What is God's definition of sin?

What is God's definition of sin?

What is God's definition of sin?

If we look in scripture, God says that sin is breaking His law.
"Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

So what does this mean, what does scripture identify as His law? Is sin breaking God's Ten Commandment law, and since the law of God is perfect (Psalms 19:7), does it need changing? Or do the Commandments cover "the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13.

If they cover the whole duty of man, what do they tell us to do. If we look at them carefully we see the Commandments in the first four show love for God, the next six show love for our fellowman. So lets see how Christ explains it:

The Greatest Commandment
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it:'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Thus was Christ covering all 10 when asked about them...
 
wow Hobie , I wont be able to answer all the questions ask in one post (smile) if there is one book in the Bible that comes to mind that does give us answers and instructions about the sin nature of man , it is the book of Romans . Sin is what separates us from God .

when they ask Jesus the important question , Jesus did give them a important answer .
Under Law or Under Grace , is the struggle most have .
their is one thing that gives the believer VICTORY
and it is BY WHAT JESUS DID AT THE CROSS.
all Blessings received is due to Jesus and what HE DID.
our human minds often can not comprehend such LOVE

let me ask you one question ?

was the law of the prophets nailed to the cross with Christ ?


 
Hobie , " ALL" have transgressed and broken God's law , none could keep it perfectly so God himself found a way to redeem sinful man

Jesus was perfect, without sin and only His sinless blood can cleanses us from sin.

Romans 5:8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
 
If we look in scripture, God says that sin is breaking His law.
"Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

Very good Hobie. The entire bible actually gives us 2 more definitions of sin:

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:17

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Rom 14:23
 
Very good Hobie. The entire bible actually gives us 2 more definitions of sin:

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:17

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Rom 14:23

Very good, I like that so lets see what is 'good' and where it comes from :
Matthew 19:17
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

and what is faith about:

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

So doing good is learned from what God gives us, and His Law of love shows us what is good. And it is not just doing good or works in a legalistic way but by faith.

But he most have both:
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
 
So doing good is learned from what God gives us, and His Law of love shows us what is good. And it is not just doing good or works in a legalistic way but by faith.

But he most have both:
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

And what can be more revealed from scripture regarding the """But he must have both" .....
the statement made "what does it profit my brethren , though a man says he has faith.and has not works?
this being said presents the fact that proper faith ,will always produce proper works.
now mind you many works may in fact not be stemming from proper faith .

Ive personally encountered having some works performed by professing Christians who did not have proper faith and it almost destroyed me . I could probably describe it more over so it wont be misunderstood yet for the time I will continue with the train of thought on proper faith that produces proper works

can faith save him ? well is faith able to save ? this can get into splitting hairs on the subject of faith so define faith
the one problem with this is it begs the question of ....... The truth is God will not recognize that type of faith .....
what type of faith did I just bring attention to ? one being of the "legalistic faith" obviously it has worked to destroy many instead of save any dont you think ?
now if one wishes he can reflect on the beginning words recorded in chapter 2 .... on the subject of "Brotherly Love"
My Brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory ............James was saying here to the ones he was writing to that they were NOT CONDUCTING THEMSELVES AS THE LORD
That is in general the natural order of how many do in fact conduct their social orders and affairs concerning yes even milk fed believers ,as I myself was and to some point may still be one . When it comes to head knowledge yes I know there are those ordained individuals that studied to show themselves approved in order to receive ordination status , yet when it come to heart knowledge they did not in their heart even have the love they should have had toward others of less respect of persons meaning if the Lord does not show respect of persons neither should we , like if your dressed better than some poor person that some how entitles you to a better seat in the house (so why would any ever see a RSVP section in a church ?) I found in my beginning some of legalistic conduct who RSVP'D the right to be so unloving and hardened they believed it was their job to literally "Banish" others and use the least of right reasoning to do so . Those who claim to be of faith which blesses no one ,because it is not true faith , true faith will help the person ............ on saying that I must tell you Ive been persecuted by professing Christians of name status social quo and rank of order who never helped me in having even the right to be in their presence or fellowship ,and by proper faith I had to understand how their condemnation of others brought spiritual death to some things I believed true , Jesus is given ALL POWER and ALL authority in heaven and on earth , his great command was have Love for one another . The action of any leader no matter what his social rank is among others should never be so faithless toward Jesus Christ the one with the power to save a soul, that they cast out a new beginning believer because they consider that one to be a waste of their time . I was once wasting my time in my beginning I decided it of no profit to my faith in Jesus to work on correcting those lacking in love toward me , it did in a sense of speaking save me from working to gain the approval of the legalistic minded who make many laws to fall others with socially and otherwise . I was banished to my patmos where Jesus revealed to me personally that the opinions of those who would have me perish spiritually mattered little . It is a real grief to know Christians often do judge and sentence others . Let me ask one question
could there be a greater rebellion against the command of Christ Jesus than for one professing to have faith Christian to tell another they are banished from other Christians ? Im careful what I place faith in because I was taught proper faith matters , it matters a great deal to Jesus ,Im glad he taught me what not to follow hoping in the loving forgiveness of those who dont and wont do that toward those they judged to be a waste of time . Like any is unteachable or unlovable ,but it satisfied the demands of their social needs to say the least I no longer was allowed included in their named faithful fellowship . I had to accept that there is a difference in faiths , their is proper faith and not proper faith God does not respect any because they have built themselves up to be reputable was the bigger lesson I learned taught by Jesus my faithful Lord and savior . I consider myself a forgiven felon brought out of the deadly snare of sin and made right with God because of what Jesus did at the cross for a sinner like me . Im not ashamed to report my faith had to be centered not on whether I could work all my problems out ,with people but whether I could deny myself (sin) nature and take up my cross and follow Jesus .
 
