Foundations of Faith
SIN (I)
We have referred to the topic of sin several times in previous issues of GROWING. Jesus Christ could not sin (Aug94); Satan was the first created being who sinned (May95); Adam and Eve were the first human sinners (Mar96). We discussed the doctrine of original sin and the consequences of man’s sin (Mar96, Apr96).
In this and the next couple issues of GROWING, we shall discuss questions such as:(1) What is sin? (2) are some sins more serious than others? and (3) so what if I sin?
Answer:Sin is exceedingly sinful! These may sound like a silly question and a trivial answer, but they really are not. In the world today, sin itself is trivialized, or considered by many or most people to be unimportant or non-existent. For example:fornication is not considered to be a sin; it is called an affair, or a one-night stand. Homosexuality is called a lifestyle. Drunkenness is called a disease. Crime is called a social disorder resulting from poor education and faulty upbringing. Abortion is called a personal choice to rid oneself of undesirable, unformed tissue. “It is okay if I do not hurt anyone” is a common expression today. Another is, “Sin is relative; it depends on the situation.”
The well-known psychiatrist, Karl Menninger, may have had some of these ideas in mind when he wrote his book, Whatever Became of Sin?
The exceeding sinfulness of sin is proven in the Bible in three ways:
1. When the highest angel committed but one sin, he drew after him a huge company of demonic followers who will be the enemies of God and separated from God through all eternity.
2. When the first human being committed but one sin, sin and death came upon the whole human race.
3. The Son of God suffered to an infinite degree and died on the cross because of sin.
The nature and character of sin are expressed by a variety of words in the Old and New Testament. It might be noted that several of these words are clustered together in Psa. 32:1-5.
1. Sin. The Hebrew and Greek words commonly translated “sin” literally mean, “missing the mark.” We have here a picture of one who takes aim at a target, but misses the bull’s-eye. The same Hebrew word is found in Judg. 20:16:”Every one could sling stones at a hair breadth, and not miss.” So sin is failure to follow perfectly God’s Word and will, down to the smallest detail of our thoughts, words, and actions. Man’s idea of sin is often limited to the gross offenses such as murder, assault, rape, and stealing. However, God’s idea of sin includes angry thoughts such as, “I could just kill him!” (Matt. 5:22); cursing, or assault with one’s words (Exod. 21:17); lusting after a woman (Matt. 5:28); and stealing time from one’s employer, cheating just a little on one’s income tax, or finding something and not returning it to the owner (Col. 3:22; Rom. 13:7; Lev. 6:3).
2. Transgression. This word in English means “a stepping over or across a boundary” or “an act of breaking a law or commandment” (see Num. 14:41; Josh. 7:11). “Where no law is, there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15), but man may still sin, even though no specific law may have been given to him (Rom. 5:14).
3. Trespass. This English word is similar in meaning to “transgression,” namely, “going beyond the limits of what is considered right or moral.” However, in the Bible, it is the translation of three different Hebrew and Greek words. These words have the meanings of “guiltiness,” “acting treacherously or sneakily,” and “stumbling or falling away.” (See Assignment 5)
4. Iniquity. This English word is related to “inequity” and “unequal”; it has the meaning of lack of righteousness, justice, or fairness (see Acts 1:18; Rev. 18:5).
5. Perversity. This word is not found in the King James Version. However, a Hebrew word that is translated “iniquity” throughout the Old Testament, including Psa. 32:2, 5, has the basic meaning of “bending or making crooked” or “being perverse” (see 2 Sam. 19:19; Prov. 12:8). We sometimes speak of persons “bending the truth” and those who are “crooked” or “crooks.” A curse was pronounced upon those who would “turn aside out of the way” which God had commanded (Deut. 11:28). One of the most familiar verses in the Bible gives the meaning of this word very clearly:”We have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity [or perversity] of us all” (Isa. 53:6).
6. Lawlessness. “Sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4, literal translation). Sin involves not only disobeying God’s law, but living and acting as if God has no law or will for His people. One may obey the letter of God’s law as given in His Word; but at the same time he may become involved in sinful activities that are not specifically prohibited in the Bible. “The Bible does not say anything about it, so it must be okay,” expresses the thinking of a lawless person.
7. Ungodliness. Similar to lawlessness, ungodliness is living as if there is no God. “Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6; see also 1:18; Tit. 2:12).
8. Rebellion. The word “transgression” in Psa. 32:1,5 is different from the one that means “crossing a boundary” or “breaking a law.” This word literally means “a breaking away from authority,” that is, rebellion or revolt (see 2 Ki. 8:20; Isa. 1:2). So, while the word “sin” may include the slightest deviation from God’s revealed will, “rebellion” refers to a willful, wholesale turning away from God to do “our own thing.”
9. Unbelief. “They could not enter in because of unbelief” (Heb. 3:19). This is failure to trust God. “Without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Heb. 11:6). This, more than any other kind of sin, is the reason why so many people will spend eternity in the lake of fire (compare Rev. 20:15 with John 3:36).
Running the Race
Assignment 5: Write out three verses with the word “trespass” in the King James Version. The first is Lev. 5:6 where it has the meaning of “guilt.” The second is Josh. 7:1 where it has the meaning of “taking something sneakily.” The third is Matt. 6:14 where it has the meaning of “stumbling” or “falling away.”