What is Sin?
Lucas D. Elliott
Not Apologizing for Apologia
January 4th 2019
Sin is a touchy subject. People don't like talking about sin. However, it is a very real and very important thing. Sin is what makes us unworthy of God's presence, sin is what makes Jesus' sacrifice so amazing. Sin is what causes evil, suffering and sadness. But what exactly is sin? Where did sin come from? Surprisingly these are questions not asked or answered very often.
It is a common thought that sins are simply what God tells us not to do in the ten commandments. However this is far from true. The ten commandments are simply strong examples. Many companies have FAQ sections, or places where “Frequently Asked Questions” are answered. The ten Commandments are like God's FAQ. In Exodus 20 God is giving us guidelines. So what exactly is sin then? Well, a verse from James answers this question to a T.
James 4:17 reads: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
I don't know about you but when I first read this verse my stomach dropped. What this verse is saying is that any time you don't do what you know is good you are sinning. Notice the dramatic difference between doing something you know is bad, and not doing something you know is good. For instance, let's say I'm crashing at a friends place, and know that right now it would be good to help clean up. My natural response would probably be I don't really want to, so I'm not going to. Most people would think this a fine excuse. Sure it would be a good thing to do, but there's nothing wrong with relaxing now and then is there? Well, according to James 4:17 I would be sinning.
Built into every one of us is a craving to do evil. Not because God put it there, but because he gave us a choice to put it in ourselves and we chose to do just that. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, the destroyed humanity beyond the repair of anyone but God.
But why is it like this? Why doesn't God just stop the evil and let us live eternal life? It is because God is perfect, and always does the perfect good thing. By allowing us, who have fallen short of that, to be in his presence in heaven, God would be putting his stamp of approval on sin. By doing that, he would no longer be perfect and would be no different than us.
Now at first glance this may seem hopeless and depressing. Do we have any chance of measuring up to God? Well no, we don't. But we never did. From the moment we first sin we deserve nothing but death and eternal suffering. The punishment for all sins are the same. James 2:10 states that, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it." This makes sense when one really analyzes what sin is. It is not that murder is not worse than stealing, but that disobeying God is worse than anything else, and it is truly that which we are being punished for, not the sin itself.
While this may seem hopeless indeed, it is not. God still loves us despite our shortcomings. He sent his son down to earth to live a perfect life despite temptation. Jesus, since he lived a perfect life, did not deserve death. None the less, Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross, paying the price of sin. He was infinitely perfect, and since you can't take away from infinity, he was able to take the place of every one of us. Romans 3:23-24 reads “3 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”
You see, the magnitude of our sinfulness and brokenness shows how much we need God. It shows how amazing his gift is. God has given us a gift of eternal life despite our shortcomings. All we have to do is accept this gift. To admit that we need it and embrace it. All we need to do is trust in the gift of Christ Jesus, and we are given eternal life with God. That is why sin is so important to understand. Because without it, how can we understand what God has done for us?
So go forth into the world, and live not by the weight your shortcomings, but by the gift of your redemption.
References
The Holy Bible
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