Christian Pure

What Is Sin? The Bible’s Definition, Types and Consequences

Christian Pure Team

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Summary

  • The Bible calls sin “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), and it counts the good we leave undone as sin too (James 4:17).
  • The Hebrew verb chata’ properly means “to miss,” and the Greek hamartia first meant “missing the mark.”
  • Churches tell original sin, which we inherit from Adam, apart from actual sin, though they describe original sin differently; the Orthodox teach that only Adam and Eve bear its guilt.
  • Catholics divide sin into mortal and venial, and a sin is mortal only when grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent come together.
  • Scripture names death, separation from God and slavery to sin as what sin brings, and it promises forgiveness to everyone who confesses and repents (1 John 1:9).
  • Methodists hope for entire sanctification in this life, while Lutheran, Reformed, Catholic and Orthodox teaching holds that believers still sin.

Sin is any wrong done against God: breaking his law in act, word, thought or desire, or failing to do the good he asks. The Bible’s words for it, in Hebrew and in Greek, both mean to miss a mark. Everyone sins (Romans 3:23), sin separates us from God, and God forgives those who repent. Keep that picture of a missed mark in mind. A stone can land a hand’s breadth from where it was aimed and still have missed.…

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Bibliography (Click to show)
  • Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (1611), text of Project Gutenberg eBook no. 10 (Genesis 2:17; 3:6; Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 24:16; Judges 20:16; Psalm 51:4; Proverbs 14:34; 28:13; Isaiah 59:2; Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 5:28; 7:5; 22:37–40; 25:46; Mark 7:21–23; Luke 13:3; 19:8; John 8:34; 16:8; Acts 3:19; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:1–2, 12, 23; 7:19; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Galatians 5:19–21; Ephesians 2:1; James 2:10; 4:17; 1 John 1:8–9; 2:2; 3:4; 5:16–17). https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10
  • “H2398 – ḥāṭā’.” Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon and Brown-Driver-Briggs entry, Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2398/kjv/wlc/0-1/
  • “G3340 – metanoeō.” Strong’s Greek Lexicon, Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3340/kjv/tr/0-1/
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. Paragraphs 385–409 (the Fall and original sin): https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1C.HTM; paragraphs 1263–1264: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P3N.HTM; paragraph 1394: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P42.HTM; paragraphs 1451–1460: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P4D.HTM; paragraphs 1471–1473: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P4G.HTM; paragraphs 1849–1851: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6A.HTM; paragraphs 1852–1853: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6B.HTM; paragraphs 1854–1864: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6C.HTM; paragraphs 1865–1869: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6D.HTM
  • Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), questions 14 and 18. https://thewestminsterstandard.org/westminster-shorter-catechism/
  • Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapters 6, 13 and 15. https://thewestminsterstandard.org/the-westminster-confession/
  • Augsburg Confession (1530), Article II, “Of Original Sin,” https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/original-sin/; Article XII, “Of Repentance,” https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-repentance/
  • The United Methodist Church. Articles of Religion, Articles VII and XIV. https://www.umc.org/en/content/articles-of-religion
  • The United Methodist Church. Confession of Faith, Articles VII and XI. https://www.umc.org/en/content/confession-of-faith
  • Wesley, John. A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. The Wesley Center Online. https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/a-plain-account-of-christian-perfection/
  • Hopko, Thomas. The Orthodox Faith, vol. 1, Doctrine and Scripture, “Sin.” Orthodox Church in America. https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/sin
  • Hopko, Thomas. The Orthodox Faith, vol. 4, Spirituality, “Sin.” Orthodox Church in America. https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/orthodox-spirituality/sin1
  • Orthodox Church in America. “Original Sin.” Questions & Answers. https://www.oca.org/questions/teaching/original-sin
  • Orthodox Church in America. “Sin.” Questions & Answers. https://www.oca.org/questions/sacramentconfession/sin
  • “Sin.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/sin-religion
  • Ostberg, René. “Seven Deadly Sins.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/seven-deadly-sins

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