What is Sin?

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

Such a simple word yet such a broad range of ideas as to what constitutes sin. How does Scripture define sin and how can those definitions guide us into a deeper understanding of the truth concerning sin as well as enabling us to become accurate judges of sin in our own lives?

 

[RAdam]

That which is not of faith is of sin.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

That is a great start. How about some others?

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

Here is a list of Scriptures that speak to the topic of sin that I have complied. Obviously they are not all ‘definitions’ of sin, but they do speak concerning the issue of sin. Does anyone find other important verses on sin that we might add to the list in order to make it as complete as we can and to aide us with our definitions of sin?

1. Ge 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
2.Gen. 18:20 Sin is grievous
3. Gen. 31:36 Sin amounts to a trespass
4. Gen. 39:9 Sin is great wickedness
5. Ex. 34:9 Sin is iniquity
6.1Sam.15:23 Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft
7.Prov.14:34 Sin is a reproach
8. Prov. 21:4 A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked is sin
9. Prov.24:19The thought of foolishness is sin
10. Ezek. 33:14 Sin is the opposite of lawful and right
11. John 8:34 He that sins is the servant of sin
12.Romans 3:20 By the law is the knowledge of sin
13.Romans 5:13 Sin is not imputed where there is no law
14. Romans 14:23 Whatsoever is not of faith is sin
15. Heb 3:13 Deceitfulness is sin
16. When lust is conceived it bringeth forth sin.
17. James 4:17 To him that knoweth to do good to him it is sin
18. 1John 3:4 Sin is the transgression of the law
19. 1 John 3:8; John 8:44 Is of the devil
20. 1John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin
21.Romans 4:15 for where no law is, there is no transgression
22. John 9:41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains."
23.John 15:24 "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.

 

[Johnv]

To a Christian, a sin is a transgression of a scripturally moral standard. To a Baptist, a sin is anything you do that I don't like. :wavey:

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

When you wade in John, you wade in plum up to the top of your head.:laugh:

 

[Crabtownboy]

The Greek word hamartia (ἁμαρτία) is usually translated as sin in the New Testament. In Classical Greek, it means "to miss the mark" or "to miss the target" which was also used in Old English archery

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache...i/Sin+sin+greek+word&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Thus, sin is anything that misses the perfection of God. There are sins of comission [actions] and sins of omission [non-actions]

A person can do a good thing, but if it is not the absolute perfection of God it is still a sin.

Inaction can also be a sin. What I should have done, but did not do is a sin.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

CTB: Thus, sin is anything that misses the perfection of God. There are sins of comission [actions] and sins of omission [non-actions]

A person can do a good thing, but if it is not the absolute perfection of God it is still a sin.

Inaction can also be a sin. What I should have done, but did not do is a sin.

HP:I should have made myself clearer to understand in the OP. While I sincerely do appreciate your response, I am trying to focus first on passages straight from Scripture, not definitions of men at this point. I will say in passing that the definition you give here is not founded on the Word of God. That is men doing to the definitions of what God said sin is much like what the Jews often did to the laws God gave them, extrapolating and exploited them to the utter confusion of Gods actual commandments.

I do want to go into more detail on this definition latter in the course of this topic. :thumbs:

 

[webdog]

The Cliff Note version...it's the transgression of God's law.

 

[Johnv]

When you wade in John, you wade in plum up to the top of your head.:laugh:

I do, don't I :laugh:

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

Seriously John, you make a good point.:thumbs: Some paint sin with such a braod stroke as to include influences to sin, or proclivities to sin, or matters of complete ignorance (some need to jump on that issue) or neglect or failure to do ‘everything’ possible as sin. Picture this. We are all drawing in the sand our definitions from Scripture as to sin. Along comes a __________ (I will allow you to you fill in the blank ) and starts throwing up sand in the air claiming sin is anything and everything, to the end the real import of sin and the real biblical definitions are hidden or obliterated by the cloud of sand thrown in the air. Get the picture?

Again, great point John. :thumbs:

 

[DHK]

Thus, sin is anything that misses the perfection of God. There are sins of comission [actions] and sins of omission [non-actions]

A person can do a good thing, but if it is not the absolute perfection of God it is still a sin.

Inaction can also be a sin. What I should have done, but did not do is a sin.

Good definition, and very Scriptural.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The phrase "short of the glory of God," literally means "missing the mark," coming short.
We miss the mark of God's glory. We fall short. Anything less than God's holiness is sin.

Thus Crabtownboy was absolutely right in his assessment.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

So the lines in the sand are being clearly being drawn, and the divide over sin inevitable.

What does the Scripture ‘for all have sinned’ have to do with any definition of sin??? That verse says nothing to what sin entails. Where do Scrripture ever define sin as missing the mark? Not that I 'entirely' disagree, but still, that is not a Scriptural definition. That definition makes absolutely no distinction between the realm of morals and mere mistakes or oversights. It is a faulty definition at best, and in actuality, the way it is so often applied, a clear misrepresentation of any Scriptural definition period.

 

[DHK]

So the lines in the sand are being clearly being drawn, and the divide over sin inevitable.

What does the Scripture ‘for all have sinned’ have to do with any definition of sin??? That verse says nothing to what sin entails. Where do Scrripture ever define sin as missing the mark? Not that I 'entirely' disagree, but still, that is not a Scriptural definition. That definition makes absolutely no distinction between the realm of morals and mere mistakes or oversights. It is a faulty definition at best, and in actuality, the way it is so often applied, a clear misrepresentation of any Scriptural definition period.

