Definition of Sin

[Guest shiloh357]

Maybe I'm being too pedantic .

But sin is defined in 1 John 3

1Jn 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness.

I am wondering how the sins of omission

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

are taken into account in this definition? Does the law somewhere command us to go good, or is this merely a response to the first commandment?

1 John 3:4 is referring to the habit of sin. He is not saying that if you commit a sin, you have practiced lawlessness. The continuous, determined, impenitent habit of sin is what he has in view.

The Bible uses wickedness and lawlessness as synonyms. A wicked person is a person who sins habitually and enjoys it. They may come to church in attempt to salve their conscience or to "wipe the slate clean" all the while fully intending to go right back out and continue engaging in the same lifestyle all over again.

There is no provision for such anywhere in the Bible. Proverbs tells us that the sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord because he offers them with a wicked heart. God does not pay attention to false piety.

Sins of omission would be included in the habitual practice of sin in that a wicked person naturally abstains from what is good and delights in what is evil.

[Littlelambseativy]

I find a simpler explanation is - If I do this would God be pleased or honoured. I also believe we should ask for forgiveness for our sins everyday and ask that what we do NOT LEAD ANOTHER BROTHER TO SIN.

Theoretical - If we drink wine with our meals but we see Christian who has a problem with alcoholism and we drink the wine, that person may think it is alright to drink, but in doing so it causes him to get drunk and to sin. That then is also our sin because we knew of his problem yet we ignored it.

The same would apply with anything. If we are Christians there is within us the Holy Spirit or conscience that tells us if what we are doing is right or wrong and if we ignore that 'knowing' of what is right, in God's eyes then we sin.

Unfortunately, as Paul said - that which I do is not what I want to do and what I want to do is not always what I do.

(paraphrased) it is the sin that lives within us . We are not perfect.

Thank you Father for sending JESUS to die in my place.

[MKUnity]

In Hebrew, sin means to "transgress." More specifically, against YHWH and even more specifically, against the Torah. Therefore yes, sin is Torah-lessness.

Something Messiah said is that in the end times there would be increased Torahlessness. I would say there is great Torahlessness today. This same Messiah also said:

Luk 16:17

[Hunterpoet]

Romans 14:22-23 (New International Version)

22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Is this what you mean? It is biblical.

I found Romans14:22-23 when I began to look into this. I went to the commentaries I have and now have what I think is a better understanding.

I'm guessing a separate thread could be started discussing this.

My disagreement with the brother is that he failed to offer an explanation as to what the verse meant or what he meant. This verse requires study for understanding, and I disagree that it can be thrown out into the middle of a conversation as applying to everything. Which is why I stated I was still thinking on it. It was not my intention to suggest it was not biblical.

[~candice~]

In Hebrew, sin means to "transgress." More specifically, against YHWH and even more specifically, against the Torah. Therefore yes, sin is Torah-lessness.

Something Messiah said is that in the end times there would be increased Torahlessness. I would say there is great Torahlessness today. This same Messiah also said:

Luk 16:17

[deut31:12]

1 John 3:4 is referring to the habit of sin. He is not saying that if you commit a sin, you have practiced lawlessness. The continuous, determined, impenitent habit of sin is what he has in view.

John here is trying to define what a sin is no matter how many you commit.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4

Transgress means to: violate a command or law

We are commanded to not lie, not steal, not fornicate, not commit adultery, not kill, speak corrupt communication, etc. When we break or violate these commandments we sin.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. Romans 7:7,8

"Sin" is defined by the law. Without the law to point out what sin is there is no sin. So, when the law (bible) tells not to do something, or not to do something, and we violate it we commit a sin.

Even though we are not under the Judaic law of the 10 commandments and its ordinances we are still commanded through the NT by God how we should walk and what should stay away from. Here are some examples:

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8-10

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 1 Corinthians 8:12

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:14-15

God doesn't condemn people for committing one sin. He looks at the heart. If your heart and mind is to life for sin and not not repent then you will be held accountable for your sins, but if you are trying to life your life in accordance to what is laid out in the scriptures and happen to fall into a sin God will be there for you to get back up, repent, and to forgive.

We know that it is man's sin that separates him from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and he dosen't hear the prayers of a sinner (John 3:9), but when our hearts are in the right place to eschew evil God is there for us and forgives our sins.

[deut31:12]

In Hebrew, sin means to "transgress." More specifically, against YHWH and even more specifically, against the Torah. Therefore yes, sin is Torah-lessness.

Something Messiah said is that in the end times there would be increased Torahlessness. I would say there is great Torahlessness today. This same Messiah also said:

Luk 16:17

[Guest Butero]

Maybe I'm being too pedantic .

But sin is defined in 1 John 3

1Jn 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness.

I am wondering how the sins of omission

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

are taken into account in this definition? Does the law somewhere command us to go good, or is this merely a response to the first commandment?

1 John 3:4 does indeed give us a definition of sin.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

The verse in James 4:17 isn't giving a definition of sin, but it is telling us that it is a sin if we know to do good but don't do good.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Taken alone, this verse is hard to comprehend, after all, what does it mean to do good? That is vague at best. On the other hand, if you take this verse along with what is said before and after it in James, the sin becomes more plain. God places someone in our path with a need, and we have to decide if we are going to help them or turn our back on them, sort of like the rich man and Lazarus? The reason why this comes to mind is because of what comes immediately before and after James 4:17. Before it, we are warned about making plans, because we have know idea if we will be allowed to do them. James 4:15 says, "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." Then in James 5:1-6, there is an indictment on those who are rich, and cheat others. Notice what it says in James 5:4.

Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of saboath.

Much of the theme of James is dealing with how we use our money. Earlier in this book, it speaks of the need to help people with their carnal needs as well as their spiritual needs. James 2:14-16

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

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

The sin James seems to be warning against is greed. We are warned against getting gain by cheating others and against turning our back on our brothers and sisters. I believe that is what he means when he says if we know to do good and don't, it is a sin.

[JCISGD]

be careful to only quote "be perfect" but dont expect to obtain it or you may be seen to be preaching heresey.

[~candice~]

be careful to only quote "be perfect" but dont expect to obtain it or you may be seen to be preaching heresey.

If you want to talk about attaining perfection, please start your own thread. If you want to discuss the definition of sin, please add your comments in here.