A) INTRODUCTION.

B) THE BIBLE’S DEFINITION OF SIN.

C) SIN BEGAN WITH SATAN.

D) TO THE OLD TESTAMENT.

E) TO THE NEW TESTAMENT.

F) IN CONCLUSION.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

The essence of human behavior is defined in “The Pursuit Of Pleasure And The Avoidance Of Pain.”  And most people will avoid change in character; friendships; diet; entertainment; etcetera.

 

 

B) THE BIBLE’S DEFINITION OF SIN

 

 

Let us take a look at the clearest Scriptural definition of what “sin” is.  We can know the Bibles definition without question, in that, “sin is the transgression of the Law,” First John 3:4.  This verse is backed up by many more, which show us that God regards “sin” as the breaking of His Law (Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7; 1Co. 15:56; Gal. 2:17-19; 3:10).

 

However, there is one other verse in the Scriptures that gives us a little different definition of what “sin” is.  Here is Romans 14:23:  “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  Ultimately what this verse is saying and what it means is a lack of trusting God.  And another way to think of this is that you do not trust God to have given you Commandments that are for your best interest, therefore you break His Law.

 

 

C) SIN BEGAN WITH SATAN

 

 

Now we know that Sin began with Lucifer:  “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.”  First John 3:8 (see also John 8:44; Eze. 28:15).  Something to keep in mind, is that, if Christ had even admitted that there could be an excuse for sin, Satan would have triumphed and the world would have been lost.  In other words, if there could be a reason for sin, then God cannot be trusted and Satan must be acknowledged as having a valid point.

 

God has given us all the advantages He possibly could and can give, that we may have enough strength to withstand the temptations of the enemy (see 1Co. 10:13).  The entrance of sin into Heaven cannot be explained.  If it were explainable, it would show that there was some reason for sin.  But as there was not the least excuse for it, its origin will ever remain shrouded in mystery.  Even though we may know why, we cannot hope to explain why, since the environment was in perfect perfectionism.

 

What was it that caused Satan to rebel?  Was there any just reason that could be assigned for his sin?  The place where sin originated has been pointed out, but the reason for sin cannot be found; for there is no reason for its existence.

 

The Bible uses a number of different words to convey the idea of sin.  Below are the most common ones used in both the Old and New Testaments, including an explanation of their meaning and a few verses where the words are used.

 

 

D) TO THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

 

1. Hattat = Means “to miss the mark,” “to miss a target” (Lev. 5:5; Psa. 51:4).
2. Awon = Is translated “iniquity,” with the basic idea of “crookedness, falsehood, a twisting” (Gen. 15:16; Isa. 43:24).
3. Pesha = Means “a deliberate, willful violation of a norm or authority.”  It is rebellion against God and is sometimes translated as, “transgression” (Isa. 1:2; Amos 4:4).
4. Resha = Means literally, “out of joint,” to “be loose,” and commonly conveys the idea of wickedness (Gen. 18:23; Exo. 23:1).

 

 

E) TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

1. Hamartia = Means literally, to “miss the mark,” and is used in the New Testament to denote a human decision that is hostile to God (John 19:11; 1Jo. 1:8).
2. Parokoe = Means literally, a “failure to hear,” or, an “unwillingness to hear.”  It is often translated as “disobedience” (Rom. 5:19; Heb. 2:2).
3. Paraptoma = Usually means, “a slip, a fault, a falling down.”  It is commonly translated as a “trespass,” or “transgression” (Mat. 6:14; Rom. 4:25).
4. Anomie = Suggests “contempt,” or “a violation of the nomos,” i.e., God’s Law, and is the word from which, “transgression of the Law” is translated in First John 3:4, which, as stated above, is the only spelled out Bible definition of sin (Mat. 7:23; Heb. 1:9).
5. Adikia = Conveys the idea of “unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18; 2Pe. 2:15).

 

 

F) IN CONCLUSION

 

 

Therefore, “sin” is ultimately a rebellion against the Lordship and sovereignty of God.  It is a refusal to accept His authority in one’s life, conduct, and final destiny.  This is manifested in different moral, spiritual, and ethical behaviors, which inevitably lead to suffering and death.

 

What it boils down to is that “sin,” to be understood as “sin,” must be seen in the context of who we are in relationship to God.  Sin must be seen as a state of existence as much as it is one’s acts and deeds.  Indeed, the acts and deeds themselves result from the state of “sin” in which we exist; but too many of us use that as an excuse.  “Sin,” therefore, is as much who we are as it is what we do; because, in the end, we do what we do because we are what we are.

 

“The strongest temptation is no excuse for sin.  No matter how severe the pressure brought to bear upon you, sin is your own act.  The seat of the difficulty is the unrenewed heart.”  AH:331.

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