What is Sin?
Introduction:
(1) President Calvin Coolidge returned home one Sunday afternoon from attending morning worship services. His wife, who was unable to attend, asked him what the preacher’s lesson was about that morning. He replied: “Sin.” His wife then proceeded to inquire more about the content of the lesson. He said: “Well, I think he was against it.”
(2) Let us note what sin is:
Discussion:
I. Definition of Sin –
A. Augustine said: “Sin is believing the lie that you are self-created, self-dependent, and self-sustained.”
B. Regarding sin, one observed:
Man calls it an accident, God calls it an abomination
Man calls it a blunder, God calls it a blindness
Man calls it a defect, God calls it a disease
Man calls it chance, God calls it a choice
Man calls it an error, God calls it enmity
Man calls it fascination, God calls it fatality
Man calls it an infirmity, God calls it iniquity
Man calls it luxury, God calls it leprosy
Man calls it liberty, God calls it lawlessness
Man calls it a trifle, God calls it a tragedy
Man calls it a mistake, God calls it madness
Man calls it a weakness, God calls it willfulness
C. The Bible’s definition of sin:
1. Old Testament words for sin –
a. “Pesha” – transgression, rebellion (Exod. 34:7; Psa. 32:1, 2)
b. “Avon” – that which is twisted or crooked (Psa. 51: 2, 5)
2. New Testament words for sin –
a. “Hamartia” – to miss the mark (Rom. 3:23; Eph. 4:26)
b. “Parabasis” – transgressing or overpassing a line (Rom. 4:15; Gal. 3:19)
c. “Paraptoma” – falling where one should have stood (Rom. 4:25; 5:15)
d. “Anomia” – lawlessness (Matt. 7:23; 13:41)
e. “Adikia” – bending the right and making it crooked (2 Tim. 2:19;
Acts 8:23)
II. Types of Sin –
A. A violation of one’s conscience (Rom. 14:23)
B. A failure to include God in one’s plans (James 4:17)
C. A breaking of God’s law (1 John 4:3)
D. A failure to obey God’s law (1 John 5:17)
III. Process of Sin (James 1:13-15) –
A. Temptation
1. Lust of the flesh
2. Lust of the eyes
3. Pride of life (1 John 2:15-17)
B. Action
C. Condemnation
IV. Results of Sin –
A. In a book, All Thumbs Guide to VCR’s, Gene Williams wrote:
Getting a jolt from the incoming 120 volts ac (120 VAC) is more than unpleasant; it can be fatal. Studies have shown that it takes very little current to kill. Even a small amount of current can paralyze your muscles, and you won’t be able to let go. Just a fraction more and your heart muscle can become paralyzed.
B. In Genesis 3, we se that sin brought about:
1. Guilt (v. 8)
2. Fear (v. 10)
3. Shame (v. 7)
4. Death (v. 16)
5. Separation (v. 23)
6. Subjection (v. 16)
7. Sorrow (v. 16)
8. Servile toil (vv. 17-19)
C. Because of sin, man has taken:
The deity out of religion
The supernatural out of Christianity
The authority out of the Bible
God out of education
Morality and virtue our of literature
Beauty and truth out of art
Ethics out of business
Fidelity out of marriage
V. Cost of Sin -
- The Cross -
