How Are We to Understand Sin?

Sin is technically defined as a “transgression of the law of God.” These transgressions can be divided into two categories — doing what God forbids (sins of commission) or failing to do what God commands (sins of omission). Sin has also been defined as any failure to conform to the moral character of God. Mankind is commanded to be holy just as the Lord is holy. Indeed we were created in the moral image of God. Thus, we are expected to maintain that perfect image.

By God’s standard, we are all lost. Sadly, most people fail to recognize this desperate condition, because they choose to compare themselves to other fallen people. A drug addict would never recognize the tragic depths of his lifestyle if he were only comparing himself to other addicts. The only way to open the eyes of an addict is to make him realize the destructive nature of his addiction as compared to a healthy lifestyle of sobriety.

As John Piper, the famous Baptist pastor and author, rightly noted:

The terrible condition of man’s heart will never be recognized by people who assess it only in relation to other men…. Depravity is our condition in relation to God… Unless we start here we will never grasp the totality of our natural depravity.”

Our condition is far worse than a mere spiritual sickness. The Scripture declares that “you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Eph 2:1), and so long as you remain saturated by your sins, you will remain spiritually dead before a God who cannot and will not tolerate sin.

In the modern era, many people consider the concept of “sin” archaic or outdated. Sadly, some Christians, even pastors, shrink from even mentioning the word — fearing that it might offend people. These pastors would rather encourage their congregations without making anyone uncomfortable. However, sin is an essential component of the gospel message. If we ignore it, then we strip the gospel of its purpose and power. It would be foolish to expect a man to worship Jesus as his Savior while simultaneously pretending that he has no sins from which to be saved.

On the other extreme, we find churches that actually embrace sinful behaviors. These churches choose to ignore the holiness of God. Instead, they actually invent their own version of god with few moral standards. Such churches teach their members that God is not bothered by sinful actions like abortion, divorce, homosexuality, or premarital sex.

Both of these approaches are wrong, and neither will bring men into conformity with Christ. 

Sin: A Personal Betrayal of God

It is easy to assign a technical definition to sin, but we must never forget that sin constitutes nothing less than a personal betrayal of God. The Lord has freely offered us citizenship as adopted sons in His heavenly Kingdom, yet the brazen sinner rejects His kindness and attempts to establish His own kingdom on earth. Such a person seeks whatever is right in his own eyes, and each of his actions is an individual declaration of rebellion leveled against the throne of God.

There is no such thing as moral neutrality. Each and every moral decision evokes a pledge of allegiance from us. Either we are aligned with the eternal kingdom of God, or we are striving to build our own petty kingdoms on earth.

An evil man is bent only on rebellion… (Prov 17:11).

This rebellion does not typically advertise itself with banners or bumper stickers. Rather it is demonstrated by the mundane decisions that place selfish desires above God’s commands. Examine yourself. How do you spend your time, talent, and treasure in this life? Do you engage in any habitual behavior that you know is displeasing to the Lord? Do you find it easy to lie when it serves your purposes? How often are you willing to compromise virtue for pleasure?

Such rebellion may not seem like a defiant shout in God’s face, but it is, nevertheless, an intentional rejection of His lordship over your life. There is no insignificant disobedience in our relationship with God. John Bunyan once wrote, “Sin is the dare of God’s justice, the rape of His mercy, the jeer of His patience, the slight of His power, [and] the contempt of His love!”

It would be nothing short of pure insanity for any finite and fallen man to believe he could withstand or overtake the infinite God of heaven. However, if you find yourself shrugging at the calloused nature of your heart, then you are on track to join the millions of people intoxicated by their own pride, who continue to arrogantly march onward toward the cliffs of eternity!

Such men foolishly believe that they are self-sufficient apart from God, because they are only seeking security in worldly achievements — money, fame, friendships, popularity, sex, or even grades. Meanwhile, they ignore their eternal condition. To such people, the Lord will declare, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Rev 3:17).

Likewise, the prophet Jeremiah warned:

Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord (Jer 17:5-7).

Those who would rather sin than submit will always brush God aside. Tragically, these rebellious men will ultimately achieve their wish of existing apart from the nurturing presence of God. In his book The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis explained, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in hell, choose it.”