Think about Sin

(Excerpt from Adventure in Biblical Thinking Study Series, Volume 1, 2021)

Welcome to the Biblical adventure of thinking about sin. Join in thinking about the meaning and value of sin. You will discover that there are many Biblical references to sin. Ponder them.

What does the Holy Scriptures say about sin?

…everything that does not come from faith is sin (Romans 14:23)

The Word of God requires that mankind live by faith in God.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them(James 4:17).

The Word of God tells us simply if we knowingly do not do what we know is good, we sinned.

…through the law we become conscious of our sin (Romans 3:20).

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law (I Corinthians 15:56).

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10).

The Word of God shows that our knowledge of the law (God’s standards and commandments) reveals to us that not complying is sin. Simplified, not doing what God says is sin.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin (John 8:34).

The Word of God tells us directly from Jesus that when we sin, we become the servants of sin. Servants obey their masters. We don’t want to be obeying sin.

You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3)

The Word of God states in the first of the Ten Commandments the standard of requiring the exclusive preeminence to God. To fail to do so is sin. The same follows through the rest of the commandments.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

The Word of God says that sin results in death. The Good News translation says: “For sin pays its wage—death.”

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— (Romans 5:12).

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (I Corinthians 15:22).

The Word of God declares that every person is a sinner. This is inclusive!

The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work (I John 3:8).

The Word of God links sinning with the devil.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (II Corinthians 5:21).

He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed (I Peter 2:24).

The Word of God provides the explanation of God’s solution to the sin and death question. The benefits of that solutions are available to whosoever will believe in the one and only Son of God.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

What others are saying:

Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest comments:

Sin has to be cleansed, sins, must be forgiven; the Redemption of Jesus Christ deals with sin (page 323).

Sin is not a creation, it is a relationship. The essential nature of sin is my claim to my right to myself (page 324).

Sin is the independence of human nature which God created turning against God. Holiness is the same independence turning against sin (page 326).

Either each decision, activity and thought acknowledge the reality of sin in mankind or they refuse to acknowledge the reality of sin in mankind.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

If we are willing to listen and to hear, the Lord is telling us by His description of sin and its impact on mankind how much He loves us.

More adventures in Biblical thinking about sin.

These exercises can be used for reflection on the content of this adventure in Biblical thinking or they could be used as discussion starters for a small group Bible study.

1. Name the three definitions of sin stated in Scripture.
2. Reflect on ways sin can become the master. Can you name some?
3. Can you see that God’s commandments set the expected standard? Noncompliance becomes sin.
4. Do you see the link between sin and death? Think of Adam and Eve.
5. Do you recognize a link between sin and the Devil? The Devil was the original sinner.
6. Are you thankful for God’s solution to the sin question? Can you see that only God could provide that solution? Are you a beneficiary of His solution?

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. http://www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™