6021 sin, nature of

Scripture portrays sin in terms of wrongness before God in a variety of different ways, such as uncleanness, guilt or rebellion.

The basic nature of sin

All sin is directed against God Ps 51:4 See also Ge 13:13; Ex 10:16; Jdg 10:10; Ps 41:4; Lk 15:18

Sin is essentially a lack of faith in God Ro 14:23 See also Heb 11:6

Descriptions of sin

Corruption of God’s good purposes Dt 32:5 See also Ge 6:11-12; Dt 9:12; Dt 31:29; Jdg 2:19

Doing evil in God’s sight Jn 3:19-20 See also Jdg 2:11; Ps 34:12-16; Pr 8:13; Isa 59:6-7; Mt 12:35 pp Lk 6:45

Ungodliness Jude 14-15 See also Isa 9:17; Isa 32:6; 1Ti 1:9

Rebellion against God’s authority Isa 30:9 See also Dt 9:7; 1Sa 15:23; Ps 78:40,56; Jer 3:13; Hos 7:13

The breaking or transgression of God’s laws 1Jn 3:4 See also 1Sa 13:13-14; 1Ch 10:13; Ne 9:29; Mic 1:5; Mic 7:18; Ro 2:23; Ro 4:15; Ro 5:14-17; Jas 2:10-11

Straying from the right path Isa 53:6 See also Ps 58:3; Ps 95:10; Ps 119:10,21,118

Incurring a debt Mt 6:12 See also Mt 18:21-35

Falling short of a standard Ro 3:23 The words most commonly used for “sin” in the OT and NT originally signified “missing the mark”.

Uncleanness Ps 51:2; Isa 1:16 See also Ps 51:7; Heb 9:14

Kinds of sin

Sins of omission Jas 4:17 See also Mt 23:23 pp Lk 11:42; Mt 25:45

Deliberate sins Lk 12:47 See also Nu 15:30-31; Dt 1:42-43; Dt 17:12; Ps 19:13; Isa 57:17; Ro 1:32

Unintentional sins Lk 12:48 See also Lev 4:1-5; Nu 15:22-29; Dt 4:41-42; Ac 3:17; 1Ti 1:13

Sin against the Holy Spirit Mk 3:29-30 pp Mt 12:31-32 pp Lk 12:10 See also 1Jn 5:16

See also