What EXACTLY is sin?

[elijah23]

Every once in a while I mention that my life has become somewhat of a paradise since the Lord led me to repent of several sins I was committing. I’ve encouraged others to do as I have done. Instead, many proclaim, “No, no, no! That can’t be done!†I’m waiting for someone instead to raise the question, “What EXACTLY is sin?â€

 

[Elijah674]

Every once in a while I mention that my life has become somewhat of a paradise since the Lord led me to repent of several sins I was committing. I’ve encouraged others to do as I have done. Instead, many proclaim, “No, no, no! That can’t be done!†I’m waiting for someone instead to raise the question, “What EXACTLY is sin?â€

K.J. New Testament defines what Sin is.
1 John 3
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

 

[evenifigoalone]

What goes against the commandments of God. Even if something is harmless, if it will lead you to commit sin, it should be avoided.
The 10 commandments involve two things: (1) service to God, and (2) treatment of others.
And things like getting drunk, sex outside of marriage, etc, are wrong because these things are harmful to us and possibly others; either health-wise, relationship-wise, or both.
I firmly believe that God's commandments exist for a purpose, and He didn't just say them to hear Himself talk.

Serving anyone other than God is wrong because we are to be an example to others, and to lead them to God. And if we are serving the fleshly desires instead of our spiritual ones, we will be much more likely to make wrong choices.




Some things are debatable as to whether they are sinful or not. I know my parents used to never let me watch any show that had magic in it--of course that changed after they approved of The Chronicles of Narnia and realized that it would be a double standard to approve of that and yet disapprove of other shows just for having magic in them.

Heck, IMO, whether curse words are wrong or not is debatable. I mean, how is one word bad when another word that means exactly the same thing is okay?
I avoid using them anyway, though, just in case. (Well, I try to. If I'm angry, I can say some pretty nasty things under my breath. *coughcoughcough* And that's definitely wrong; if not for the words, then for the wrong attitude towards and slander of others.)

 

[elijah23]

What goes against the commandments of God. Even if something is harmless, if it will lead you to commit sin, it should be avoided.
The 10 commandments involve two things: (1) service to God, and (2) treatment of others.
And things like getting drunk, sex outside of marriage, etc, are wrong because these things are harmful to us and possibly others; either health-wise, relationship-wise, or both.
I firmly believe that God's commandments exist for a purpose, and He didn't just say them to hear Himself talk.

Serving anyone other than God is wrong because we are to be an example to others, and to lead them to God. And if we are serving the fleshly desires instead of our spiritual ones, we will be much more likely to make wrong choices.


Some things are debatable as to whether they are sinful or not. I know my parents used to never let me watch any show that had magic in it--of course that changed after they approved of The Chronicles of Narnia and realized that it would be a double standard to approve of that and yet disapprove of other shows just for having magic in them.

Heck, IMO, whether curse words are wrong or not is debatable. I mean, how is one word bad when another word that means exactly the same thing is okay?
I avoid using them anyway, though, just in case. (Well, I try to. If I'm angry, I can say some pretty nasty things under my breath. *coughcoughcough* And that's definitely wrong; if not for the words, then for the wrong attitude towards and slander of others.)

I think we learn a few things as we walk with the Lord:

But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer 31:33 RSV

For instance, the Lord taught me not to smoke.

 

[mbchristian]

To get an understanding of exactly what is sin - we need to ask "when" did sin start. In the Garden Adam and Eve (without sin) walk and talked with God.
God told them Adam he possessed everything and could do all except eat of the tree of Good and Evil. Thus by eating, Adam and Eve acquired the knowlegde of good and the knowledge of evil. And we inherited this sin nature because Adam was the first sin.

We are born with a sin nature. And that can only be taken away by believe in the new Adam (Jesus) that had the POWER to remove sin from those that believe.

 

[chakham]

I guess a simple explanation would be, sin is nothing more or less than rebellion against God. He has revealed His will in the Torah and to run counter to any of its ordinances is transgression. Virtue is conformity to the Torah, sin is its disregard.

 

[elijah23]

K.J. New Testament defines what Sin is.
1 John 3
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

You then need to define the law, I believe.

 

[elijah23]

I guess a simple explanation would be, sin is nothing more or less than rebellion against God. He has revealed His will in the Torah and to run counter to any of its ordinances is transgression. Virtue is conformity to the Torah, sin is its disregard.

What of the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament?

 

[chakham]

What of the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament?

I quote "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Peter said

"A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."
2 Peter 2:22

So even after being "washed" of sin, the fool (Proverbs 26:11) returns to sin, and thus his cleanliness is erased.

YHVH does not change. His standard and His love is the same yesterday, today and forever. Let us remember the words of YHVH in Malachi 3:6. "I YHVH, CHANGE NOT". If He says "forever", He means "forever". If He says obey, He means obey. Whatever He said in His Torah is in force yesterday, today, and forever.

 

[elijah23]

I quote "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.â€

Peter said

"A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."
2 Peter 2:22

So even after being "washed" of sin, the fool (Proverbs 26:11) returns to sin, and thus his cleanliness is erased.

YHVH does not change. His standard and His love is the same yesterday, today and forever. Let us remember the words of YHVH in Malachi 3:6. "I YHVH, CHANGE NOT". If He says "forever", He means "forever". If He says obey, He means obey. Whatever He said in the Tanakh is in force yesterday, today, and forever.

I'm not sure it needs to be this complicated. I'm looking for a list of sins to avoid, one that can be easily understood.

 

[elijah23]

Folks, if I were to attempt to answer my own question, I might offer this as a list of sins:

1.) Premarital sex, extramarital sex, and homosexual activity.
2.) Insobriety, tobacco, illegal drugs
3.) Pride
4.) Failure to love our neighbors as ourselves (this is sort of vague, but we really this rule. Otherwise we’d just do whatever we wanted to do).
5.) Failure to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. (I fear many people overlook this rule.)

 

[elijah23]

In my last post I offered what I believe to be a fairly inclusive list of sins. Now I would like to provide a context for that list:

But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer 31:33 RSV

The list I provided seems to be a list of the things the Lord has taught me over the years. By avoiding these sins, my life is transformed from a somewhat nightmarish existence to one of great beauty.