Understanding Sin

Understanding Sin

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.   1 John 2:1-2

The bible says, “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2), and describes four general ways we stumble, or sin, even as followers of Christ. Understanding these can help us resist the temptation to sin.

One word the bible uses for sin is “transgression” which means going beyond a set boundary, like walking right past a “No Trespassing” sign. A good example is the sin of Adam and Eve. God said, “you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17), but they crossed the line and did it anyway.

We also stumble by “missing the mark” like an archer whose arrow falls short of the target. God gives us standards, but we fail to fully live up to them.  For example, God says “love your neighbor as yourself” but we don’t do it completely, consistently, or fully. Romans 3:23 says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

We can also “rebel against God” denying his authority and failing to submit to Jesus as Lord. Isaiah 53:6 says this applies to all of us, for at some point “each of us has turned to his own way.”

Finally, we can stumble through sins of “omission” as described in James 4:17, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” Failing to help a neighbor in need when you have the opportunity and means to do so is an example of sinning by omission. (James 2:15-16).

Yes, we all stumble, but thank God that in his mercy he sent Jesus to be “the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Are you pursuing fellowship with Christ to help you resist sin and temptation?