What Is A Sin?
Table of Contents
- A sin is anything that goes against or violates the law of God.
The root word for sin in the Greek is hamartia.
ἁμαρτία (hamartía)
It means:
To miss the mark
To fall short of God’s standard
To fail to live according to God’s will
The root idea surrounding hamartia comes from the imagery of an archer missing the target — symbolizing humanity missing God’s perfect righteousness.
This is interesting because Scripture shares this in Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
This implies that God sees us as children and when we miss the mark or sin, it ceases His kingdom advancement like the arrows of a warrior. It's also important to pay attention to the last word gate. This bares resemblence to the Lord Jesus statement that upon this rock (of revelation from the Father, based on the context) He will build His Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Since it's by faith that we overcome the world and sin, and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God just like Peter in the aformentioned scenario discovered who Christ was by faith, as His children ( we hear His voice) we shall not cause Him to be ashamed but He will speak with His enemies in the gate (point of entry to this realm for His glory)
In other words, sin causes the Kingdom of God to be ineffective in its mission, and this is why the archer and target root of the word is significant. Righteousness ensures that the archer's (God's) target is hit, whereas sin ensures there is a miss.
| Greek Word | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ἁμαρτία (hamartía) | Noun | Sin, moral failure |
| ἁμαρτάνω (hamartánō) | Verb | To sin, to do wrong |
| ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlós) | Noun | Sinner, one who practices sin |
- Sin can be in thought, word or deed.
- Sin causes us to fall short of God's glory, while righteousness gives God glory or displays all of His goodness.
- Adultery, homosexuality, fornication, idolatry, pride, and envy are just some sins to name a few.
- These are all highlighted in Exodus 20 and Galatians 5:19-21
2 Primary Classes of Sin
There are 2 primary classes of sin: sins of ommission and sins of commission. The descriptions are below:
1. Sin of Omission
Definition:
A sin of omission is failing to do what God commands. It is not doing the good we are required to do — neglecting prayer, ignoring the needy, refusing to obey God’s will, or withholding love.
Scriptural References:
| Scripture | Explanation |
|---|---|
| James 4:17 – “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” | The clearest definition — knowing the good and refusing to act is counted as sin before God. |
| Matthew 25:42–45 | Jesus condemns those who did not feed, clothe, or visit, showing judgment comes not only from doing wrong but from failing to do right. |
| Luke 10:30–37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan) | The priest and Levite sin by ignoring the wounded man — failure to show mercy is sinful. |
| Proverbs 3:27 – “Do not withhold good…” | Keeping back help when it is in our power is counted as moral failure. |
Summary:
A sin of omission is neglecting the will of God — knowing what is right but refusing to do it.
“Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” – James 4:17
Not doing God’s will is as serious as actively disobeying Him.
2. Sin of Commission
Definition:
A sin of commission is committing an act that God forbids. It is doing what God said not to do — lying, stealing, hatred, immorality, idolatry, murder, etc.
Scriptural References:
| Scripture | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Exodus 20:1–17 (Ten Commandments) | A clear list of prohibited actions — breaking any is a direct, willful sin of commission. |
| 1 John 3:4 – “Sin is lawlessness.” | Sin is described as active rebellion against God’s law. |
| Galatians 5:19–21 | Paul lists sins of commission — “works of the flesh” such as adultery, wrath, envy, drunkenness. |
| Romans 1:29–32 | People are condemned for actively committing sinful deeds and approving them. |
Summary:
A sin of commission is knowingly doing what God forbids, acting against His righteousness and commands.
Key Difference
| Sin Type | What It Is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Omission | Failing to do what is right | Ignoring the needy |
| Commission | Doing what is wrong | Stealing or lying |
Sin's Destructive Nature
Sin many times looks good at first glance but detailed inspection reveals its insidious destructive nature. Here is a table on some examples of the destuctive nature of going against the will of God, whether written or by The Spirit, and committing sin.
