The Study Of “sin” Series

The Study Of “Sin”

1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

WHAT IS SIN?

John says ". . . sin is lawlessness" [breaking the law] (1 John 3:4). Again, he says that "All unrighteousness is sin . . ." (1 John 5:17).

Every nation has laws. When a person does not obey these laws, he has done wrong. God has laws which we are to obey. These laws are found in the Bible. When we do not obey God’s law, we sin. All grown people have sinned. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

We must always look out for sin. Sin is deceitful.

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13).

God hates sin. Let us, therefore, not be deceived by it.

THE CAUSE OF SIN

All things in life have a cause. We sleep because we are tired. We eat because we are hungry. No matter what we do in life there is a cause for it. This is also true with sin. Desiring something we should not have may lead to sin. "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" (James 1:14, 15).

The cause of sin is lust [desire]. If we do away with these wrong desires, then we will not sin.

DIFFERENT WAYS WE SIN

There are two ways that we can sin.

First, by doing that which we are not supposed to do. A father once told his son not to swim in a river. The son went and swam in the river. The son did not obey his father. He did that which he was not supposed to do. God has told us what we are not to do.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness [thinking and practicing immoral things], idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).

When we do these things, we have sinned. We have done that which God told us not to do.

Second, we sin by not doing that which we are supposed to do. A mother told her daughter to wash the dishes. The daughter did not wash the dishes. She did wrong. She did not do what her mother had told her to do. God has told us what to do to be pleasing to Him. It is all written in the Bible. When we do not do what God says to do, then we are guilty of sin. For example, God has told us to worship Him on Sunday, the first day of the week. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). When we do not worship God on Sunday, we sin. There are many other commands that God has given for us to do. We must read the New Testament to learn what they are. Then we must do them. If we do not do them, then we are guilty of sin.

RESULTS OF SIN

Earlier in our lesson, we learned about a girl who did not obey her mother when she was told to wash the dishes. Now what does the mother do with such a girl? She must punish her. Why? Because the daughter must learn to do what she is told to do. If the girl is not punished, then the next time she is told to do something, she won’t do it. God will also punish those who do not obey Him.

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on [punishing] those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:8). We do not have to receive this punishment. God has provided a way for us to be forgiven of our sins. Jesus Christ is the way to God.

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Since Jesus is the Way, we must listen to Him. Here is what He says about salvation:

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16).