What is Sin?

Let's examine the aspects of sin most commonly referred to in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ..

Throughout this course we see that God explains what sin is. But now we will see that the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). give us an even broader view of sin than we have already encountered. So we begin this lesson by examining the aspects of sin most commonly referred to in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. At the same time we will learn why we sin so we can better understand the necessity of the conversion process . We will then proceed to the other aspects of repentance, baptism and conversion.

How does the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. define sin in its most direct form?

"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
See All...).

God's law defines the difference between right and wrong, between sin and righteousness. As Paul explained, "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
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What is the core of God's law?

"And [God] wrote on the tablets ... the Ten Commandments, which the LORD had spoken to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to [Moses]" (Deuteronomy 10:4And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.
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All of ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18).'s commands and other laws are based on the principles contained in the Ten Commandments—and the Ten Commandments are based on the two great areas of love that reflect God's character (Matthew 22:37-40 [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
[38] This is the first and great commandment.
[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

See All...; compare 1 John 4:8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
See All..., 16; Romans 13:9-10 [9] For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[10] Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

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Sin is behaving in a manner that does not show love to God or to our neighbor. It harms others as well as ourselves. It is especially destructive to our relationships with each other and God.

(For a fuller explanation of the damage caused by breaking God's commandments, and the benefits we reap from keeping them, be sure to request your free copy of the booklet The Ten Commandments .)

What must we do first to be converted?

"... If a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live ..." (Ezekiel 18:21But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
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To be converted—to turn away from sin and receive God's forgiveness and the Holy Spirit—we must stop transgressing His laws and start developing habits of righteousness through obedience to them. "Again, when I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right , if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live" (Ezekiel 33:14-16 [14] Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
[15] If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
[16] None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

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How widespread is sin?

"As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one'" (Romans 3:10-12 [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
[11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
[12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

See All...; compare verse 23).

The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. tells us that we all have yielded to the lusts and selfishness of human nature and have violated God's laws.

Let's consider both how the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. portrays various aspects of sin and, at the same time, explains why we sin.

Are some sins more easily recognized than others?

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21 [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

See All..., NIV).

Almost everyone understands that outrageously aggressive, hostile and self-indulgent behavior is harmful. But not everyone clearly sees the source of such behavior. Therefore some aspects of sin are not as obvious as those Paul described to the Galatians.

Where does sin begin?

"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts ..." (Matthew 15:18-19 [18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
[19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

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Sin begins in our minds. It starts with harmful thoughts, desires and attitudes. Paul tells us that "we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh , fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind , and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others" (Ephesians 2:3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
See All...; compare Romans 1:28-32 [28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
[28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
[29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
[29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
[30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
[31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
[32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
[32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

See All...; Galatians 5:24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
See All...; Colossians 3:5-9 [5] Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
[6] For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
[7] In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
[8] But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
[9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

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Does Jesus give clear examples of such sins?

"But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire" (Matthew 5:22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
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"He answered and said to them, 'Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me"'" (Mark 7:6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
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"But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
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Disobedience to God's laws always begins in the mind. Jesus cited the evils of anger, hypocrisy and lust to illustrate this principle. The apostle Peter likewise understood that sin is the product of corrupted thinking. When rebuking Simon the sorcerer, Peter advised him, "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you" (Acts 8:22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
See All...; compare Psalm 81:11-13 [11] But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
[12] So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
[13] Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

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Is it a sin for us to defile our conscience?

"Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
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"... Whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
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Our conscience is merely what we believe to be right or wrong, whether it is or not. When we violate our conscience, we are doing something we think we shouldn't, and thus are compromising with we what think is wrong. Paul says that this, too, is sin.

We stress that no one is born automatically knowing right from wrong. As we have already seen in this BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Study Course , an understanding of right and wrong comes from knowing God's law. That knowledge becomes a part of our conscience. If we act contrary to that knowledge, in letter or in spirit, we sin. The apostle Paul also warned: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron " (1 Timothy 4:1-2 [1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

See All...). If we continue to sin when we know better, we run the risk of "searing" our conscience so we become less sensitive to sin and thus hardened toward God.

Is it possible to see ourselves as more righteous than we are?

"Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others" (Luke 18:9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
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In the parable that begins with the next verse in Luke's GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament ., Jesus describes two men, each of whom looks at himself quite differently. Jesus illustrates that it is easy for one to consider himself righteous when he is not. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'" (Luke 18:10-13 [10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
[13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

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The Pharisee, a member of a respected religious body, observed the outward requirements of the law. He appeared righteous to others, but he entirely missed the overall purpose of so many of God's laws-loving and respecting one's fellowman. In his heart he still despised other people. He pointed to his outward obedience to exalt himself over others rather than cultivating real love for them.

In contrast, the tax collector, a member of a despised profession that was notorious for cheating people, could see that he had been sinning. He came to God repentant, seeking His merciful forgiveness so he could begin his life anew. Jesus concluded His parable by saying, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (verse 14). Only those who humble themselves enough to recognize their sinful attitudes, desires and motives can find true repentance. Those who remain righteous in their own eyes remain spiritually blinded.