What is Sin?

I. Introduction
   A. Let us consider the greatest plague that has ever affected man
      1. Few are those who could escape it
      2. Always brought upon oneself
      3. Terrible, fearful consequences
      4. Yet its existence has even been denied by many
   B. The plague: sin
   C. Even though it is a great evil, much confusion surrounds it
   D. What is sin?
      1. People have tried to rationalize their behavior for 
         generations
      2. It is important for us to consider what sin is
      3. Let us search the Scriptures to see how sin is described, 
         and the images that are used to describe it

II. What is Sin?
   A. Let us begin by considering how God describes sin itself in 
      the Bible
   B. Sin: The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule 
      of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary 
      transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine 
      command; a wicked act; iniquity (Webster's)
   C. Sin as lawlessness
      1. 1 John 3:4
      2. Recognition that for there to be "lawlessness," there must 
         be "law"
      3. To act lawlessly is to act without any justification from 
         the law of Christ, and such is sin
   D. Sin as transgression
      1. Galatians 6:1, Hebrews 2:2
      2. God does have intent for people to act in certain ways, 
         and to act in contrary ways is to transgress-- crossing 
         over-- His intentions!
   E. Sin as missing the mark
      1. Sin in Greek: hamartia, literally meaning, "missing the mark" 
         (cf. Romans 5:12-13)
      2. In less strong contexts, can mean "mistake"
      3. When we sin, we miss God's mark!
   F. Sin as wrongdoing
      1. 1 John 5:17
      2. There indeed is a "right" and "wrong," and to choose the 
         latter is sin!
   G. Sin as rebellion
      1. 1 Samuel 12:15, Isaiah 1:2
      2. To choose sin over righteousness is a form of rebellion-- 
         acting against authority!
      3. God will not treat rebellion lightly!
   H. Sin as iniquity
      1. Iniquity as "perverseness" or "crookedness"
      2. Exodus 34:7, 9
      3. The way of sin is unholy and not straight!
   I. Sin as falling
      1. Concept in Greek word paraptoma 
      2. Romans 4:25, 5:15
      3. Stumbling is not normally considered a good thing!
   J. Sin as violation of conscience
      1. Romans 14:23
      2. If we do not have faith to do something, and we do it anyway, 
         it is sin
      3. Necessity of faith for action (Hebrews 11:1, 6)
      4. Thus, something that is not inherently wrong but done without 
         faith can be sin!
      5. Does not excuse the lack of fulfillment of God's commands, for
   K. Sin as not doing what is good
      1. James 4:17
      2. Sin is not merely a matter of doing things
      3. If one fails to do the right thing, it is as sinful as doing 
         wrong!

III. Images of Sin
   A. Having received a good picture of what sin is, let us also 
      consider the images that God uses to describe sin
   B. Sin as darkness
      1. 1 John 1:5-2:11
      2. John uses the image of light to describe God, and darkness 
         to describe everything that is against God
      3. Sin is against God; sin is part of darkness
      4. Darkness causes stumbling, difficulties; nothing grows in 
         darkness
      5. Darkness ominous and foreboding
   C. Sin as illness
      1. Hosea 7:1, Matthew 9:11-13
      2. The image used in the introduction
      3. Illness is pervasive, debilitating, and sometimes fatal
      4. No one really wants to face illness, especially without a 
         cure!
   D. Sin as stain/blemish
      1. Isaiah 1:18-20, Ephesians 5:25-27
      2. No one enjoys having stained clothing
      3. Indication of impurity
   E. Sin as filth
      1. 2 Peter 2:20-22
      2. Imagery evocative enough
      3. Hence the idea of sin as defiling-- makes one dirty
   F. Sin as debt
      1. Matthew 6:12, Matthew 18:23-35
      2. Sold under sin to death (Romans 7:14)
      3. That which is indebted requires redemption (Ephesians 1:7)
      4. Debt requires responsibility to debtor-- and we cannot repay!
   G. Sin as master
      1. Romans 6:6-7, 16
      2. Consistent with debt imagery-- unable to pay, sold into 
         slavery on account of debt
      3. Sin becomes a master, one leading you to continue to commit 
         sin to keep oneself going!
   H. Sin as burden
      1. Galatians 6:1-2
      2. Sin is a heavy load which you cannot bear unaided!
      3. How many have been crushed to despair by trying to maintain 
         it?
   I. Sin as insanity/mindlessness
      1. A product of not right thinking
      2. Luke 15:17
      3. A result of a lack of sober-mindedness!
      4. How many sins would be avoided just by using good thinking?

IV. Conclusion
   A. Thus we have seen what sin is and the images used for it
   B. The definitions and images are quite consistent!
   C. Looking at sin in these ways, why would anyone want to have 
      anything to do with it?
      1. Every definition and image is negative
      2. There is never an idea in the Scriptures presented that 
         would "redeem" any kind of sin
      3. It is universally portrayed in dark, ugly, disgusting terms!
   D. Why, then, do people sin?
      1. We are fallible
      2. Sin is dressed up to be attractive or pleasurable
      3. We are tempted by others to do so
   E. In short, we sin in our weakness
      1. We sin when we are weak and not strong
      2. We sin when we forget what God has to say and justify the 
         desires of the flesh
      3. We sin when we look more around us than looking toward God
   F. It is important for us to constantly keep focused on God and 
      His Word-- let us not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin 
      (Hebrews 3:13)!
   G. Invitation/songbook