Sin according to the Bible. It’s an important Christian teaching. Why? Because after Jesus Christ, it’s one of the most important Christian doctrines. In fact, it’s the reason Jesus came to earth. And understanding what scripture teaches about it will help you determine your eternal destination. So, it’s a big deal. Here’s are some things to know about sin.
Sin according to the Bible. Sin explains the existence of good, evil, and individual behavior.
The Bible teaches we are neither basically good nor evil, but sinners. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, sin is an individual choice because God lets us make independent decisions. Since sin gained entrance into the world through Adam and Eve, we are now born into a sinful environment with an inherent, sinful disposition that naturally favors self-interests. Although we can willfully choose to put them aside for the sake of others. Therefore, people can be altruistic or narcissistic and both behaviors are demonstrated globally.
Sin explains how good and evil exist simultaneously. As independent actors, we can make good and bad choices. And while people may get away with unjust behavior on earth, God holds us responsible for our actions and he will ultimately dispense absolute justice to everyone.
Sin according to the Bible. Satan is the greatest advocate for sin.
Angels were created before mankind. And Lucifer was one of the most beautiful and perfect ones created. The name Lucifer means “day star” or “son of the morning.” But his premier status wasn’t enough for Lucifer. He demanded equality with God and was banished from heaven.
He will also face ultimate judgment, but for now, freely roams the earth. And his number one goal? Take as many people with him as possible. Therefore, his name was changed to Satan which means “adversary.” And while he cannot make us sin, he does a masterful job deceiving us from the truth, enticing, and luring us into sinful bondage.
We can’t break free from that sinful bondage on our own. But God made a provision.
Sin according to the Bible. Jesus sacrificed himself for our sin. And he forgives us when we ask him for it.
Scripture teaches that sin eternally separates us from God, and we can’t save ourselves. Why? Because God requires absolute perfection and none of us meet that standard. But Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did. He lived a perfect life and died as a sacrifice for our sin.
This is where faith comes in. Faith is more than a religious concept. It’s required to experience forgiveness. You must believe the gospel of Jesus Christ by faith, acknowledge your sinful condition, and ask Jesus to forgive you.
You must admit, confess, and repent of sin by faith.
But don’t we all make mistakes? Yes, but sin goes beyond that. Mistakes are accidental. Sin, however, is intentional, disobedient thoughts and actions for which you are responsible. And faith is more than intellectual assent. Like belief in God and that Jesus was a real person. Faith is action that flows from convictions in your heart.
It involves confession and repentance. Repentance is more than feeling sorry for your sin. The meaning behind the Greek word is to change your mind. It means to turn away from sin and turn towards God. And strive to please him by pursuing righteousness.
Of course, you won’t always succeed. Scripture teaches that sin presents an ongoing battle within every person’s heart. Even for the most devout follower of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul describes his own struggle with sin. But also looks forward to a final victory over it.
This is the hope for a follower of Jesus. To celebrate forgiveness from sin and move forward in Christ toward an eternal prize.
Sin according to the Bible. It’s an important Christian teaching. Why? Because after Jesus Christ, it’s one of the most important Christian doctrines. In fact, it’s the reason Jesus came to earth. And understanding what the Bible teaches about it is important for determining your eternal destination. So, it’s a big deal. Here’s are some things to know about sin.
Sin according to the Bible. It wasn’t always this way.
The Bible teaches we are born with sinful nature. Live our lives in its toxic environment like fish swimming in polluted water. And personally succumb to its influence. Yet, so often, we deny it for what it is. But instead, blame other things and people for what we intuitively know is wrong within our own hearts.
But it wasn’t that way in the beginning. In Genesis, God called his newly created world “good.” And he planted a garden for Adam and Eve to live in that provided for all their needs. It was unmarred. An ideal environment without pain, conflict, and suffering. And they could eat the fruit from any tree in the garden except one: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Which is exactly what Adam and Eve did. With that first act of disobedience, sin entered the world. And everything changed.
Sin according to the Bible. What is sin anyway?
The essence of sin remains the same: disobedience to God. But that first, seemingly, small act of disobedience grew like a cancer into more serious forms. For example, Adam’s son, Cain committed the first capital offense by murdering his brother Abel, out of jealousy.
