Definition of Sin

[elijah23]

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 4:17 RSV

[1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
[2] "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 3:1-2 RSV

I already mentioned this on a previous topic, but I’m only aware of two people that were following that topic, so I thought it would be useful to start a new topic and say it again.

It would seem to me that repentance is a terribly important issue, if you can believe these two Scriptures. “Repentance†means to “stop sinning.†Therefore, I think it’s worth our while to figure out just exactly what sin is so we can repent of it.

Any ideas?

 

[Sinthesis]

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 4:17 RSV

[quote:1njggpa5][1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
[2] "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 3:1-2 RSV

I already mentioned this on a previous topic, but I’m only aware of two people that were following that topic, so I thought it would be useful to start a new topic and say it again.

It would seem to me that repentance is a terribly important issue, if you can believe these two Scriptures. “Repentance†means to “stop sinning.†Therefore, I think it’s worth our while to figure out just exactly what sin is so we can repent of it.

Any ideas?[/quote:1njggpa5]
'Repentance' does not necessarily mean to 'stop sinning'. People can't stop sinning, at least not in this life.

Strong's G3340 - metanoe? - ????????

1) to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins

 

[elijah23]

'Repentance' does not necessarily mean to 'stop sinning'. People can't stop sinning, at least not in this life.

Strong's G3340 - metanoe? - ????????

1) to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins

No, I think he wants us to stop sinning. We can be humble. We can be chaste. We can be sober. We just have to work at it.

 

[Hawkins]

Sin is any deed against the Law. Since Law is buried in one's heart and soul, one should be able to repent consently. But on the other hand, if we already lost our sense of His Law in heart, we can still repent by saying that 'please forgive me because sometimes i don't even know how i trespass'.

Repentance is a little more than 'stop sinning', it acts as a pre-requisite for a forgiveness. Say, if I am going to hurt you everyday, it's pointless for me to look for your forgiveness until I stop hurting you. Begging on forgiveness is always based on the 'committment of not doing it again'.

 

[elijah23]

Perhaps a broad definition of sin is “any act of selfishness.â€

 

[Danus]

Perhaps a broad definition of sin is “any act of selfishness.â€

I can get behind that.

I also like to think of sin as anything which is in contrast to God. In keeping that in mind I think we are better able to see ourselves in our own true condition rather than thinking of ourselves as "good" or "sin-free"

Growing up I had a big problem with what I was learning about God in relation to many people claiming to be Christians. It took me years to get around it and come back to God. My problem was knowing about our sin nature and that all are sinners yet I knew people who claimed to be without sin. That just kills me. I'm not saying such people are not Christians; I think they are. However, there is a temptation for believers to think that being a Christian has changed there nature to sin. I think that's a big mistake.

None of us want to be stained with sin, and while it's good that we don't, it is not good that we think we are clean from sin just because we walk a straight line, or that we might have a free pass because we are saved.

I think knowing the nature of God, as anyone clearly can from his word, and the thought that sin is that which God is not, keeps us humble in our knowledge of our true selves. It also backs up what Christ has done and is doing for us all; that being---- "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."------ Why? because we are sinners and we need Christ to be clean. We need him today, yesterday and tomorrow. All anyone can do on their own is know the truth, and that truth will set you free. Does that mean it sets you free from sin? Or does it set you free from being condemned for your sin?

 

[samuel]

S.I.N. = Self Indulgent Nature.

 

[ProphetMark]

Perhaps a broad definition of sin is “any act of selfishness.â€

Wouldn't that make God commanding us to love him and hate our mothers and fathers and sisters etc (can't remember where the verse is) a sin?

 

[Adullam]

Sin means to miss the mark. We can be off a little or WAY off. Apparently the Greek word used for sin in the NT is the same that Homer used when saying that a spear missed it's intended target.

 

[elijah23]

Perhaps a broad definition of sin is “any act of selfishness.â€

Wouldn't that make God commanding us to love him and hate our mothers and fathers and sisters etc (can't remember where the verse is) a sin?

I don’t think Jesus tells us to hate family members. There are times when family members go astray and it’s our duty to remain loyal to Jesus.

 

[elijah23]

Anyhow, if repentance is so important, and I believe it is, what specifically do we need to repent of?

I think we need to be chaste—that means no sex outside the boundaries of marriage.
I think we need to be sober. I’m not just referring to alcohol, but any substance that alters our mood. I’m not in favor of prohibition, but I believe the less we drink, the better.
I think we need to be humble. It seems to me there is a lot of pride in churches, when one might think churches are homes of righteousness.

 

[jasoncran]

Perhaps a broad definition of sin is “any act of selfishness.â€

Wouldn't that make God commanding us to love him and hate our mothers and fathers and sisters etc (can't remember where the verse is) a sin?

bad translation. if a man hateth not his mother of father he cant be a disciple of mine.
it means that lord must be loved more then the lover for parents.

 

[jasoncran]

sin is greek i think hammarmatino, to miss the mark.

 

[Pard]

“Repentance†means to “stop sinning.†Therefore, I think it’s worth our while to figure out just exactly what sin is so we can repent of it.

Any ideas?

