Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians

The Foundation of Jesus Christ
Lesson 2

What is a sin?

Sin is the disobedience to the LORD GOD's Laws and is unrighteous, unjust, immoral and wrong.  The five types of sin, transgression, unrighteousness, omission of known duty, faithlessness, and foolish acts constitute a sin against the LORD GOD. This chapter encourages you to have faith that the LORD GOD has convicted you of your sins, and dissuades you from looking for new sins, or focusing on the old ones. You will learn to focus on what the LORD GOD is placing in your heart concerning sin, and change what you can as fast as you can and have confidence that those deeper sins that seem impossible to remove at this point, will become easier to overcome as your walk with Jesus becomes steady.

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

All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (1 John 5:17 AV)

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17 AV)

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:22-23 AV)

The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. (Proverbs 24:9 AV)

When we first started Becker Bible Studies, we passed out a list of sins assembled and classified from the Ten Commandments. Similar lists of sin are popular with many of the major religions in teaching their students the definition of sin. Through the years, we discovered that this list of classified sins created many problems that failed to address the LORD GOD's complete and true Will regarding sin. No man or church is able to conclusively construct a list of sins. Man's relationship with God develops new requirements, thus, new possibilities for deeper interpretations of God's laws. Furthermore, because of the all encompassing nature of the LORD GOD, man might be unaware of sins, that are truly sins to the LORD GOD. Just because a sin has not been yet been convicted by the LORD GOD on a person's heart, does not make it any less of a sin.

Another problem with attempting to list sin is the "actual" vs. "intent" interpretation. As we walk with Jesus, we learn how to understand the laws of the LORD GOD through His Will rather than man's rigid, confusing or self-serving interpretations. For example, theft may be classified as a sin on a list as a violation of the Eighth Commandment that says "Thou shalt not steal". (Ex 20:15) While the letter of the law states that theft is a sin, the intent of the law by the LORD GOD is so much different. We all know deep inside ourselves that there is a difference between a person who would take possessions of others for self gain vs. a person who takes a loaf of bread to feed a hungry family. That knowledge of difference in this example is placed in the heart's of His people by the LORD GOD.

The LORD GOD gives His people the ability to seek justice, interpret grayness and recognize sin. He gives us this knowledge through Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of the intent of the LORD GOD many times as the Pharisee and Sadducees tried to trap Him with the letter of the law. He taught His disciples to choose the LORD GOD's Will over man's interpretation, and to have faith in their convictions.

So.....the list of sin handouts is no more. The LORD GOD's people must be obedient to His law and avoid anything that is unjust, immoral or wrong. They should know that when the LORD GOD expects a good work from them, they should do it. God's people should never fail to act on a faithful conviction of the heart. Lastly, sinful thoughts are just as bad as sinful actions, and people of God should avoid them.

Have faith that the LORD GOD has convicted you of your sins and you know what they are. Don't go looking for new sins, and don't go looking for old sins. Focus on what the LORD GOD is placing in your heart concerning sin, and change what you can as fast as you can. Those deeper sins that seem impossible to remove at this point, will become easier to overcome as your walk with Jesus becomes steady.

Cite Article Source

MLA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein. "What is a sin?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ Jan 2004.   <http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin1.htm>.

APA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein. (2004, January) "What is a sin?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ Retrieved   from http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin1.htm

Chicago Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. and Joanne Holstein (2004) "What is a sin?." The Foundation of Jesus Christ (January), http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/001sin1.htm (accessed )

About the Authors

Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Studies student of Liberty University, Hebrew language student attending Israeli taught Ulpan and a Homeschool parent teaching the things of God. She is also well-known as a child advocate of innocent children tortured and suffering from the abuse of sexual perversion, out-of-control violence, and pathetic neglect by a carnal world gone mad.

Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a Religious Philosophy student of Liberty University, and a Homeschool parent and child advocate. She is well-known as a counsleor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.

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