What is the Bible’s Definition of Sin?

Question

make sure your references match and don't contradict!

“Whosever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4).

sounds pretty circular, yes?

what about keeping a sabbath or stoning rebel daughters?

Answer 1

The definition of sin is to break one of God's laws, pure and simple. Therefore, "ticd" has it wrong.

Answer 2

whoever commits a sin unto death, must confess his sin as it cannot be prayed away, as in the sin not unto death, for which we can pray for that sinner who commits such and God will give him light, but the sin unto death , he must seek reconcilliation with God through the sacrament.

Answer 3

The word "sin" as most commonly used in the new testament is the Greek word "hamartano" which is a term used in archery which means to miss the mark.

Sin when literally translated means to miss the mark. The mark or target is God's perfection. Anything we do that causes us to fall short of that is sin.

It's more difficult for the old testament because there are many types of sin. Sins against God, sins against family, sins against law etc.... however the first and most commonly used Hebrew word for sin is "chattah'ah" when literally translated means an error or mistake.

Unfortunately you ask for a definition of the word sin, but the Bible is not a dictionary and does not define Sin per se, there are lists of examples of what Jesus considers sin, but these lists are not all inclusive because they are only examples.

in a general sense sin is anything that makes one take his/her focus and attention from God.

So, do I pass your little test, do my references match, have I contradicted myself?

Answer 4

1 John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." Romans 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." The Law of God can be found in Ex 20:2-17, pay particular attention to vs. 8-11 as this is not only the memorial of creation but also the seal of God (as apposed to the mark of the beast).

Answer 5

II. The Definition of Sin (References below)

1849
Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law."121


1850
Sin is an offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight."122 Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become "like gods,"123 knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus "love of oneself even to contempt of God."124 In this proud self-exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.125


1851
It is precisely in the Passion, when the mercy of Christ is about to vanquish it, that sin most clearly manifests its violence and its many forms: unbelief, murderous hatred, shunning and mockery by the leaders and the people, Pilate's cowardice and the cruelty of the soldiers, Judas' betrayal—so bitter to Jesus, Peter's denial and the disciples' flight. However, at the very hour of darkness, the hour of the prince of this world,126 the sacrifice of Christ secretly becomes the source from which the forgiveness of our sins will pour forth inexhaustibly.

III. The Different Kinds of Sins

1852
There are a great many kinds of sins. Scripture provides several lists of them. The Letter to the Galatians contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit: "Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God."127


1853
Sins can be distinguished according to their objects, as can every human act; or according to the virtues they oppose, by excess or defect; or according to the commandments they violate. They can also be classed according to whether they concern God, neighbor, or oneself; they can be divided into spiritual and carnal sins, or again as sins in thought, word, deed, or omission. The root of sin is in the heart of man, in his free will, according to the teaching of the Lord: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man."128 But in the heart also resides charity, the source of the good and pure works, which sin wounds.

References:
121 St. Augustine, Contra Faustum 22: PL 42, 418; St. Thomas Aquinas, STh I-II, 71, 6.

122 Ps 51:4.

123 Gen 3:5.

124 St. Augustine, De civ. Dei 14, 28: PL 41, 436.

125 Cf. Phil 2:6-9.

126 Cf. Jn 14:30.

127 Gal 5:19-21; cf. Rom 1:28-32; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Eph 5:3-5; Col 3:5-9; 1 Tim 1:9-10; 2 Tim 3:2-5.

128 Mt 15:19-20.

St. Augustine (Church Father) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Doctor of the Summa) are great teachers of the Catholic Church from
earlier centuries, who taught and wrote through the promptings of the Holy Spirit and are part of Sacred Tradition.

see source links

Answer 6

Disobeying God. We are all sinners. But through the Grace of God you can be saved. You can be saved by first admitting you're a sinner, then Repenting (turning from your sin). Second by asking Jesus to come into your heart and save you by his grace and mercy. Then get invovled in a Bible Believing Church and fellowship with other Christians to stay encouraged and read Gods word daily to strengthen yourself and help you in your walk with Christ. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and understanding. In todays world you Cannot do it alone. You need the help of other believers. Watch TBN. Trinity Broadcasting Network on Your local cable or satellite system or long on to www.billygraham.org or feel free to email me. I'd love to answer any questions you may have.

Answer 7

Disobeying God's Word. It started with Adam and Eve, when God commanded them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He also told them the consequences. They ate! and we all bear the consequences.

Answer 8

Romans 2:11For there is no respect of persons with God.

12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Answer 9

See also:
Abomination; Apostasy of Individuals; Blasphemy; Bondage, Spiritual; Carnal Mind; Confession; Corruption; Darkness, Spiritual; Death, Spiritual First; Devil; Disobedience; Evil; Excommunication; Fall of Man; Foolishness; Forgiveness; Guilt; Holy Ghost, Loss of; Iniquity; Man, Natural, Not Spiritually Reborn; Offenses; Pollution; Transgression; Trespass; Wickedness

Answer 10

Doing anything against the preachings of Jesus. I'm not going to spend all day typing all this out because I'm at work. I'm doing the leg work. YOU read and look it up - *gasp* you may learn something