Day 26 – What is Sin?
~Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Today’s photograph is a wonderful depiction of sin. Sin is appealing and, therefore, mankind succumbs to it because it appeals to them. However, just this one sin will keep a person out of Heaven. That is because we inherited a sin nature from Adam and Eve.
God’s word tells us that there is a penalty for sin in our lives and that is the penalty death. So exactly what are we going to be penalized for? Let’s take a look at what sin is according to God’s word.
The definition of sin according to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is:
The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God’s commands or law. 1 John 3. Mat 15. James 4.
The very first mention of the word sin can be found in Genesis 4:7a If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
This passage deals with Cain and Abel. It was time for them to bring their lamb for sacrifice as they were taught by their parents. Abel offered a lamb; however, Cain didn’t. Instead, he decided that he would give the fruit of his own labor. Maybe he was jealous of Abel … maybe he didn’t want to have to go buy a lamb from Abel’s flock. We aren’t told. What we are told is that Cain didn’t do as God wanted him to do. When God rejected his offering, Cain was wroth (Gen. 4:6) – meaning he was very angry. Why? He was angry because his offering of the works of his hands was not an accepted sacrifice by God. God told Cain in verse 7 “If thou does well, shalt thou not be accepted?” In other words, had Cain obeyed and followed God’s process taught to him (just as it was taught to Abel), his offering would have been accepted by God. God also says, “and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” Cain’s offering was not accepted – he sinned against God by trying to get to God in his own way. In fact, the spirit of Cain is alive and well today. People try to get to Heaven by the work of their own hands.
What does the Bible say about sin? There are 1292 mentions of sin in the King James Bible. I can’t cover each verse but we can get an idea of how God views sin. The second mention of sin is found with the account of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen. 13:13 and Gen. 18:20) We, therefore, see two areas we know God considers to be sin, even before the Ten Commandments were given: (1) the sin of trying to get to Heaven by any other way than what God has provided in His word; and (2) the sin of sodomy (homosexuality) – in fact, this sin is said to be very grievous according to Gen. 18:20.
When the Ten Commandments were given, they formed the foundation for civilization as we know it. Many courthouses still have the Ten Commandments on their walls. Sadly, liberals are working desperately to have them removed. It’s so very sad because this is what God considers to be sin! The exact wording can be read in Exodus 20.
A brief paraphrased outline of these Ten Commandments are:
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain
- Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy
- Honor thy Father and thy Mother
- Thou shalt not kill
- Thou shalt not commit adultery
- Thou shalt not steal
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor
- Thou shalt not covet
It’s not rocket science to understand what God considers to be sin. These same are still considered sin by God today. He does not change! (Malachi 3:6a For I [am] the LORD, I change not;)
It doesn’t end there. James says in
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.
If man knows to do good, then it must be ingrained in man to do good. When man does not do what he knows in his heart to be good, then he has committed sin according to God’s word.
It’s pretty overwhelming to the one who has not accepted God’s gift of salvation. God’s word says in
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, one must repent toward God and have faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. No longer do we need to offer sacrifices for our sins as in the Old Testament! Now we have the opportunity to have our sins forgiven through Jesus Christ (John 3:16, John 14:6, John 3:3, Romans 6:23)
Until we recognize that we are sinners and we need to repent, we will be a slave to sin.
(Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
There is no other way to Heaven except by repenting toward sin and having faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21, John 14:6).
Leave a Reply