What constitutes sin - actions or intent?

Question

Is it sin if you want to sin but don't (lust)?
Or is it possible to sin if your intentions are good?

Answer 1

actions speak louder than thoughts , if a man is guilty for what goes on in his mind give him the electric chair for all his future crimes

Answer 2

Sin is the outworking of wrong intentions or thoughts. If you don't carry out what you are thinking, knowing it's the wrong thing to do, you have not sinned.

Good intentions only become wrong in a situation where you have withheld something what was vital to somebody, and have otherwise had the resources to fill their need, then recanted on the decision...especially if you know that the Lord moved your heart to do what was before you at that time.

Answer 3

The Bible says in James that "to him (or her) that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him (or her) it is sin." So if you know that it is wrong, then it is.
Think about this: if you went to France, and you didn't know the laws, and you got pulled over for something that you didn't know was wrong, you would probably still get a ticket.
Also: there is no such thing as a white lie.
Jesus spoke in the New Testament about sin. He said that under Moses' law, it was a sin to commit adultery. He also said that under God's law, if a man (or woman) lusts after a woman (or man), then he (or she) has committed adultery in his (or her) heart.
God is able to forgive any sin, whether you intentionally did it or not. See Acts 2:38 for the plan of salvation.
I don't mean to sound hard, because I know that no one is perfect, and certainly not me.
I hope this helps somewhat.

Answer 4

The Bible teaches that our souls have a disease. It causes all the troubles, confusions, and disillusionment's in your life. The name of the disease is called " sin". All of us have pride, we do not like to confess that we are wrong or that we have failed.
At the cross of Christ, sin reached its climax. Our human heart was laid bare and its corruption fully exposed. But sad to say, human nature has not changed, sin never improved since the agonies of the cross.
Sweetie. thought is the seat of action, and if God destroyed the world once for its continually evil imaginations, is it not reasonable to believe that all of the sin, lust, and licentiousness that is rampant today grieves His heart, just as it did in that day. Many people dream of sin, imagine sin, and if granted the chance, would actually indulge in sin. So, in the sight of God, they are sinners. All transgressions begin with sinful thinking. You, my dear, who have come to Christ for a pure heart, should be on guard against sin of any kind. You should no more allow sinful imaginations to digest your mind and soul than you would let your garbage collect in your living room. Yes my dear, it is sin, without question!

Answer 5

The action of the sin itself does not condemn you, but the intent. If you are angry with someone, lets say, and think of violent acts against him, you do not have a righteous mind or heart, therefore, although not doing it, you are evil deep down inside. You must have a pure heart in order to return to God.

Look at those who are mentally ill or disabled that don't understand right from wrong, are they held accountable for murder if they don't understand what it is?

Answer 6

What? sex between 2 those who're no longer married is a sin. If both companions agree (and are not married) then both companions are both committing a sin. there is not any longer some thing innocuous or sparkling about it. sex became created through God to be loved contained in the sanctity of HOLY matrimony between a husband and his spouse. Rape is a sin. the fellow committing the act is committing a sin. the female or guy being raped is a sufferer. there is not any consent. How then can both moves be an same?

Answer 7

I think it's possible to sin without sin as long as your intentions are good. It's a sin to murder, but if somebody had to kill somebody who was holding people hostage, would you call them a sinner? No, you'd call them a hero! Also, for God to remain sinless, it has to be that way. Take Noah's story for example. God kills millions of people, but it's his intentions (killing millions of evil people to try and start over and make a new, good world) that keep him from being sinful in Christian's minds. As for me, an atheist, I don't bother judging God's actions, he's a higher being than me so I don't get that right (and that it's pretty silly to judge things you don't believe in)

Answer 8

Both actions and intent! lust is considered a sin YES Eve and Adam did-they really had no bad intentions!

Answer 9

it is impossible to sin without understanding that you are sinning.
what i mean is if you sin, you know darn well what you are doing is wrong as you are doing it, if you dont know if its wrong, you wonder?...then you need to seek truth before you act, or you will have no excuse, if you find out later it was wrong in Gods eyes, and you were on the fence regarding the issue, you will have had sinned. lust is sin , unless of course its lust for your husband or wife.
if you are oblivious to sin, you can still sin, as God has told us in His word what He will not condone, but if you dont know Gods word, or really care, then sin is a matter of perspective.

Answer 10

Power over sin? Realization and enlightenment. Realize that in our past we had to fight to survive and our body lusted to produce offspring so that our species my endure. In the cosmic clock we are infants and most people show it. There will be a time when man will overcome sin but not until he accepts it first.

Answer 11

This is why u need to have your own personal relationship with God.
I go back and forth with this one myself.. to me- and it's ONLY my opinion- I think that it's intent. God looks at the heart..
Say if u steal little things to feed your family- and u been stealing here and there- a loaf of bread, some peanut butter.. and u KNOW it's wrong.. and then u repent it.. pray to stop it.. pray for help.. and TOTALLY intend on not doing it again.. but then one bad day- there's nothing to feed your kid- and on the way home someone left their grocery bags in the trunk or something..
U didn't MEAN to.. meant to go home and trust God..

He would know the difference.. bottom line- u can't FOOL God.. I believe it's intent. He knows we are human.