What is Sin – Practical Advice You Need To Know

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What is sin?

We typically think of sin as not obeying God’s Commandments, but James added…

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

James 4:17

It’s challenging when culture’s view of what we ought to do differs from what God’s Word tells us to do.

I searched the internet for the question, “What is sin?” and found the following…

• something considered shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong.
• an offense against religious or moral law.
• rebellion against God.

In the Bible, the Greek word for sin is “hamartia”, meaning literally “to miss the mark”, like an archer.

Pastor John Piper defines it like this…

“What is sin?
It is the glory of God not honored.
The holiness of God not reverenced.
The greatness of God not admired.
The power of God not praised.
The truth of God not sought.
The wisdom of God not esteemed.
The beauty of God not treasured.
The goodness of God not savored.
The faithfulness of God not trusted.
The commandments of God not obeyed.
The justice of God not respected.
The wrath of God not feared.
The grace of God not cherished.
The presence of God not prized.
The person of God not loved.
That is sin.”

Based on the above definitions, there is no way for us to consider ourselves sinless.

Paul wrote…

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:23

No matter how hard I try or what I want to believe … I’m a sinner. And I’m guessing if we’re being honest, we all have to admit we have a sin problem.

Growing up, my pastor used to preach long sermons. When asked about it, he would say, “It’s my job to remind you all that you’re sinners. So, I give you the Law until I see your heads hanging … then, it’s my joy to encourage you with the Good News of the Gospel.”

And it’s that Gospel message we need to know.

Because…

The wages of sin is death

Romans 6:23

Our sin is a debt that is too great for us to repay. But because God is love (not just what He does but who He is); He sent Jesus to pay our overwhelming debt.

God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:9–10

So, we need to know is that…

• Everyone sins. (Romans 3:23)
• God hates sin but He loves people. (Romans 6:23)
• So He sent Jesus to die and suffer our punishment. (1 Peter 3:18)
• We can be forgiven and set free through repentance and faith in Jesus. (Mark 1:15)
• When we love and trust Jesus we want to obey. (Isaiah 26:8)
• We won’t be perfect but we won’t give up or give in. (1 John 5:1–5)
• And we will forever trust God’s love and willingness to forgive. (Micah 7:18–19)

God created us to love us. He gave us free will so we might choose to love and be loved.

This is why His Commandments can be summed up in this verse…

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:27

So…

What is sin? Sin is failing to love God and the people He created.
What’s the advice we need? Humbly confess and repent. Trust God’s willingness and power to forgive through Jesus’ loving sacrifice. Then love, love, LOVE!

Let’s pray…

A Prayer to Know –
What is Sin and The Power of God’s Love?

Father God, You created us and this beautiful world to share a life of love with You and one another. Because we give in to temptation Your perfect world is filled with sin.
When we ask, “What is sin?” Your Word tells us it is “all wrongdoing.” (1 John 5:17) It is not obeying Your Commands. (Deuteronomy 4:2) And it is doing what You have told us not to do and not doing what You have told us to do.

We fail every day. I fail every day. I am a sinner in need of Your forgiveness. So, I come to You in humble gratitude trusting that You make the impossible possible. I can’t save myself; so, You sent Jesus to save me. I can’t obey Your will perfectly; so, You sent the Spirit to teach and guide me.

I am weak but You give me strength. I am fearful but You give courage. I feel unworthy but You call me Your child. The power of Your love is greater than anything in the world and beyond. Your grace is sufficient. Your mercy is great. And Your love lasts forever.

I thank You for Your love and forgiveness. I worship You for who You are and all You do. I give myself to You my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Because God is holy – He cannot tolerate sin.

We make excuses, ignore and rank them from tolerable to intolerable. God does not. All sin separates us from Him.

But like the Prodigal Father, God’s love is so great that He is waiting and watching for us to trust His love and repent. He gave His only Son, Jesus to remove the stain of our sin and invite us into His family.

Yes, we’re sinners. But God is gracious, merciful, and loving.

He promises that…

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

May the Lord be with you, bless you, and assure you that through Jesus you are forgiven and loved more than you can imagine.

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