Because you disagree it's faulty? That is typical for you in most things.
Just like Psalm 51:5--because you disagree its interpretation is faulty.
That is your logic with most things.

For all have sinned. What does that mean? For all have committed sin. For all have transgressed the law--the very definition of sin in 1John 3:4.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
The second part of the definition is "come short of the glory of God."
"To come short," is to miss the mark. It is to fall short of God's glory; God's holiness.
In case you haven't heard this is a standard definition of sin. You might want to look in some theology books, and study it on your own before digging yourself in hole here.

 

[Amy.G]

Where do Scrripture ever define sin as missing the mark? Not that I 'entirely' disagree, but still, that is not a Scriptural definition.

I'll use one of the scriptures you posted.

Joh*15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

amartia hamartia ham-ar-tee'-ah
from 264; a sin (properly abstract):--offence, sin(-ful).

See Greek 264

Strong's Greek Dictionary
264. hamartano
amartanw hamartano ham-ar-tan'-o
perhaps from 1 (as a negative particle) and the base of 3313; properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin:--for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.



So yes, it is scriptural to define sin as "missing the mark". Of course it's in the context of God's mark.

Missing the mark means that you have not achieved the righteousness, holiness and perfection of God. (and you never will because you are not God) That is why we must rely on the righteousness of Christ.

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

Amy: it is scriptural to define sin as "missing the mark". Of course it's in the context of God's mark.

HP: In a limited and carefully specified sense it is indeed a “missing of ‘a’ mark, a mark carefully defined in Scripture and supported by other avenues of God-inspired intuitive truth.

Amy: Missing the mark means that you have not achieved the righteousness, holiness and perfection of God. (and you never will because you are not God) That is why we must rely on the righteousness of Christ.

HP: Sorry Amy. I cannot buy that definition for a minute. There are holy and righteous angels. Do they aspire to the righteousness of God Himself? I would not think so. Man for a time in the garden aspire to righteousness, but even then was it equal to the righteousness of God? No, man is finite in all his qualities. Do a word search on righteousness. I dare you. God, not me or anyone else, but GOD calls many men and women righteous. For you to say that none can be or ever have been righteous before God is to engage in a debate with God Himself, one I am afraid to inform you that you will seriously lose big time. Although it is first, to my knowledge, ascribed to Noah, others before him I believe were righteous before God as well, such as Adam and Eve for a time, Able and certainly others as well.

Here we are trying to ascribe a term that God uses freely to describe men, made absolutely impossible to attain by theologians. They have developed unscriptural notions such as the imputed righteousness of Christ (not unscriptural if seen a proper light, but unscriptural as it is commonly thought of and demonstrated in other notions such as OSAS) as a direct result of an improper view of the righteousness God demands of men. That will be yet another excellent topic for discussion in its place.

Amy, let me just say this for now. The righteousness God demands of us as men is in direct association with our finite abilities and necessitated characteristics of being a man. God requires out of us the righteousness possible as men, not of angels or any other. Of a truth, no righteousness can be ascribed to any of our formed intents as sinners until we receive a clean heart and forgiveness from all sins that are past.

 

[RAdam]

When the bible refers to the righteous it can mean several different things depending on context.

1) "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." - Obviously Jesus is there speaking of the self righteous, those that thought they were righteous by their own merits.

2) It can speak of those made righteous by God. "if the righteous scarcely be saved..."

3) Men and women who are righteous with respect to those around them.

 

[DHK]

HP:
You deny the definition given right in the Scriptures in Romans 3:23.
You deny the definitions given by various theologians.
You deny the definition given by a lexicon of the word for sin (Strong's)

Deny, Deny, Deny.
You deny the scriptures in favor for your philosophy. Why is that?

 

[Heavenly Pilgrim]

DHK:You deny the definition given right in the Scriptures in Romans 3:23.

HP: That verse is not a definition of sin period, and besides I do not deny it either.

DHK: You deny the definitions given by various theologians.
You deny the definition given by a lexicon of the word for sin (Strong's)

HP: I certainly deny the definitions given by many theologians for many deny the truth of the clear Scriptural definitions a wayfaring man though a fool can understand.

DHK: You deny the scriptures in favor for your philosophy. Why is that?

HP: Simply not true. DHK, why don't you do something constructive in this discussion and see if you can find any Scriptural definitions we can add to the list.

 

[DHK]

HP: That verse is not a definition of sin period, and besides I do not deny it either.

Scripture gives definitions that are inherent in the passage. If you reject the definition given then what more can be done for you?

HP: I certainly deny the definitions given by many theologians for many deny the truth of the clear Scriptural definitions a wayfaring man though a fool can understand.

An amazing claim here. Theologians have given their lives to the study of the Scriptures. You claim you know better than them and call them wayfaring men and fools. Do you realize how much that affects your own credibility?

HP: Simply not true. DHK, why don't you do something constructive in this discussion and see if you can find any Scriptural definitions we can add to the list.

Look, Amy gave you the meaning of the word for sin, right out of the Greek dictionary--a lexicon.
Here it is again:

Strong's Greek Dictionary
264. hamartano
amartanw hamartano ham-ar-tan'-o
perhaps from 1 (as a negative particle) and the base of 3313; properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin:--for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.

TO MISS THE MARK.

If you don't believe the dictionaries and the lexicons, then who or what will you believe?!