, “ Go out into the highways and hedges in scripture represent the prostitutes, the pimps, thieves, gang members, murderers, alcoholics, and so on! Wow, they are in parable, but in good sense!

The Lord knows that in these last days, many of the people will realize their lives are empty and have brought them nothing but sorrow, and they will tire of kicking the goads. When they hear the call of the Master, they will respond with instant disobedience. In contrast, those who were invited, who attend church and consider themselves godly, but obey God only when it is convenient or doesn’t interfere with their schedules, agendas, blessings or pleasure, will find themselves in Adam, shut out from God’s glorious presence.

The Days of lawlessness

“Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Matthew 24:12-13

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

Matthew 7:21

“Depart form me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Matthew 7:23

Notice what they practice – lawlessness. Simply put, they do not live out their confessions of submission to His lordship. They obey what fits in their plans. They are unaware of their present lawlessness. This I am sad to say, is the state of too many professing Christians today!

John Bevere

While in prayer I received a a sobering spiritual vision that changed the course of my life and ministry. I saw a multitude of people, too great to number, the magnitude of which I had never seen before. They were amassed before the gates of heaven, awaiting entrance, expecting to hear he Master say, “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matt 25:34)

But instead they heard the Master say “Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” I saw the look of terrible shock, agony, and terror on their faces. They really believed they were destined for heaven because they profess the lordship of Jesus and their Christianity. Yet they did not understand the true core meaning of sin. Though they desired heaven, they lack passion to obediently do the will of the Father.

IGNORANCE IS A BREEDING GROUND FOR DECEPTION.

God said, “Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge.”

Isaiah 5:13 The revealed knowledge of God’s ways and His spiritual laws guard us from the enemy’s deceptions. The light of His truth exposes and protects us from any lie.

The light of God’s Word exposes deception and

discerns the thoughts and intentions of hearts of

men.

The Hebrew of Genesis 2:17 may be translated

“For in the day that thou eatest thereof, in dying thou shalt surely die.”

IN SUMMARY IT MAY BE SAID THEN THAT SIN:

a. Dull man’s ears“For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

Their ears are hard of hearing,And their ears they have closed,

Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn

So that I should heal them.” - Acts 28:27

IN SUMMARY IT MAY BE SAID THEN THAT SIN:

b. Darkens his eyes “Having their understanding darkened,

being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them,

because of the blindness of their heart.”

– Ephesians 4:18

IN SUMMARY IT MAY BE SAID THEN THAT SIN:

c. Diverts his feet “All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of

us all.” - Isaiah 53:6

IN SUMMARY IT MAY BE SAID THEN THAT SIN:

d. Defiles his tongue“Their throat is an is an open tomb;

With their tongues they have practiced deceit;

The poison of asps is under their lipsWhose mouth is full of cursing and

bitterness.”-Romans 3:13-14

IN SUMMARY IT MAY BE SAID THEN THAT SIN:

e. Deceives his heart“The heart is deceitful above all things

And desperately wicked;Who can know it?”

- Jeremiah 17:9

IN SUMMARY IT MAY BE SAID THEN THAT SIN:

f. Devours his intellect“But the natural man does not receive

the things of the Spirit, for they are foolish to him; nor can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.” -I Corinthians 2:14

IN SUMMARY IT MAY BE SAID THEN THAT SIN:

g. Dooms his soul“Behold, all souls are Mine;

The soul of the fatherAs well as the soul of the son is Mine.

The soul who sins shall die.”-Ezekiel 18:4

1. Sin is poisonous, like a viper.

“Keep me, O Lord, from evil men;Protect me from men of violence,

Who devise evil plans in their heartsAnd stir up war every day.

They make their tongues as sharp as serpent’s;

The poison of vipers is on their lips.”-Psalms 140:1-3

1. Sin is poisonous, like a viper.

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being

condemned to hell?”-Matthew 23:33

2. Sin is stubborn like a mule

“Surely he recognizes deceitful men;And when he sees evil, does he not take a

note?But when a witless man can no more

become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be a born a man.”

-Job 11:11-12

3. Sin is cruel, like a bear

“And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, “Get

up and eat your fill of flesh!”-Daniel 7:5

4. Sin is destructive, like a cranker worm

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten- the great locust and the

young locust, the other locust and the locust swarm.”

