What is sin?

[stilllearning]

On another thread about eternal security, this statement was made.......

“I sin every day”

And I responded with........

“I am also a sinner and the Bible tells us to continually remind ourselves of that.......
1 John 1:8
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

But...........I do not sin, every day.
When I do sin, I quickly repent and ask the Lord’s forgiveness and for a victory over that particular sin.

Did you mean to say, that “you sin every day”?

Well he did mean it and wanted a thread, were we could discuss this subject.
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Sin is the transgression of the law.........
1 John 3:4
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

I am not absolutely sure, that I am keeping the law every day.

But the reason I said that I do not sin every day, is because God does not convect me of sin, every day.

 

[RAdam]

Do you have a foolish thought every day. I do. Foolish thoughts are sin.

 

[thegospelgeek]

Do you have a foolish thought every day. I do. Foolish thoughts are sin.

The bible doesn't say a foolish thought is sin it says the thought of foolishness is sin. There is a difference. I sometimes have a foolish thought pass through my mind, as I am sure we all do. But to sit and think of foolishness is more like schemeing something that is just stupid. Perhaps a way to make money off a silly scheme for example.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

A sin is a transgression of the law of God.

 

[Tom Bryant]

First of all, if you do not sin every day, congratulations. You are much more spiritual than anyone I know.

Second, I am afraid that you have limited sin to just breaking the law.

James 4:7 says that if you know to do good and don't do it, it is sin.

Romans 3:23 seems to equate sin as any falling short of God's glory.

Romans 14:23 says that anything not of faith is sin.

1 Corinthians 8 talks about using our liberty and hurting another brother is sin.

Hebrews 12:1 talks about sin which so easily besets us.

James says when we show partiality, we are sinning.

1 John says that if we say we are without sin, we are just deceiving ourselves.

I am not saying that you sin every day. Just wanting you to increase your definition of sin.

I remember Dr. Rice saying that he still sinned after salvation but that he didn't enjoy it.

 

[jbh28]

First of all, if you do not sin every day, congratulations. You are much more spiritual than anyone I know.

Second, I am afraid that you have limited sin to just breaking the law.

James 4:7 says that if you know to do good and don't do it, it is sin.

Romans 3:23 seems to equate sin as any falling short of God's glory.

Romans 14:23 says that anything not of faith is sin.

1 Corinthians 8 talks about using our liberty and hurting another brother is sin.

Hebrews 12:1 talks about sin which so easily besets us.

James says when we show partiality, we are sinning.

1 John says that if we say we are without sin, we are just deceiving ourselves.

I am not saying that you sin every day. Just wanting you to increase your definition of sin.

I remember Dr. Rice saying that he still sinned after salvation but that he didn't enjoy it.

Thanks Tom, this was what I had in mind when I asked stilllearning the question. I, like you, still sin every day. I just sinned by thinking I'm smarter than stilllearning. Even though it is true. j/k

 

[stilllearning]

Hi Tom Bryant

Thanks for your response.
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I don’t consider myself “more Spiritual”, simply because I am careful not to sin “every day”.......
Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.”

(And let me be clear, I did not say that I didn’t sin at all

If a day, lasted 48 or 72 hours, than I could not make this statement!

 

[Mexdeaf]

The closer I get to God the more sin I find in my life that I did not know existed before. So for one to claim he does NOT sin, he makes God a liar according to 1 John. Certainly God knows us better than we know ourselves.

 

[stilllearning]

The closer I get to God the more sin I find in my life that I did not know existed before. So for one to claim he does NOT sin, he makes God a liar according to 1 John. Certainly God knows us better than we know ourselves.

I agree......

 

[sag38]

Just the fact that someone could report that he only sins every 48 hours or more, give or take twelve hours, demonstrates a high level of pride be it on the conscious or unconscious level. Never the less is is pride and it is sin and it's evidencing itself more than every forty eight hours. It's probably more like every forty eight seconds.

 

[stilllearning]

Hi sag38

Do you really want to identify yourself, with “the accuser of the brethren”?
Revelation 12:10
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

 

[Mexdeaf]

Hi sag38

Do you really want to identify yourself, with “the accuser of the brethren”?
Revelation 12:10
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

It's not an accusation if it's out there for everyone to see.

 

[stilllearning]

This all started, because I thought it was unusual(and unadvisable), to be committing sin, every day of your life........
Psalms 66:18
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:”
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My wife and kids are still alive, yet Job’s friends are already showing up.

 

[Mexdeaf]

I think it is "unadvisable" (no such word exists) for you to keep bragging that you don't sin everyday of your life.

 

[HankD]

I have found that dwelling on sin kind of keeps it alive in my mind and I get down in the dumps.

So, when I start having a pity party...

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.​

HankD​

 

[jbh28]

But the reason I said that I do not sin every day, is because God does not convect[sic] me of sin, every day.

