What is a sin?

Question

I know what a crime is. Murder is a crime, but I also hear that murder is a sin. I also hear of lots of things that are sins that are not crimes (taking the lord's name in vain, coveting your neighbor's wife). I cannot understand what a sin is, or even how it would affect me. I have heard it is a stain on your soul, but since no one has a soul (all of your personality, etc, has been traced to your brain), then that makes no sense. I also hear we are all born with sin, what does that mean? What sin? I just can't figure out this whole sin thing, it makes no sense at all. Please explain, the logic escapes me.

Answer 1

Sin is something a person doesn't like so they try to stop everyone from doing whatever it is.

Answer 2

Very good questions. Look at sin as suffering. There is a kind of built in "truth" in everyone. Suffering is a pointer that says, something is wrong. To suffer is having a case of mistaken identity. People "believe" they are something they are not. If a person suffers they should find out what is wrong, not take someones "word" for it, that doesn't help does it? Keep questioning.

Answer 3

The dictionary defines sin is a transgression of a moral or religious law. Sin is an offense to a holy God. Man was created by God without sin in a perfect world, but after Adam and Eve committed the the original sin of disobedience and pride against God, all creation thereafter has that "stain" of original sin. God being all loving, provided the perfect sacifice for the sins of mankind - the antoning death of His SInless Son, Jesus Christ. He planned that way for us to get to Him - if we trust and believe in the Son he sent for us. God is Holy - and man in sinful - and Jesus is the Bridge for us to get to God. When we die, our spirit leaves our body for our eternal destintation - either with God, or eternally seperated from Him.

Answer 4

Hi! A "sin" is a non-perfection. Thus, if somebody is saying that "we are all born sinners," they are saying, in effect, that we are all born spiritually imperfect. Churchy folks set up a standard of expected behavior, e.g., adherence to "the" ten commandments, and then designate each contravention of each aspect of that standard of behavior to be a "sin". In a non-churchy context, a sin can be defined simply as a failure to meet some standard of behavior or thought to which adherence is deemed desireable. Ultimately, you have to decide whether you are the judge of your own shortcomings or, conversely, you want to let other people set your standards. In either event, you "sin" when you contravene some embraced standard.

Answer 5

in a spiritual context ;All sin is an offense against God and a rejection of his perfect love and justice,there are two types of sin;
1)venial;
venial sin, that of less grave matter, does not cut us off from Christ.
2)mortal
means that mortal sins cannot be done "accidentally." A person who commits a mortal sin is one who knows that their sin is wrong, but still deliberately commits the sin anyway. This means that mortal sins are "premeditated" by the sinner and thus are truly a rejection of God’s law and love.

Answer 6

The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. 1 John 3. Mat 15. James 4. Sinner neither enjoy the pleasures of nor the peace of piety. Among divines, sin is original or actual. Actual sin, above defined, is the act of a moral agent in violating a known rule of duty. Original sin, as generally understood, is native depravity of heart to the divine will, that corruption of nature of deterioration of the moral character of man, which is supposed to be the effect of Adam's apostasy; and which manifests itself in moral agents by positive act of disobedience to the divine will, or by the voluntary neglect to comply with the express commands of God, which require that we should love God with all the heart and soul and strength and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves. This native depravity or alienation of affections from God and his law, is supposed to be what the apostle calls the carnal mind or mindedness, which is enmity against God, and is therefore denominated sin or sinfulness. Unpardonable sin, or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is supposed to be a malicious and obstinate rejection of Christ and the gospel plan of salvation, or a contemptuous resistance made to the influences and convictions of the Holy Spirit. Mat 12.

Answer 7

sin is committed when you do not obey gods commandments and what they mean by we are all born with sin is that we do not know anything of the spirit but of only the flesh. sin is not always a crime in the real world but it is a crime in the spiritul world. we are all par t of god blieve it or not we sin not know it. thats why we have this thing called forgiveness. when you ask for forgiveness you either know that you sinned or you just feel you have sinned and you want to committe it to god. sin is a bad thing towards god the father and not always a bad thing to the world. take lust for an intense its a commandment not lust but when you do you dont get in trouble for it in the worlds eyes but you get in trouble with god. if you know youve sinned and if you truely want to be washed of it then you ask god for forgiveness. i hope that my answer answered your quetion and good luck.

Answer 8

Sin is anything you voluntarily do against God. And, people are born w/ sin b/c sin is hereditary, believe it or not, it's true.

And, btw, there is such thing as a soul. You'll find out soon enough if you don't believe it. It's more than just emotions and personality.

God bless.

Answer 9

God created all souls, yet all are born in sin.

God created all souls, what is their destiny?

Of God's paramount creation, humankind, most will spend eternity in Hell.

But stop. If you are trying to confuse the church people, it won't work. They cannot be confused, for their belief is emotion not logic.

They have no evidence, only emotion. Trying to confuse the church people is like trying to rob a bat.

Answer 10

Sin is any bad action or thought. Baptists believe it's okay to sin cause they are saved. If you believe in Jesus with extreme fervor then he died for your sins and you don't have to worry about them; you can sin, but just be discreet.
If you don't believe in Jesus, it doesn't matter whether you sin or not, you're going to Hell.