| Type of Sin | Biblical Example | Destructive Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Pride | Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12–15) | Pride blinded Lucifer to God’s supremacy and led him to desire the throne of God. It caused the first rebellion in all creation. His fall became the root of all future sin. |
| Disobedience | Adam & Eve (Genesis 3) | One act of disobedience opened the door to death, sorrow, and spiritual separation from God. Their sin fractured perfect fellowship with their Creator. All humanity inherited a fallen nature from their choice. |
| Jealousy | Cain (Genesis 4:3–8) | Jealousy hardened Cain’s heart until murder felt justified. Sin distorted his view of righteousness and fairness. He became a restless wanderer, cut off from God’s presence. |
| Sexual Immorality | Sodom & Gomorrah (Genesis 19) | The cities became morally blind and spiritually dead because lust replaced reverence for God. Sin escalated beyond shame until judgment arrived. Fire became the final purifier of a corrupted culture. |
| Greed | Achan (Joshua 7) | Achan’s hidden sin affected not only himself but the entire nation. His greed led to military defeat and the death of innocent soldiers. What was secretly buried eventually destroyed his family publicly. |
| Unbelief | Israelites in Wilderness (Numbers 14) | Unbelief blocked them from entering the Promised Land. They saw God’s power yet refused to trust His heart. Their doubt sentenced an entire generation to die without seeing God’s promise fulfilled. |
| Anger & Revenge | Saul toward David (1 Samuel 18–24) | Saul’s anger consumed his sanity and peace. Instead of ruling the kingdom, he spent years chasing David. His obsession led to spiritual decline and the loss of his throne. |
| Idolatry | Golden Calf (Exodus 32) | Idolatry replaced trust in God with something man-made and powerless. It corrupted worship and led to rebellion at the foot of Mount Sinai. The result was the death of thousands and broken fellowship with God. |
| Adultery & Deceit | David with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11–12) | David’s sin set off a chain of suffering within his household. The child died, and conflict never left his family. One moment of lust cost him years of grief. |
| Betrayal | Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3–5) | Betrayal distorted Judas’ understanding of Jesus’ purpose. Instead of repentance, guilt drove him to despair. Sin promised gain but delivered destruction to his soul. |
| Craving Evil Things | Israel in the Wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:6) | Desires not surrendered to God grew into rebellion. Sinful cravings replaced gratitude for God's provision. Lustful appetites became stronger than obedience. |
| Idolatry (Paul’s Warning) | Golden Calf & 23,000 dead (1 Corinthians 10:7) | Paul warns that idolatry still hides in the heart even when it doesn’t bow before statues. Israel celebrated outwardly while drifting inwardly from God. The joy that began in feasting ended in judgment. |
| Sexual Immorality (Paul’s Warning) | 23,000 fell in one day (1 Corinthians 10:8) | Paul reminds the church that culture may excuse sin, but God does not. Israel’s immorality spread throughout the camp until judgment came swiftly. What was considered “pleasure” produced massive destruction. |
| Testing Christ | Serpents in the Wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:9) | Testing God’s patience reveals a heart grown proud. The people demanded proof of God rather than trusting His word. Their challenge invited His discipline. |
| Grumbling | Complaints in the Wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:10) | Paul shows that even “small sins” like complaining are spiritually poisonous. Complaining reveals unbelief in God’s plan. Many died not from outward rebellion—but from inward ingratitude. |
Sin Defined and Outlined in Galatians 5:19-21
- 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
- 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
- 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
- 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Sin Defined in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
- 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
- 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
- 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
For every sin issue there is an answer. His Name is Yeshua, The Lord Jesus.
Biblical Scholars on The Lord Jesus Atoning Sacrifice on The Cross
| Scholar & Date | Work | View on Atonement |
|---|---|---|
| Anselm of Canterbury (1098) | Cur Deus Homo | Proposed the “satisfaction theory” — that Christ’s sacrifice was necessary to satisfy the honor due to God, which mankind could never repay. |
| Thomas Aquinas (1274) | Summa Theologica | Taught that Christ’s death was sufficient for all, but efficient only for believers — a universal atonement offered freely by divine grace. |
| John Calvin (1559) | Institutes of the Christian Religion | Emphasized penal substitution: Jesus bore the punishment of sin, absorbing divine wrath on behalf of the elect. |
| Jacob Arminius (1603) | Declaration of Sentiments | Affirmed that Christ died for all humanity, enabling salvation for all who believe through prevenient grace. |
| John Owen (1647) | The Death of Death in the Death of Christ | Defended definite atonement — that Christ specifically and effectively died for the elect. |
| Jonathan Edwards (1746) | A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections | Argued that Christ’s sacrifice reveals God’s infinite justice and mercy, awakening the human conscience to repentance. |
| Charles Hodge (1872) | Systematic Theology | Stated that Christ’s atonement was a legal substitution — fully satisfying justice and making the pardon of sin consistent with God’s righteousness. |
| B. B. Warfield (1917) | The Person and Work of Christ | Emphasized that Christ’s death was not merely an example but a vicarious sacrifice — the center of redemption history. |
| A. H. Strong (1912) | Systematic Theology | Argued that Christ’s atonement reconciles divine justice and love, providing a real satisfaction for every moral failing. |
| James Denney (1902) | The Death of Christ | Taught that Christ bore the consequences of human sin in our place — atonement as substitution and victory over moral failure. |