First, we obviously need to define "repent" first! (Not just because I think your definition is wrong, but because others have other ideas also.)

As someone said, the Biblical def. of "repent" is to "Change one's mind so that one can change one's actions"

To repent, in Biblical (NT) terms, is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and accept that He died on the cross to fulfill God's Law and to carry our sin so that we may be drawn close to the Lord. If you repent you can only repent once, because once you have accepted Jesus, and I mean REALLY accepted Him and His gift to man, you will never turn from Jesus.

To be a Christian means to have repented, to be born anew, to be a creature of Heaven and not of the world.

As Heavenly creatures we must abstain from sin, and this is where the definition of sin comes into play (meaning I can finally answer the OP's question!).

Sin means to be "off the mark" in Greek.


To sin is to break God's Laws: "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and asin is lawlessness." - 1 John 3:4

To sin is to rebel against God: "Remember, do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; afrom the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord." Deuteronomy 9:7

Sin originated with Lucifer, it was passed from Satan to Adam, and Adam, being the first man, passed it onto all of mankind.

We can look at murder and say it is a sin because a man killed another man, this is not the reason murder is sin though. God loves every single person, for He is the Father of all. When we murder another man we murder one of God's loved ones, and for this reason, murder is a sin. The same can be applied to stealing/raping/ect.. In fact, you can apply this to real life. If someone steals from your child, you take this personally, however if the news is reporting about a robbery it is not personal because that man is not you child.

 

[elijah23]

“Repentance†means to “stop sinning.†Therefore, I think it’s worth our while to figure out just exactly what sin is so we can repent of it.

Any ideas?

First, we obviously need to define "repent" first! (Not just because I think your definition is wrong, but because others have other ideas also.)

As someone said, the Biblical def. of "repent" is to "Change one's mind so that one can change one's actions"

To repent, in Biblical (NT) terms, is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and accept that He died on the cross to fulfill God's Law and to carry our sin so that we may be drawn close to the Lord. If you repent you can only repent once, because once you have accepted Jesus, and I mean REALLY accepted Him and His gift to man, you will never turn from Jesus.

To be a Christian means to have repented, to be born anew, to be a creature of Heaven and not of the world.

As Heavenly creatures we must abstain from sin, and this is where the definition of sin comes into play (meaning I can finally answer the OP's question!).

Sin means to be "off the mark" in Greek.


To sin is to break God's Laws: "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and asin is lawlessness." - 1 John 3:4

To sin is to rebel against God: "Remember, do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; afrom the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord." Deuteronomy 9:7

Sin originated with Lucifer, it was passed from Satan to Adam, and Adam, being the first man, passed it onto all of mankind.

We can look at murder and say it is a sin because a man killed another man, this is not the reason murder is sin though. God loves every single person, for He is the Father of all. When we murder another man we murder one of God's loved ones, and for this reason, murder is a sin. The same can be applied to stealing/raping/ect.. In fact, you can apply this to real life. If someone steals from your child, you take this personally, however if the news is reporting about a robbery it is not personal because that man is not you child.

No, I think we need to stop sinning. We need to be chaste, humble, sober, and maybe a few other things.

 

[Pard]

No, I think we need to stop sinning. We need to be chaste, humble, sober, and maybe a few other things.

Yes, well regardless of what you think, it doesn't influence the actual definition of the word. In fact, your own definition is impossible. We are human, and regardless of the Holy Spirit that resides within us, we will continue to sin. It is the ability to acknowledge our sin and to seek forgiveness for our sin that defines Christians from others, not a lack of sin.

 

[elijah23]

No, I think we need to stop sinning. We need to be chaste, humble, sober, and maybe a few other things.

Yes, well regardless of what you think, it doesn't influence the actual definition of the word. In fact, your own definition is impossible. We are human, and regardless of the Holy Spirit that resides within us, we will continue to sin. It is the ability to acknowledge our sin and to seek forgiveness for our sin that defines Christians from others, not a lack of sin.

We have all sinned. However, Jesus said, “Do not steal.†He didn’t say, “If it isn’t too much trouble, do not steal.†Same for the other commandments.

 

[Pard]

No, I think we need to stop sinning. We need to be chaste, humble, sober, and maybe a few other things.

Yes, well regardless of what you think, it doesn't influence the actual definition of the word. In fact, your own definition is impossible. We are human, and regardless of the Holy Spirit that resides within us, we will continue to sin. It is the ability to acknowledge our sin and to seek forgiveness for our sin that defines Christians from others, not a lack of sin.

We have all sinned. However, Jesus said, “Do not steal.†He didn’t say, “If it isn’t too much trouble, do not steal.†Same for the other commandments.

Nor did He say we can live sinless lives. You are delusional if you think you can live a sinless life.

 

[elijah23]

Nor did He say we can live sinless lives. You are delusional if you think you can live a sinless life.

I think we can be perfect:

You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt 5:48 RSV

 

[Pard]

I think we can be perfect:

That's borderline blasphemous, personally... Only the Lord Jesus Christ can be a perfect man. We will all fall short of His sinless life. You are fooling yourself if you think we, mere humans, can live sinless lives.

Read this article, it should help you see your errors.

http://www.compassdistributors.ca/topics/sinless.htm