the nature of sin
When you hear a verse like Romans 3:23, which declares that all have sinned, you wonder if every word in the bible is really true. That is because you are essentially a good person; you do not steal, you do not slander. You have to wonder why the bible can categorically state if we say we have not sinned, we lie and make God a liar (1 John 1:10, New King James Version). You certainly do not understand why the wise king Solomon could declare, For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
You are not alone. Many of us have been taught that if we do not commit murder or fornication, if we do not tell lies, then we are free from sin. The problem is that such teachings have limited sin to vices – which are visible sins. But in truth, most of sin is invisible. Nobody but you and God know about your sin because vices are just a tip of the iceberg. Like an iceberg, 10% of sin is visible while 90% is hidden deep within the oceans of your heart.
Which is why Jesus so eloquently says that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28). He also says in Matthew 5:22 that if you hate your brother, you have committed murder. That hatred is buried deep within your heart. Nobody but you and God know the sin of hatred in your heart and although it is not visible, it is still sin. He even says in Matthew 15:8, that These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. Only God knows how many people sit in church from Sunday to Sunday, appearing to be righteous, while in their hearts, they are far from God.
Bible Definition of Sin
Do you still believe you are without sin? It is obvious that when the bible says in 1 John 1:8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, that we are all included in that and similar verses.
But thanks be to God for Jesus, who according to 1 John 3:5, was manifested to take away our sins, ….
Once you acknowledge and confess your sin, God is faithful to forgive and just to cleanse from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
You are not alone. Many of us have been taught that if we do not commit murder or fornication, if we do not tell lies, then we are free from sin. The problem is that such teachings have limited sin to vices – which are visible sins. But in truth, most of sin is invisible. Nobody but you and God know about your sin because vices are just a tip of the iceberg. Like an iceberg, 10% of sin is visible while 90% is hidden deep within the oceans of your heart.
Which is why Jesus so eloquently says that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28). He also says in Matthew 5:22 that if you hate your brother, you have committed murder. That hatred is buried deep within your heart. Nobody but you and God know the sin of hatred in your heart and although it is not visible, it is still sin. He even says in Matthew 15:8, that These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. Only God knows how many people sit in church from Sunday to Sunday, appearing to be righteous, while in their hearts, they are far from God.
Bible Definition of Sin
- In Romans 14:23, the bible defines sin as anything that is not done in faith. Which means that each time you are anxious, you have sinned. If you say that have never been anxious or fearful, then you have added lying to your sin.
- Knowing the good that you should do but failing to do it is sin, (James 4:17). For instance, if you know you should give a pedestrian a ride and you drive past them, you have become a sinner.
- If you talk a whole lot, you are not far from sin, as we see in Proverbs 10:19, In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Jealousy is sin, as we see in Gen 4:7. A lot of us may be guilty of that sin even in ministry. His church is bigger than yours and you feel a tinge of envy rising within you. You have sinned.
- If you do not have a list of people for whom you regularly pray, 1 Samuel 12:23 says you are a sinner
- You already know that all boasting and bragging is sin. Which is why when king David carried out a census, God was extremely angry with Israel, because David wanted to use the statistics to brag.
- A sin that is common among prayer warriors is to charge God with wrong, especially after they have prayed and fasted and it seems that nothing good is happening. Job was described in Job 1:22 as being free from that particular sin.
- Each time we give more honor to a person in church because he is well – dressed or gives more money, James 2:9 says we have sinned, we have shown partiality.
Do you still believe you are without sin? It is obvious that when the bible says in 1 John 1:8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, that we are all included in that and similar verses.
But thanks be to God for Jesus, who according to 1 John 3:5, was manifested to take away our sins, ….
Once you acknowledge and confess your sin, God is faithful to forgive and just to cleanse from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