-Joel 2:25

5. Sin is unclean, like a wild dog

“As a dog returns to its vomitSo as a fool return to its folly.”

Proverbs 26:11

6. Sin is cunning, like a fox

“He replied, get that fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today.”

Luke 13:32

7. Sin is fierce, like a wolf

“The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and

scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the

sheep.”John 10:12-13

8. Sin devours, like a lion

“Roaring lion tearing their preyOpen their mouths wide against me.”

Psalm 22:13

9. Sin is filthy, like a swine

“Of them the proverbs are true: A dog returns to its vomit and,

“A sow that is washed goes back to herwallowing in the mud.”

-2 Peter 2:22

Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s

mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and

pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

John 5:24

“I tell you the truth whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He has crossed over from

death to life.”

I John 2 : 9

“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother

is still in the darkness.”

James 1:22

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving

yourselves.”

We must learn to honor – to revere, respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to – those who are in authority.

THE EFFECT OF SIN

1. The Loss of light

“If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not love by the truth.”

1 John 1:6

THE EFFECT OF SIN

2. The Loss of joy

“Restore to me the joy the joy of my salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

-Psalm 51:12

THE EFFECT OF SIN

2. The Loss of Joy

“I have told you this so that my joy may be

in you and that your joy may be complete.”

-John 15:11

THE EFFECT OF SIN

2. The Loss of joy“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things

there is no law.”-Galatians 5:22

THE EFFECT OF SIN

2. The Loss of joy

“We write this to make our joy complete.”

-1 John 1:4

THE EFFECT OF SIN

3. The Loss of peace

“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.”

-1 John 3:4-10

THE EFFECT OF SIN

4. The Loss of love

“But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in

him. This is how we know we are in him.”

-1 John 2:5

THE EFFECT OF SIN4. The Loss of love

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If

anyone loves the world – the cravings of sinful man,

the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does

– comes not from the Father but from the world.”

-1 John 2:15-17

THE EFFECT OF SIN

4. The Loss of love

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and

his love is made complete is us.”-1 John 4:12

THE EFFECT OF SIN

5. The Loss of fellowship

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.”

-1 John 1:3

THE EFFECT OF SIN

5. The Loss of fellowship

“If we claim we have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie

and do not live by the truth.”-1 John 1:6-7

THE EFFECT OF SIN6. The Loss of confidence

“This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence. Whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.”

-1 John 3:19-22

THE EFFECT OF SIN

7. Possible loss of health and even physical life.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone,

the new has come.”-1 Corinthians 5:17

THE EFFECT OF SIN

7. Possible loss of health and even physical life

“That is why many among you are weak, sick and a number of you

have fallen asleep.”-1 Corinthians

11:30

The preventives against SIN

1. The Word of God

“I have hidden your word in my heartThat I might not sin against you.”

-Psalm 119:11

The preventives against SIN

1. The Word of God“If you remain in me and my words

remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.”

-John 15:7

The preventives against SIN

1. The Word of God“Sanctify them by the truth, your word

is truth.”-John 17:17

It has been often observed that the Bible will keep one from sinning, or sin will keep one from the Bible.

The preventives against SIN

1. The Word of God“All scripture is God-breathed and is

useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in

righteousness.”-2 Timothy

3:16

The preventives against SIN

2. The intercession of the Son of God“But I have prayed for you, Simon,

that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

-Luke 22:32

The preventives against SIN

2. The intercession of the Son of God“My prayer is not that you take them

of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.”

-John 17:15

The preventives against SIN

2. The intercession of the Son of God“Who is he that condemns? Christ

Jesus, who died – more than that, who has raised to life – is at the

right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

-Romans 8:34

The preventives against SIN

2. The intercession of the Son of God“Now there have been many of those

priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.”

-Hebrews 7:23-25

The preventives against SIN

3. The ministry of the Spirit of God“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power but by the Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”

-Zechariah 4:6

The preventives against SIN

3. The ministry of the Spirit of God

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

-John 7:37-39

“The Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

-2 Timothy 2:24-26

SIN DEFINED

The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of

our sinful nature.