What Is Sin?

TOPIC: WHAT IS SIN?

1. What is sin?

"Sin is the transgression of the law" - 1 John 3:4. This is the only definition of sin. The Scriptures talk of many instances of sin but they are not the definition of sin. In fact, the law tells us what sin is. Without the law, we would not have had any idea of what sin is all about. And the law has to be broken in order for sin to exist. The law can be present but if not broken, sin does not exist.

Romans 4:15 says, "... for where no law is, there is no transgression."

Romans 3:20 says, "... for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

Romans 7:7 says, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."

2. How does one become a sinner?

According to Scripture (1 John 3:4), one becomes a sinner by breaking the law of God. One is not a sinner by the fallen sinful nature or by birth. We are all born with a fallen sinful nature without a choice, but that does not automatically make us sinners. 

3. Where did sin first begin and by whom?

Sin began in heaven with Lucifer - Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-15. Lucifer was created perfect with a sinless nature. He did not have a fallen sinful nature when iniquity was found in Him. When Lucifer transgressed the law of God in heaven, only then sin existed. In heaven, the law of God was in existence, but sin does not exist until it was broken by Lucifer.

4. Did sin exist in heaven through Lucifer by the transgression of God's law or by his fallen sinful nature?

Sin existed in heaven through Lucifer by the transgression of the law of God.  Ezekiel 28:15 says, "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." Lucifer never had a fallen sinful nature when he committed iniquity in his heart in heaven. Sin was never caused by the fallen sinful nature.

5. Where did sin begin on earth and by whom?

Sin began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. They were told not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - Genesis 2:16-17. They disobeyed God - Genesis 3:1-6. Sin is the transgression of the law of God - 1 John 3:4. Had they obeyed God and ate not the forbidden fruit, sin would not have existed.

When Adam and Eve transgressed the law of God, sin existed without a fallen sinful nature. They inherited a fallen sinful nature after they had sinned. Hence, a fallen sinful nature is the result of their sin but not the cause of their sin. Sin is the transgression of the law. Apparently, sinful nature is not sin.

6. What is the wages of sin?

"The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ" - Romans 6:23. It does not say that the wages of a fallen sinful nature is death, but sin.

7. What is the Deception in the teaching of sin amongst Christians?

Today you may hear from Church literatures, pulpits and others say, "Sin is by nature," or "We sin because we are born sinful," or "In order for one to be a sinner, all one has to do is to be born," or "We sin because we are sinners," or "Sin is a state," or "Sin is a condition," or "We are born sinful," or " We inherit sinfulness."

All of the above statements of sin contradict the Scripture in 1 John 3:4. None is a sinner by nature nor by birth.

8. Are we born sinners? Or Are we born with a fallen sinful nature?

We are all born with a fallen sinful nature, not born sinners. Being born with a fallen sinful nature and being born sinners, are two different things. They are not the same.

9. Did we inherit sin?

No one inherited sin from Adam and Eve nor from their parents - Ezekiel 18:20. We all inherited a fallen sinful nature from Adam and Eve.

10. Is sin excusable?

No! There is not excuse for sin.

11. What would be the evil consequences of the belief that says, "We are born sinners" as per statements in question 7 above?

(i) That sin is inherited.

(ii) That sin can be excused.

(ii) That sin is without one's choice.

(iv) That the sinner is not responsible for sin.

(v) That one can be saved in sin, rather than from sin.

(vi) That a Christ-like life is impossible since that is our condition/state.

(vii) That the sinner will continue to sin since that was his/her condition/state.

(viii) That God is reponsible for sin.

(ix) It has done away the law of God in a very subtle way.

12. What would be the evil effect of the false teaching of sin upon the Churches?

What one believes will affect his/her life style - behavior. One's behavior will affect one's destiny - either for heaven or hell. If the church believes the false teaching of sin, they will continue living in sin and expect to be saved in sin, but the end result will be eternal death. In order for the church members to live righteous with God, first the teachng needs to be correct - 1 John 3:4.

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Beware of the deception sweeping amongst Christianity!