As mankind’s disobedience increased and took different forms, God provided the Ten Commandments through Moses to establish moral order. It was simple and to the point. It listed the basic things you should do to honor God and the ones you shouldn’t to get along with other people. Don’t lie, steal, murder, covet and commit adultery.
However, the list of sins expands greatly in the New Testament. And Jesus made it clear that sin is not limited to our actions. Many of them come out of our hearts and take place in our thoughts.
Today you can picture sin like an iceberg. One-third of your sin is above ground where it’s visible. But two-thirds is below the surface within your heart and mind where only God sees. That’s why God looks upon the heart. And the apostle Paul reminds us we are all guilty of sin.
Sin broke our relationship with God, one another, and our world.
The impact of that one act of disobedience was immediate and is recorded in Genesis chapter three. Adam and Eve immediately became self-conscious about their appearance, realized they were naked, and covered themselves. So it changed their relationship with one another.
Next they shamefully hid themselves from God as he walked through the garden. So, it also changed their relationship with Him. It even impacted their relationship with the environment and animals. The environment changed from hospitable to hostile and required hard work to survive. And their relationship with animals went from friendly to predatory.
Do you see the fallout from that one act of disobedience? Every sin can trace it back to the source. It is the singular focus on ME, MYSELF and I.
The worst part, however, is that sin separates us from God, not just in this life, but for eternity. Unless there’s a way to fix it.
Fortunately, right after God kicked Adam and Eve from the garden, he began working on a Plan B.
How Jesus handled racism, women’s equality, and sin. It’s all demonstrated in John 4:1-42 when he interacts with a Samaritan woman at a well. She was first a woman, second a Samaritan and lastly a sinner. But Jesus invited her into a life changing redemptive relationship.
How Jesus handled racism, women’s equality, and sin. He treated a Samaritan as a person rather than an ethnic group
Racism is not new. Samaritan’s and Jews were two ancient, ethnic groups with a long history of animosity for one another. Although they had a common heritage, Jews considered Samaritans unclean because they were interracially mixed. In fact, some Jewish religious leaders traveled roads that went around Samaria even when the road through it was shorter.
He acted like he expected to meet the Samaritan women at the well and was keeping an appointment. And when she arrived with her water container, he initiated the conversation.
She acted surprised in her response that pointed out their differences in gender and race. But Jesus had another conversation in mind. Because his interest went beyond the barriers of race and gender to the barrier that separated her from God.
“If you knew who was asking you, you would ask for living water.”
Now Jesus moves into a spiritual conversation that takes a personal interest in her. Not that racism and women’s equality weren’t important. But that her eternal destination was more important. And it required addressing the condition of her heart.
How Jesus handled racism, women’s equality, and sin. He didn’t address women’s rights, he addressed women with individual respect
Women’s rights were also restricted during the time of Jesus. Women were separated from men in private, public, and religious life. And denied many of the privileges afforded to men. For example, when out in public during the day, women were expected to wear a veil and refrain from talking to men.
It was also common for women to draw water during the morning in groups. Part work, part social time. The fact this woman was alone at midday suggests she was probably a social outcast. But Jesus didn’t let any of that deter him. Because he cared more about the woman’s soul.
And now he had her attention. She’s intrigued but still challenges him. Living water? He has nothing to even draw water from this well. And she steers the conversation back to race by pointing out their common ancestry in Jacob. Although Jesus steers back to the spiritual.
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
And now, the woman’s deep, spiritual thirst is exposed.
“Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
She’s ready to accept Jesus’ offer. But first she must confront her spiritual barrier.
Jesus didn’t overlook sin but offered something better
Jesus told her to get her husband and now she must admit the truth. She’s living in a sinful relationship. And while Jesus does not condemn her sin, he makes her confront it. Because sin was the barrier that separated her from God. And the same is true for you and me.
As Paul points out in Romans 3:23, we are all guilty of it. But Jesus is the solution and the one who presents a better offer. And that is forgiveness and eternal life for all who ask for it.
It’s not specifically stated, but it’s clear the woman was changed by her encounter with Jesus. She excitedly told all the people in town and brought them out to meet Jesus. And many of them believed in him too.
So while racism and women’s equality are both issues that need to be addressed among a long list of others. The one few people want to address but Jesus does is sin. It is the source where everything that’s wrong in the world comes from. And we are all guilty. But will experience forgiveness. When you humble yourself, confess your sin, and ask for it from Jesus.
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