But he most have both:
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Yes both, I agree and it is biblical.

can faith save him ? well is faith able to save ? this can get into splitting hairs on the subject of faith
so define faith
the one problem with this is it begs the question of ....... The truth is God will not recognize that type of faith .....
what type of faith did I just bring attention to ? one being of the "legalistic faith" obviously it has worked to destroy many instead of save any dont you think ?

Well, whatever faith that is, even if you have all faith, if you fail to have this one major component, it is useless:

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (agape), I am nothing
1 Cor 13:2
 
V

James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Some may have misunderstood this to mean the works of the law, which would not be correct. But it could be said this way:

What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and does not have corresponding actions (works)?



"17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." ( actions)
Show me your faith without ( corresponding actions ) deeds, and I will show you my faith by ( my actions) what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without (actions) deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did ( by acting on it) when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete (by acting on it) by what he did
 
What is God's definition of sin?

If we look in scripture, God says that sin is breaking His law.
"Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.



So what does this mean, what does scripture identify as His law? Is sin breaking God's Ten Commandment law, and since the law of God is perfect (Psalms 19:7), does it need changing? Or do the Commandments cover "the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13.

If they cover the whole duty of man, what do they tell us to do. If we look at them carefully we see the Commandments in the first four show love for God, the next six show love for our fellowman. So lets see how Christ explains it:

The Greatest Commandment
34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it:'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Thus was Christ covering all 10 when asked about them...

I would have to say that sin is a revolt against the holiness and Sovriegn will of God . We can look at the very beginning of time and see that we were made sinless but when Adam and Eve broke the covenant with God and didn't obey Him .... sin entered the world . Therefore it says in Isaiah 29:13 it is a condition of the heart / mind / will / affections. The condition involves our thoughts , words and deeds that offend God and trangress His Holy Law.

Therefore we are all sinners saved by grace and have received forgiveness . Sin is revealed by the law of God , but it si only as the Holy Spirit who convicts and bring to mind our shortcomings .

Sin begins in the heart .
 
some great answers and scriptures y'all

Well, whatever faith that is, even if you have all faith, if you fail to have this one major component, it is useless:

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (agape), I am nothing
1 Cor 13:2

excellent answer John Jervis

Dusty you gave the one main place where it begins (In the heart)

I really am beginning to believe the more I study about it ,that in the later part of the end times when the (two witnesses show up) they will be preaching the gospel the same gospel found in 1 Cor. 15 and Romans , the power unto God of salvation . And it will be necessary.
through scripture we can see that (witnesses) they witness something . The one thing I believe the people need is the Gospel
give them that ,and they flock to the alter , the end time witnesses will be giving out the Gospel urging all get ready, get your heart right with God repent and turn to Jesus ,it is the only remedy that suffices.

great answers you all
 
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