All about Sin
I have seen confusion about sin and regrettably within the Christian community. I have witnessed, even with evangelical Christians, the misunderstanding of sin. I have listened to conversations from Christians who have remarked that before they were saved, they did not participate in certain sinful behavior thus implying that they were less guilty and more worthy of salvation. This blog post is all about sin. I blogged about the eternal consequences of sin and the consequences of sin in this life.
Original sin is the first sin committed by Adam’s disobedience in eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil which affected all of creation. Death came on all of creation, man and beast. However, while all of creation has been affected by original sin, mankind suffers the guilt as a result of the effect of that original sin upon our very nature. Human nature changed.
Transgression of the Law
Scripture describes sin as “everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4) and rebellion against God. Sin is “either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God’s commands or law. 1 John 3. Mat 15. James 4.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary).
Imputed Sin
Imputed means “To charge; to attribute; to set to the account of.” Before the Law of Moses, sin was not imputed to man though man was still a sinner because of the inherited nature we are born with. Without the law, sin was not counted even though death did reign from Adam to Moses.
for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. (Romans 5:13-14)
Inherited Sin
Man is not a sinner because we sin. We sin because we are sinners. Romans 5:12 tells us death spread to all men. Mankind has inherited Adam’s sin nature and therefore has the inherent inclination to sin. Mankind is therefore a sinner by nature..
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—(Romans 5:12)
Personal Sin
Man sins because he has inherited a corrupted sinful nature. Man will be judged according to his committed sin.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)
And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Revelation 20:13 (ESV)
Man’s condemnation is a result of inherited, imputed and personal sin.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
It is really important to understand sin to really understand what we are saved from and how God sees mankind. Without that understanding, it is easy to say “well, I am not as bad as my neighbor” and have the unadmitted attitude that we’re more deserving of salvation than that evil neighbor. And if we have the wrong view of sin, we’re not going to be able to witness to anyone effectively for we will not be able to explain the depravity of the human nature and the utter necessity of salvation. Jesus died because of sin, even the least of the sins.
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Thank you for your statement that Sin is the violation of the divine law of God.
Can you clarify what that Divine Law is?
Also, can you please help me find some answer to these nagging questions below?
How was it passed down from God to Man?
Do we have to obey the complete Divine Law?I asj this based on your statement above that some people think that they have sinned ‘less’ than others.
Has anybody attempted to change that Divine Law?
Does the Bible have anything to say on what will happen to those who attempt to change that Divine Law?
Is the legal system of some countries around the world based on the Divine Law of God. An example is, in some countries, If someone kills, they are tried and then sentenced.
I notice that you have Sunday atonement 1 and 11.
Do tell me, is there any connection between the Sun worshippers of old and Sunday? Some worship on a Friday, others Saturday and yet others, Sunday. Why is this so? Does our day of worship have anything to do with the Divine Law? If we worship on Friday, who do we really worship? What about Saterday and Sunday?
Is there something called a sun god and sun worshippers? Which day did they worship? Will they be transgressing this Divine Law that you are talking about?
Hi Cecile,
I’ll try and answer the best I know how. I’ll quote your question and respond under each quote.
It is God’s law as written in the Bible. It is found throughout the whole bible. For instance, the 10 Commandments are God’s law.
I understand this question to mean you are asking how did God pass His law down to man? He did it through man. For instance, the 10 Commandments were given directly to Moses. The whole bible is inspired by God. He spoke to the prophets who recorded what God said. The whole bible is the inspired Word of God.
I’m pretty sure I know where you’re going with this based on your last questions regarding Sabbath. Some laws are not for everybody. For instance, the laws for the Nazarites would never be applicable to a female nor to a gentile. The laws dealing with the temple are no longer applicable. There is no temple. The laws dealing with sacrifice are no longer applicable for Jesus was once and for ever shed His blood. There are some laws that are specifically for the nation and people of Israel. The civil & criminal laws of Israel are applicable to Israel only as they were a theocracy.
Sure, people try and do that all the time. One that immediately jumps to mind is the laws dealing with homosexuality. People try and change the meaning of His word to make it mean what they want. Churches have done that.
Sure. Several scriptures speak about this. Here’s one:
(Gal 1:9) As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Sure. Actually all countries have laws that are a result of God’s law. Do not murder, do not steal are all directly from the Bible.
Yes. Not sure you’re asking me anything but simply making a statement.
The names of the week are just that — names given to certain days. It has nothing to do with who anyone is worshiping. God took care of that issue in Romans 14.
Is there something called a sun god and sun worshippers? Which day did they worship? Will they be transgressing this Divine Law that you are talking about?
Yes there are sun worshipers who believe there is a sun god. I don’t know much about their belief systems so I am guessing they worshiped on what we call Sunday, hence the English name given to that day. What they do has no bearing on what I do as a Christian. You have to realize that those are English words given to those days. In another language, that’s not the name given to that day. For instance, in French, the word for Sunday is Dimanche. Yet the word for Sun is soleil. The word “sun” is not part of that day of the week.
To say that English speaking people are worshiping or giving honor to the sun god because they go to church on a day that’s called “Sunday” means that if one is French speaking, they are not doing the same thing because their word for Sunday does not include the French word “sun.” What man names something has no bearing on God.
Thanks for stopping by.
Why is importance to understand sin and its impact on our lives?
You are making the mistake that a lot of people make — you are taking the civil laws that was to Israel only and using that to find Christians as disobedient. Israel was a theocracy and the civil & criminal laws/punishments are not applicable outside of Israel. God has, in fact, instructed Christians to obey the laws of the land where they reside.
Regarding the food laws, I could direct you to the New Testament where God has instructed that we are not to judge on what a person eats, etc. as long as they are doing it unto God.
Regarding the gossip, you are correct — that is a command of God found both in the Old Testament the New Testament. Christians that engage in gossip are in direct violation of that command.
Blessings,