What is the true meaning of the word sin?

Question

Does it mean that you have fallen away from God in a blaze of utter disregard and out of being rebellious or does it mean to make a mistake which in turn leads from one falling out of God's good graces? Or does it mean something else altogether?

Answer 1

Sin is a paradox. It means separation from God, but it can also be the means by which God draws us back to Himself. The Greek word hamartia means "missing the mark", being off target, Hebrew differentiates sin in gradations of evil, whether one acts according to the yetzir ha'ra, the evil inclination, falls short of completing a mitzvah, or violates the mitzvoth (some of which are capital offences), or is hardened in the heart and dead to one's people and family, basically Sin is what we would call "breaking the Law", it could be an infraction or a complete state of rebellion. It is only for the angels to fall in a blaze. Mortal man was made of earth and returns to earth. Imperfection is the nature of humanity. God does not hate what He has made. Jesus told it in the story of the Prodigal son, "I will arise and go to my father. I have sinned against heaven and you. I am no longer fit to be called your son, make me as one of your slaves." The son started walking, the father saw him a long way off and ran to him, embracing and kissing him and calling for the servants to clean him up and dress and feed him as a son should be. The judgement of Man is not the mercy of God. Sin is serious, but so is repentance. God is about Life, not death.

Answer 2

Sin is directed towards 2 points: being and doing. That being said, sin is NOT being the person that we are supposed to be, as indicated by Romans 3:23, "... for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." The other meaning of sin is NOT doing what we are supposed to do, as compared to the archer's missing the point (bull's eye). God tells his people, "... be ye holy...", "... be ye perfect...", and we all don't. We go our own way, as plainly stated by Isaiah in Isa 53:6a, "All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; ..." No matter what Christian groups say or proclaim, the Bible as God's written Word is the final reference, not Mr Smith. You see, Mr. Smith can't keep up with what the Bible is saying, and so he put up his own church and teaching. He was and is polygamous, a practice that the Bible sharply condemns as a SIN.
And one more thing. In the olden times, before Christ, BEING and DOING are mostly limited to the physical realm, what we can perceive by sight and touch. You do something wrong and nobody else sees you (only God), and you don't get caught, you are not punished. Even though you are corrupted inside through and through, and nobody knows, and it doesn't show, then to others, you would (seem to) be a "clean person". That all changed when Christ came, when the bar was raised to the inner workings of the mind and heart: "... if a man looks at a woman and thinks lustful thoughts, he has sinned...", and "... if you hate your brother, you are a murderer..."

In most cases, turning away from God is not in a blaze of utter disregard - it is, rather, due to callousness. and you become callous be ignoring the promptings of God day in and day out. You become callous when having sinned the first time, you don't repent, and you keep on doing things what you shouldn't do, and not doing things that you should do (sin of omission and sin of commission).

As for the original question, God's grace is poured out on good and bad people, the holy and sinful people. The sun shines and everyone, and so does the rain fall on everybody. God's grace is practically offered and directed towards sinners, or, as Jesus pointed out, it is the sick people who needs a Physician, not those who are well.

Answer 3

I don't think Muslims are the ones that need the word Jihad explaining too brother, we are well aware. But thanks for the effort anyway... Walikum Salaam. EDIT Hold on a second there... ''This is dedicated to everyone not only muslims. And you are telling me shouldn't I make the iman of the people strong? some women don't wear hijab and now I dont tell them about it? you are just saying the way like it. I want to clear out this mess of terrorrist and jihad etc and inshallah allah (swt) will guide me through it'' I did not tell you any such thing. Where did I say you '' And you are telling me shouldn't I make the iman of the people strong? ''? No where so please dont go putting words in my mouth. All I meant was perhaps another section with less Muslims would be a better place to post it as it is mostly Muslims here and we already know, I never said ''shouldnt'' anything... As for ''some women don't wear hijab and now I dont tell them about it? you are just saying the way like it.'' I have no idea what you are talking about. What am I ''just saying the way like it''? It makes no sense. Also I did thank you for your effort and recognized the time you put into it. If my saying that ''I don't think Muslims are the ones that need the word Jihad explaining too brother'' needed more explaining to you and you did not read between the lines I meant go tell it in sections with plenty of non Muslims then I am sorry it was lost on you but that does not give you the right to put your own interpretation of what I said and twist it into something that I never even romotly suggested at all. Next time please just ask me to clarify what I mean in my answer if you dont understand it. Walikum Salaam.

Answer 4

There are several words used for "sin" in the Old and New Testament. Several mean to miss the mark. Another word commonly used mean iniquity, i.e., un-equal or un-just and a third word means, basically, to rebel, as against God's authority so your assessment is not really off the mark.

The consequence of sin depends on your concept of God. Is your notion of God the vengeful, megalomaniacal tyrant of the Pharisee or the notion that God is just and knowing and forgiving? Is your notion of God anthropomorphic, i.e. a big man in the sky, a master puppeteer or is it a notion of God as Ideals, "that than which none greater can be thought"? Do you believe that a God worthy of worship and adoration will take a vulnerable, mistake-prone human being and torment him with burning by fire forever for a moment's mistake? Oh, and if you're not aiming, can you be off the mark?

Just wondering...but then I wonder too if truth is contradictory to fact and if indeed God lacks integrity or if that is just a bum rap by jealous and venal churchmen.

Answer 5

It means to "miss the mark". In other words, when someone sins it doesn't necessarily mean they are doing it intentionally or purposely, nor is it a willful act. It could be done out of sheer ignorance. Now a transgression is a whole different story. A transgression is when you know something is a sin and you go against God and do it anyway. Both are forms of disobedience to God. We sin everyday, therefore we should ask the Lord to forgive us everyday and repent from our sinful ways. As for grace, that was given at the cross!!!

Answer 6

Simply put, SIN is the absence of God.

It is a transgression of The Law, and also an offense that is laden with dire consequences if left unchecked.

"Committing a sin" could either be done intentionally --utter disregard of, and being rebellious to, The Law-- or as a result of being fallible as humans are, and making the wrong choices. The latter is aligned to falling prey to worldly "temptations": greed, lust, lies, cheating, hatred, anger, killing, stealing, etc.

But God is Good and God is Merciful. Praise be upon Him!

Peace be with you.

Answer 7

Sin is a word that comes from the Greek word hamartia which means miss the mark . It is analogous to an arrow being fired and missing the bullseye.

Answer 8

Judaism believes that "chet", the Hebrew word generally translated into English as "sin," is simply a mistake - something to be acknowleged, repented, and avoided in the future. It's an archery term, and it means "missing the mark," as in someone who shoots an arrow and doesn't hit the bullseye.

Answer 9

Why is it that no one gives an answer from the Bible?

"Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

Not the law as is found in the Catholic Catechism but as found unaltered in the Bible in Deuteronomy 5 and Exodus 20.

Answer 10

Sin is falling short of the glory of God. It means to fall short of the mark.