What Is Sin?

“Any want of conformity to or lack of obedience to and transgression of the Law of God is sin; anything that is against the nature of God and offends God’s holiness. It’s utter rebellion against and rejection of God’s authority.

We need not know God’s Law to be sinners, transgressors, lawbreakers, unjust, or disobedient. The Bible says, “Sin is lawlessness.” There can be no lawlessness without Law, nor injustice without justice or a Judge (for Abraham knew: “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”), nor iniquity, which is another name for evil which Satan had and tempted Adam with, nor can there be disobedience without obedience [(to some commandment) which was the test for Adam; we are all born “in Adam” and in solidarity with him. Since God told Cain that sin wanted to destroy him (cf. Gen. 4:7), we know that sin existed before the Law was given to Moses but not reckoned or imputed. The fact people died just proves sin as its wages. (cf Rom. 6:23).

“The Law came through Moses and grace and truth through Jesus Christ,” (cf. John 1:17). Even Abraham knew about righteousness and obeyed the Law (e.g., giving sacrifices, tithing, adultery, marriage, lying) and it has always been written in the hearts of men (cf. Romans 2:14–15) with a moral compass or conscience. There had been an oral tradition from Adam. They were all culpable for their sins, iniquity, lawlessness, and injustice.

We are all sinners and born in utter disregard for God’s Law. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, (cf. Romans 3:23). “There is not a just man on earth who does what is right and does not sin,” (cf. Eccl. 7:20; cf. 1 Kgs 8:46). It isn’t just sinners and the lost who utterly disregard God’s Law, even believers are capable of it. Christians are justified sinners, but still sinners (cf. Gal. 2:17). God declares us just but doesn't make us just.

But in times before Jesus, God overlooked man’s ignorance though he was a sinner now commands all men everywhere to repent (cf. Acts 17:30). Even Christians need to repent and live of life of repentance. But the point is that we all are in sin and sin by birth, by nature, and by choice; we are not sinners because we have sinned, but we sin because we are sinners—it’s our nature as fallen creatures.

The unsaved cannot not sin; they are incapable of not sinning or doing good, (“There is none that doeth good, no not one,” —cf. Romans 3:10,13). Note: Only the believer can have victory and power over sin.

How Do I Believe I'm A Sinner?

 You are a sinner because you fall short of God’s standard and ideal for a man or woman set by Jesus’ perfect life; i.e, you fall short of His glory: You are born in sin, sin by nature, and sin by your own choice. Sin is anything you do against the nature of God that offends God: autonomy, unbelief, rebellion, irresponsibility. Going your own way and doing your own thing! (cf. Isaiah 53:6). You have not only done that which ought not to be done but have not done things you should’ve done. Any thought, word, deed, desire, or omission contrary to God is sin. It’s any want of or transgression of God’s perfect Law. Sin is literally “missing the mark,” or the goal.

But also, it’s in the heart where the seat of your thoughts arises and can have sins of omission as well as of commission (“For as a man thinks in his heart so is he.” “For out of the abundance of the heart flow evil thoughts….”)This means we sin by what we think and not just what we do. We look on women or men with lust and commit adultery in our hearts.

God doesn't justify the sin but the sinner: Even believers sin but they are justified (cf, Gal. 2:17) and God doesn’t count sins against them (cf 2 Cor 5:19). Jesus intercedes for us when we sin (cf. Heb 7:25; 1 John 2:1–2) and sympathizes about our weaknesses. We are still sinners, but justified ones and called saints, not sinners by God.

Sin is a virus that we inherited from Adam and we are in solidarity with him and have declared our independence from God in so doing. We are born the slaves of sin and cannot do anything but sin unless we are saved. But we are not made righteous but declared righteous or just. that’s why Christians still sin.

God has not already forgiven you unless you repent and believe in His Son. He is under no obligation to forgive you or it would be justice. But He forgives by mercy because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. That is how much He loves you because His Son died for you. You believe by grace, you don’t conjure it up or do it on your own power, it’s the gift of God and He opens your heart and changes your heart from the inside out. It is by the power of God that you believe and repent, through grace as a work of God in your heart. He can turn your heart of stone into one of flesh.

It is God's job to convict you of sin (cf. John 16:8–13) and He says all have sinned and there is one righteous. That you are a sinner is an open and shut case. No one is perfect or good but God alone. the closer you bet to God, the more you realize and are convicted of your sins; you become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. If you deny sin, read the Bible and realize the high bar that God sets and you will be enlightened to your sins. Satan accuses you, but God convicts you. There should be no doubt about it and you will feel guilt and shame and realize you are addicted to the power of sin and its slave.

You have forfeited your freedom by sin and can't quit by your own power. You are not a sinner because of some sin or that you happened to sin, but sin because you are a born sinner and it’s your nature. Just like you dont’ realize how much you're addicted to cigarettes until you try to quit, you must try to be good to realize how bad you are and that you cannot be good. But you must realize how bad you are to be good or to be saved. You will still sin but you will not want to and will have a penitent faith or believing repentance.

As far as believing it, you must read the Bible, hear the preaching of the Word, and confess your sins to God to have a lively sense of sin and forgiveness. The more awareness, the less sin. God convicts you by the Holy Spirit and that’s why He’s called that. I cannot convince you but God can by the ministry of the Spirit in your heart.  Soli Deo Gloria! 

Can't We Ever Learn From Evil?

 “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees. to deprive the poor of the rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people.” (cf. Isaiah 10:1–2).

People condemn themselves in what they know as right and wrong for God has given all men some semblance of a moral compass or conscience (cf. Romans 2:14–15).

To beware of evil we must first be aware of it!

Evil is the privation, deprivation, parasite, and distortion of good. Nothing can be evil that was not first good. Good preceded evil: unrighteousness, lawlessness, injustice, etc. All men are evil for only God is good. God can turn short-term evil into long-term good (look at the crucifixion, cf. Acts 2:23; 4:28). God uses evil for good as in the case of Joseph and his brothers selling him into slavery (cf. Gen 50:20). He makes the wrath of man to praise Him (cf. Psalm 76:10).

There is no pure evil, but it has some “good” content, just enough to deceive. Evil doctrines of demons and heresies or false religions have enough truth to inoculate or immunize you from the real thing. False religions aren't all evil or wrong, just enough to deceive.

We see good in light of and in contrast to evil. All men have some basic knowledge of good and evil, right and wrong. Again: To beware of evil, as in their worldviews (cf. Col. 2:8) we must first be aware of it; we are not innocent but tainted and stained with evil ourselves. Only God can and does open our eyes and make us see the light (cf. Acts 14:27; 16:14). Satan has blinded the minds of them that believe not (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4).

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (cf. Isaiah 5:20).

God Is Great But Also Good

 In C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Mr. Beaver tries to describe Aslan the lion (and Christ figure) to Lucy who recognized him asking if he's safe, "Of course, He isn't but he's good; He's the King!"  Also, we are in awe of  God's power and might, but should be comforted that He is also good that we may fear and worship Him. David prayed in Psalm 34:8 that we should "taste and see that the LORD is good," saying that God challenges us to find this out for ourselves and not take someone's word for it; Put God to the test and put out the fleece here on this promise.  This is one of only a few experiments we can do with God.  We can experience and know God personally and find out ourselves that God will be good to us and that we do not deserve it, but only condemnation if we got only what we deserved. We must confess that only God is truly good as Jesus said, (cf. Matt. 19:17). 

I will hope to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living (cf. 27:13) and realize that our faith is not "pie in the sky," but a realistic one that stands up to scrutiny and life's pitfalls and trials. Our faith isn't just for the good times, God wants us to turn to Him in times of trouble too,  "Call unto Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me," (cf. Psalm 50:15). In evil times, we must not forsake God or name Him, for He intends good even from evil (cf. Gen. 50:20). It is so easy to forget God in good times and sometimes we need a spiritual wake-up call! God sometimes just seeks to get our attention (cf. Job 36:15) or to see what is really on our hearts and where our priorities are (cf. 2 Chron 32:31). 

One thing we must realize that the goodness of God isn't the whole picture for the unbeliever. He is blessed by association as God blesses them that bless Israel by analogy. The unbeliever and even apostate Israel is experiencing the sternness or severity of God in these days,  "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of the LORD," (cf. Romans 11:22).  Some mistakenly believe God is all --good or omnibenevolent and can't curse, for instance,  

A cursory reading of Deut 28 will change your outlook there. The Old Testament ends with a curse!  The goodness of God, as far as the sinner is concerned, is meant to lead one to repentance (cf. Romans 2:4).  We ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and have been sinners ever since. "Surely the goodness of the LORD will follow me all the days of my life," (cf. Psalm 23:6). But God is good to all in some ways and to some in many ways but no one can deny His goodness (cf. Psalm 145:9). We do not call Jesus the good Lord for nothing!  

What else is worship but the recognition, cognition, appreciation, and praise of God's goodness; both in who He is and in what He does for His children and to His glory. We shall behold the beauty of the LORD known as the beatific vision--we shall be satisfied with seeing the glory of God as Moses did on Mount Sinai.  God is not only good but desires to share His goodness with us and He will not withhold any good thing from him who walks uprightly (cf. Psalm 84;11) 

Plato called God the Supreme Good, meaning we would have no concept or perception of goodness if there were not some standard to judge by--some perfection which he called God.  James 1:17 says that all good things come from God.  He is the source of all blessings!  We rarely give Him the thanksgiving glory,  recognition, and worship He desires and deserves. For God said after creation that it was all very good and it has been us that have tainted and corrupted the world.   Soli Deo Gloria! 

Evil's Facade

"... [Y]ou hate all evildoers" (Psalm 5:5, ESV). "... I will fear no evil..." (Psa. 23:4, ESV).
"The fear of the LORD is the hatred of evil..." (Proverbs 8:13, ESV).
"What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil..." (Isaiah 5:20, ESV).
"Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good" (Romans 12:21, ESV).
"Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight" (Psalm 51:4, NLT). "Will those who do evil never learn?" (Psalm 14:4, NLT).
"There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing evil..." (Rom. 2:9, NLT).
"... 'All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil'" (2 Tim. 2:19, NLT).
"The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5, ESV). (According to St. Augustine: Man has the inability not to sin before salvation or non posse non peccare in Latin.)

Man is not basically good, but inherently evil to his core and is radically corrupt through and through and must be redeemed by God to be able to do anything good; in his fallen state, he cannot do anything but sin and evil. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9, ESV). Isaiah 1 says: We are to cease to do evil, and learn to do good! ("Depart from evil, and do good..." (Psa. 37:27, ESV).

Evil doesn't advertise or promote itself by that moniker but tries to convince one of its good intentions to bring about the greater good as the end result. Remember Satan is the counterfeiter!  If something is not done God's way, it's the devil's way. God is able to work with evil and tolerates its existence because He can turn it into good (like curses into blessings), and there is a lot more evil to work with! What evil is, is not what people would suppose: It's goodness without God in the picture or the equation (like humanism that deifies man and makes him the measure of all things, the starting point of the equation, and dethrones God as dead and no longer relevant. God turns evil into good results: "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (cf. Gen. 50:20). There is no yin/yang or an equal balance of good and evil; however, Satan masquerades as an angel of light (cf. 2 Cor. 11:4).

We must become familiar with our common foe, or we will become like him, a do-gooder, who is trying to save humanity his way. There is only one person who is good, God. We do not have the power to harness the power of evil for good, like in Star Wars where they use the powers of the dark side. Christ annihilated evil and defeated it in toto at the cross and we are only here to proclaim His victory and to claim His authority. There is no such thing as pure evil, for evil, depends on good for its very existence; it's the privation of good; the deviation from good; the negation of goodness; and the perversion of goodness.

Satan was once good with no evil, but then pride was found in his heart and he fell and was booted out of heaven and his place of authority. Satan is not coequal with God, such as a yin/yang type working arrangement, but only a servant of God who must obey. There is now a cosmic battle or angelic conflict going on between Satan and his minions, and Christ, the church, and the elect angels on the other side. He is a defeated foe! 

We all have eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in a sense, and are not innocent in God's eyes and are responsible for the light we have to be faithful and fruitful. It is good to be innocent of evil as much as possible and to be wise to what is good. Don't practice the occult nor magic arts and don't experiment with evil in any way, shape, or form. These are entry points and open the door to further evil.  

It all started when Satan challenged authority and asked Eve, "Hath God said..?" By her own volition Eve took of the forbidden fruit and the result of the so-called proverbial apple saga still goes on as it epitomized all sin in that one act of obedience (the prototype sin)--they only had one rule to obey and couldn't do it!

Today's youth are concerned more about what works than what's true, and they believe the test of an idea is not its truth value, but its results. The sorry result is that something can work and not be true or good, e.g., Yoga, or TM. These are not forbidden activities in Scripture, but nevertheless evil in that they circumvent the goodness and wisdom of God. Christianity is not true because it works, it works because it's true! Youth are concerned if something works for them and is practical or pragmatic, while God demands obedience and loyal faithfulness not to experiment with other religions or philosophies.

For example, to the innocent bystander or outside observer, Yoga may seem innocent enough but Yoga is a Hindu art that means union with God, and you learn to get in touch with one of their gods. People are lured and enticed into Eastern or New Age philosophy and religion, by such innocent-like practices that have mass appeal to man as being "good."

Heed the following caveats of 1 Thess. 5:22 (ESV), Job 28:28 (ESV), 1 Pet. 3:12 (HCSB); and Rom. 12:9 (ESV) respectively: "Abstain from every form of evil"; "...'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding'"; "... BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL"; "... Abhor what is evil; hold fast what is good." Soli Deo Gloria!

Never Overwhelmed In Trials

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go," (cf. Joshua 1:9). 

 King David in Psalm 23:4 had prayed that he would "fear no evil."  This is the right mindset for all believers and not to get infatuated or fixated on the devil and certainly not engrossed in the devil's agenda and seeing devils everywhere. Two errors common are giving him too much credit and denying he exists at all. Remember that the devil cannot touch or harm us (cf. 1 John 5:18) and must ask permission to sift us as wheat as he did to Peter (cf. Luke 22:31) and even to Job, God's servant who even Satan had noticed.  Paul had said in 1 Cor. 10:13 that we cannot be tempted above which we can handle.  God knows our breaking point and spares us when necessary.  

We must realize we are called "out of this world" and are not to be "of it." (cf. John 15:19).  Satan knows our vulnerabilities and appeals to our weakest point and lower natures (cf. 1 John 2:16): "For everything in the world: the craving of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of whats and does--come not from the father but the world."  We are not to love the world nor anything in it (cf. 1 John 2:15).   Lust is a key sin because it's desire perverted or carried out to an extreme or excess.  Knowing our heavenly Father is guiding us in righteousness for His name's sake is comforting and that He has written out our lives beforehand with this in mind--what's best for us (cf. Psalm 139:16).  "He controls my destiny," (cf. Job 23:14). "My times are in His hands," (cf. Psalm 31:15).    But this is why we pray in the Lord's prayer that the Father "deliver us from the evil one." (cf. Matt. 6:13). Even when we pass through the waters, we shall not be overwhelmed! (cf. Isaiah 43:2). 

The LORD is with us wherever we go and will never forsake us (cf. Heb. 13:5; Matt, 28:20).  But we must learn to walk with God and learn to lean not unto our own understanding (cf. Prov. 3:5). For we walk by faith and not by sight! (cf. 2 Cor. 5:7). We have no excuse because we have the residing Spirit within (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16).   

Note: We all have a dark side and feet of clay!   We must beware of evil for we are not ignorant of his schemes (cf. 2 Cor. 2:11). 

Mark Twain said that we "are all like a moon that has a dark side no one sees." This is true. We all have "feet of clay" and are vulnerable to sin because of our very nature. We cannot clean up our act before we can come to Jesus; we must come as we are, but we cannot stay that way.

It's not how bad we are, but how bad off we are. It is like the distance of a deaf man to a symphony or a blind man to the Mona Lisa. We cannot bridge the gap. Jesus sees through the veneer and we cannot fool him. Humanists think mankind is basically good, but we an inherently bad. You must realize that we are not sinners because we sin, rather we sin because we are sinners. It is our constituted nature to sin. We can deal with sins in the plural, but our problem is sin in the singular--our old sin nature inherited from Adam. This is God's estimation of man, not man's estimation of man.

The totality of our nature is permeated with sin and our image of God is marred and defaced morally. "No one knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good," says C. S. Lewis as in a catch-22. The paradox is that we must see our bankruptcy--the truly bad person thinks he is all right! And Lewis adds, "We must realize how bad we are before we can be good." The way up, by paradox, is down.

We are sinful in toto and in solidarity with Adam completely. Someone has said, "We cannot escape our birthright." We cannot ingratiate ourselves with God, because we "have feet of clay." That means we have hidden vulnerabilities. We are permeated with sin through and through--there is no vestige of righteousness.

R. C. Sproul writes of a man who never lost his faith in the basic goodness of man despite being held captive in Iraq--this is sheer ignorance! Compared to Saddam Hussein the run-of-the-mill sinner looks like a saint; however, he is just as bad off from God's viewpoint and they both must come to Jesus the same way in childlike repentance and faith. We are capable of any sin if God withdraws His grace. "I am what I am by the grace of God," (cf. 1 Cor. 15:10). "There but for the grace of God go I," (George Whitefield). Soli Deo Gloria!