What is Sin?

Why in the world are we so bothered by the word sin? Every one does it, and most spend a lifetime trying to stop, or cover it up, dive in the deep end of it, or deny its existence. There is a lot of time spent on sin, and not everyone even believes they sin. There are books written, self-help gurus making millions claiming there is nothing wrong with you, and that it must be someone else's fault. There is a lot of money spent on therapy yet so many are not confronting the patient about the sins they are committing against God, themselves and others. There are pharmaceutical companies making billions of dollars making medicines to numb your conscience, instead of dealing with the real problem in your life.

Lets start with a definition, that might help some of understand at least what sin is defined as.

This definition comes from the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary.

Sin is defined as. the voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule or duty described by God,

and any voluntary transgression of Divine Law, a wicked act. Noah goes on to say that, sin comprehends not actions only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts, purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to Gods commands or Law.

I know there will be many say very quickly, well I don't believe in God, so I don't sin and this does not apply to me. Well whether you believe in God or you do not does not change the Law of God, and actions that are against Him is sin. The thought that you have whether you believe in God or not does not change Him, or His Sovereignty or His Law.

Also, to bring clarity to those that are believers, "the devil made me do it", is a lie from satan himself and you are allowing yourself to be deceived. The fact is you sin, all of us do, it is part of all our fallen flesh. Even believers will continue to sin, as long as they are in this flesh, the difference is that true believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit and studying the Word of God, will grasp what God has done for us, and we will sin less and less because we understand how ugly it really is and how dishonoring it is to our God.

Scripture is clear on the ways we are tempted to sin, by satan, by the fallen world around us, and those new pair of shoes we don't need. Adam and Eve had perfect surroundings in the perfect garden, and they still chose to not believe God and to sin. The devil did not make them make that choice, he just laid the temptation out there, to doubt God and His Word.

The jumping point for every sin a person commits is found in 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is NOT from the Father but is from the world.

Satan is the prince of the air of this world, this fallen world, and all of those temptations he throws out aim for the lust of your flesh, the lust of your eyes and your pride of life.