Here is a word of wisdom. Just because you are not "convicted" of sin doesn't mean sin isn't there. The more your grow, the more you start to recognize sin better.

 

[Eagle]

Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Perhaps this is along the lines of what stillearning was talking about? If Christ pointed out a sinful man - just as we - in whom He found no guile - then doesn't this tell us that it is possible? There are many scriptures exhorting us to holy living and living victoriously like Christ, and proclaiming that God is able to give us "Victory in Jesus." I would consider this 'lack of guile' as similar (tho not exactly the same) to the "blamelessness" requirement for Elders & Deacons.

Strong's says this about this word "guile":

G1388
δόλος
dolos
dol'-os
From δέλλω dellō (an obsolete primary probably meaning to decoy; compare G1185); a trick (bait), that is, (figuratively) wile: - craft, deceit, guile, subtilty.

Here is what John Gill says - though it is similar to many commentaries saying the same - this is just one example.

behold an Israelite indeed! a son of Israel, as the Syriac and Persic versions read; a true son of Jacob's; an honest, plain hearted man, like him; one that was an Israelite at heart; inwardly so; not one after the flesh only, but after the Spirit; see Rom_2:28; and which was a rare thing at that time; and therefore a note of admiration is prefixed to it; for all were not Israel, that were of Israel; and indeed but a very few then: and so, בן ישראל, "a son of Israel", and ישראל גמור, "a perfect Israelite", are (s) said of such who have regard to the articles of the Jewish faith, though not even of the seed of Israel: it is added,

in whom there is no guile; not that he was without sin; nor is this said of him; nor was he in such sense without guile, as Christ himself was; but guile was not a governing sin in him: the course of his life, and conversation, was with great integrity, and uprightness, and without any prevailing hypocrisy and deceit, either to God, or men. This Christ said to show how much such a character is approved by him; and that he knew the secrets of men's hearts, and the inward frames of their minds,

As a people should we not be relatively speaking - more sinless than those without God? Should we not strive for this and should we not recognize our success in this - and then pass that success along to others - all the while giving God the glory? Even tho we know that we have not yet "apprehended"? Are we not "created unto good works" (Eph. 2:10) - which is perhaps a synonym for "not sinning"? Here is Paul to sum up what I am trying to say - and maybe what stilllearning means - tho I don't presume to speak for him.

Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

 

[stilllearning]

Hello jbh28

You said.......

“Here is a word of wisdom. Just because you are not "convicted" of sin doesn't mean sin isn't there. The more your grow, the more you start to recognize sin better.”

This is absolutely right.
I have never, in this thread or elsewhere, said that I do not sin.

I can’t count the number of times, that I have said from behind the pulpit, that “I am a dirty rotten sinner, just like all of you and we deserve to go to hell”;

But I have also said, that....“although I am a sinner, at this very moment(while I was preaching), I have no unconfessed sin in my life, because I could stand here if I did”.
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But this isn’t about me, it is about “sin”.

Our Sin, is not acceptable to God: So to say, that “it’s okey”, to allow ourselves to sin “once a day”, should be unacceptable to us.

We should all be praying every day, asking the LORD to help us to “hate sin as much as He does”.

The more we hate sin, the more we will be on guard against it.

 

[stilllearning]

Hi Eagle

Thank you for your kind words, but.....
As you have suggested, I am NOTHING without the LORD and every day, I thank and praise Him, for His many mercies.
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The benefit that I hope to gain from this thread, is a clearer view of my own sinfulness and in no way am I being motivated by pride.
(Although I have received several awards, for my humility, but I have to keep them in the closet.)

All kidding aside, “sin” is a serious matter: It can destroy lives and none of us are immune to it.
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I would like to see this thread continued, so that all of us might be challenged to be more diligent about “daily dealing with our own personal sin”.

Years ago, a young believer was telling me about a revival service that he had attended and how wonderful it was; So I asked him.... “Oh, did the LORD deal with your sin?” and he responded, “...no, but the preacher sure did put those women who weren’t in dresses, in their place.”

I immediately knew, that this meeting, hadn’t benefitted him at all.

 

[Luke2427]

On another thread about eternal security, this statement was made.......


And I responded with........


Well he did mean it and wanted a thread, were we could discuss this subject.
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Sin is the transgression of the law.........
1 John 3:4
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

I am not absolutely sure, that I am keeping the law every day.

But the reason I said that I do not sin every day, is because God does not convect me of sin, every day.

Sin IS transgression of the law, but that is not ALL that sin is.

God commands us all to love him with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.
In fact, this is the GREATEST COMMANDMENT. Do you love him right now like he deserves and demands to be loved? No. You do not.
Neither do I, nor any person on earth.

So every one of us is guilty of the greatest crime in the universe every moment of every day!!

Thank God that where sin did abound- GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND!!!:godisgood::wavey:raying::applause: