What is sin, and where did it come from?
Sin is any falling short of God's perfect standard, and at its root it is rebellion against God Himself. It entered the world through Adam's disobedience, it spreads to every person, and it brings death and separation. The good news is that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more in Christ.
This question arose from studying What does it mean to be made in God's image?.
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Sin is lawlessness and falling short
Sin is lawlessness: transgression of God's revealed will. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Whoever knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin: sin is both what we do against God and what we refuse to do for Him.
Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.
for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.
It entered through one man's disobedience
Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. The woman saw that the tree was desirable, and she took it and gave it to her husband, and the world broke.
Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too. Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves.
For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
Its wages are death and separation
The wages of sin is death. Your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you. You were dead in your trespasses and sins, children of wrath. Sin is not a small thing; it is cosmic rebellion with cosmic cost.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
But grace abounded more
Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There is no condemnation for those in Christ.
The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
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What is the flesh versus the Spirit?→“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.”What does it mean that we were made for relationship?→“God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.”Does everyone deserve God's judgment?→“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”What is the body, soul, and spirit?→“Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”What is hell?→“Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;”How does God judge people who never heard of Jesus?→“For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.”Is hell eternal punishment or annihilation?→“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””Why does every human life have dignity and worth?→“God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.”What is the difference between the heart, soul, and mind?→“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”Why do I still feel lonely?→“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.”Can I seek God on my own?→“As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.””Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.
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