What Is Sin?

What is sin? How did sin originate? Did we inherit sin? What happens when Christians sin? Does God have a solution to sin?

Our English word sin is a translation of many different words. The original meanings have much to teach us.

Missing the Mark

A common Greek word for sin ?µa?t?a (hamartia) means to miss the mark. Thus the study of sin is called hamartiology. How did sin enter the world?

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” (Romans 5:12 NLT)

One Hebrew word ????? (chata) also means to miss the mark or miss the way, like missing the bull’s eye on a target or taking the wrong road. We miss an ideal life because of bad decisions. Like a healthy fear of heights can prevent us falling, a healthy fear of God will keep us from going the wrong way.

“Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.’ " (Exodus 20:20 NASB)

Abject Moral Evil

Another Hebrew word ??? (ra) is much more serious, meaning evil, wicked or ruin.

“But Er was a wicked man in the LORD's sight, so the LORD took his life.” (Genesis 38:7 NLT)

Some human actions are just plain evil, like murder and theft. That is not judgmentalism, but a simple fact of life. Some things are just plain wrong. Another Greek word p?????? (poneros) also refers to the more serious side of sin, moral evil.

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:12 NIV)

Morality keeps a society civilized. When moral evil prevails, anarchy results and offers little to no individual protection.

Going Astray

Another Hebrew word translated as sin ?????? (shag’ah) means going astray. Can we go astray by ignorance?

“But if you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses…” (Numbers 15:22 ESV)

Lawlessness

Another Greek word describing sin is ???µ?a (anomia), meaning lawlessness. Do Christians believe in anarchy?

“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4 NIV)

All free societies must balance the twin sides of “freedom to” and “freedom from”. Freedom to do what we want must be balanced by everyone’s need to be free from harm. Can we be saved and continue to sin?

“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (Romans 6:15 KJV)

Who sets us free?

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1 NLT)

Sinners

Why do some Christians say they are no longer sinners while others say they are? The word sinner has two meanings, depending on context. It can mean those still devoted to sin who are 1) pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked. In this sense, we are either categorized as saint or sinner.

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18 NIV)

The word sinner can also mean 2) not free from sin. In this sense, all of us are sinners. Notice that Paul, even after conversion, says I am, not was, a sinner.

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV)

Sin covers a spectrum of wrongs from merely missing the mark to abject moral evil. It was chosen by Adam and Eve. It is inherited from a sinful environment. Only Jesus can set us free. Be set free and stay free. You decide!