What is Sin?
Sin is LAWLESSNESS
1 John 3:4
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
Law?
God’s moral law
∑ Written
∑ Unwritten - Romans 2:15
They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong.
Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in ACT, ATTITUDE, or NATURE.
Act – stealing, lying, murder
Attitudes – 10 commandments – not to covet.
Gal 5:20, anger, jealousy, selfishness
1st commandment…hearts should be filled with an attitude of love.
Nature- Rom 5:8 – while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Eph 2:3 – we were by very nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Origin of Sin in mankind
Myths
1. Sin came from God: man sinned, angels sinned, God did not
2. Sin has always existed: Ultimate “dualism” – equal amounts of good and evil which bring balance to the galaxy.
Sin entered Gen 3:1-19
Rom 5:12 – sin came into the world through one man.
Rom 5:16 - For Adam’s sin led to condemnation
So what?
We have Inherited Guilt and corruption
AKA original sin
Rom 5:12
When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
Original sin refers to the guilt that we inherited from Adam and our tendency to sin.
Guilt – meaning that God holds us guilty
To those who have a problem with that:
1. You have committed enough sins in your life to be more then guilty anyway
2. If you think it is unfair to be represented by Adam then you would have to think it is unfair to be represented by Christ.
Rom 5:19 – thorough one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
So we are born sinners –
This is why you don’t have to teach children to do bad but to do good.
Obviously we need a savior.
God sent his Son, to pay the price for our sins.
If we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts…
Still James 3:2 – We all make many mistakes
What do these mistakes mean?
Roman Catholics have actually determined that there are two categories of sins. Venial and Mortal.
Venial – can be forgiven but only after punishment.
Mortal – cannot be forgiven (ie: suicide)
We believe:
Legally speaking – one sin makes us guilty and worthy of death but once Christ has paid that price we are legally declared not guilty.
BUT Sin also has results in life and with our relationship with God.
The bible also says that these come in certain degrees.
Why is this cool?
1. It lets us know what sins to focus on cleaning out
2. It lets us know when to overlook an offense
We are called to be holy people
When we sin our fellowship with God is disrupted
When are fellowship with God is disrupted we become less effective:
John 15:4
As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
This is why we confess our sins to God asking for forgiveness.
This is why we work towards holiness
For service not salvation
REMEMBER God never ceases to love us.
This means: when we see Christians in sin – we are not to stop loving them
Remember Rom 8:1
There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Stop “hating” (judging) start loving
One last thought:
If you are struggling with sin…remember that God does not want to keep you where you are.
Jer 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
