Sin is any thought, word or deed that falls short of God’s standard of holiness. It is missing the mark, or coming short of the target. The Native American whose arrow fell short of the target said “I sinned.” In his language, the same word was used for sinning and falling short of a target. Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:44Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)), doing our own will instead of the will of God. Sin is not only doing what is wrong, but failing to do what we know to be right (James 4:1717Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)). Also, if we do not have a clear conscience about something and yet do it, it is sin, for “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:2323And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)). Sin begins in the mind and, if allowed to act, will end in death. There is a difference between sins and sin. Sins are the wrong things we do; sin refers to our evil nature. Christ died for our evil nature as well as for our evil deeds. God forgives our sins, but He condemns sin in the flesh (Romans 8:33For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)). John the Baptist proclaimed the Lord Jesus as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” There is coming a day where there will be new heavens and a new earth, wherein righteousness will dwell.
1. How many have sinned and come short of the glory of God? Romans 3:___
2. If a believer sins, who does he have as an advocate with the Father?
1 John 2:___
3. What was it that separated God from Israel so that He hid His face and would not hear? Isaiah 59:___
4. What confession did the prodigal son make to his father? Luke 15:___
5. What blessedness did David describe of the man to whom God imputed righteousness without works? Romans 4:___ and ___