Depart From ME! CH.1 Sin:

A message to Believers…

Romans 5:19 (NASB) For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

In this verse, the “one man” who disobeyed refers to Adam, whose sin led to the fall of humanity. The “one man” who obeyed refers to Jesus Christ, whose obedience and sacrifice bring righteousness to those who believe in Him..

What is Sin?

In Hebrew, the word most commonly used for “sin” is חַטָּאָה (chatta’ah or chet), which literally means “to miss the mark.” This concept comes from archery, where missing the target signifies failing to meet a standard or goal. In a spiritual sense, it refers to failing to live according to God’s commandments or falling short of His moral expectations.

Another important Hebrew word related to sin is פֶּשַׁע (pesha), which often signifies “transgression” or “rebellion” against authority, particularly against God’s covenant.

Finally, there’s עָוֹן (avon), which is often translated as “iniquity” and refers to a more deliberate or twisted moral wrongdoing, often with consequences that follow the sinner.

These distinctions illustrate that in Hebrew thought, sin isn’t just a “bad deed”; it is seen as a deviation from God’s will, whether intentional or unintentional.

In Greek, the word most commonly translated as “sin” is ἁμαρτία (hamartia). It carries a similar meaning to the Hebrew word, signifying “missing the mark” or “falling short.” The term was originally used in contexts like archery to describe an arrow that failed to hit the target, but in biblical usage, it refers to falling short of God’s standards or deviating from His will.

Another Greek term related to sin is παραπτωμα (paraptoma), which means “trespass” or “offense.” It implies a deliberate crossing of boundaries or breaking of rules, often in moral or ethical contexts.

Additionally, ἀνομία (anomia) translates to “lawlessness” and is used to describe actions that reject God’s law or defy His authority.

These definitions emphasize the idea of sin as either a failure to meet divine expectations or a deliberate rebellion against them.

One could say Sin is the literal falling short of the glory (state) of God. This physical and spiritual state of glory was Adam and Eve’s original state before they partook of the tree of knowledge of Good and evil. They were basking in glory and power if you will. Divine power at that. They had authority, presence, and radiance, so on and so forth. When Adam and Eve fell, when they sinned against God, not only did they partake in the action of sin, but they themselves fell physically and spiritually into a state of sin. Because they now fell short of the glory (state) of God, they just didn’t sin, they literally became it. This is how they are able to pass down sin genetically to their offspring. This is how we are born into sin, because we in our imperfect bodies and our unglorified physical and spiritual form fall short of this state of God. The glory of God. We are in an indefinite physical, spiritual state of sin when we enter into this Earth. Sin isn’t necessarily something you do. It’s what we are. We are in a physical and spiritual state of sin. As beings of sin, we commit sin. An interesting way to put it Is as beings who are not in the state of God do things that fall short of that state of God.

Romans 6:23 (NASB) For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This verse carries a significant theological message.
Wages of Sin: The term “wages” suggests something earned or deserved. In this context, “sin” represents disobedience or separation from God. The result of sin is “death,” which is often interpreted as both physical death and eternal spiritual separation from God.

Gracious Gift of God: In contrast to the “wages” earned by sin, eternal life is described as a gift, underscoring that it is not something humans can earn through their actions. It is freely given through God’s grace, made possible by faith in Jesus Christ.

This verse highlights the stark difference between the consequences of sin and the hope offered through God’s mercy and love.

Jesus died for your sins?

Jesus Christ wasn’t a sacrificial lamb and a blood offering to the Father because you lied to your mom the other day. He was sacrificed to restore our unwillingly inherited, unsolicited, physical and spiritual state of being. That indefinitely misses the mark as well as falls short of the glory of God. To reconcile a fallen creation back to a state of glory and to the Father from their current state of being. This state of being…..is called Sin.

It is imperative and critical that believers understand their current physical and spiritual state of being. Though as believers, spiritually we have been redeemed, but physically we are still in a state of sin. This is why it is extremely important that we do not judge others lest we be judged. On a technical level, we are all on the same page and deserving of death and separation from God from the start of the womb. In a sense, it doesn’t matter who committed what sins when we are ALL currently in a state of sin. A believer in a physical state of sin cannot call out another of their sins. They invite judgment upon themselves when they do so.

Matthew 7:1 (NASB) “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.” -Jesus Christ-

This is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and is often quoted in discussions about judgment and personal behavior. Jesus is cautioning against a critical and condemning attitude toward others. The message is not necessarily about refraining from all judgment, but rather about avoiding hypocritical or harsh judgment. In the verses that follow (Matthew 7:2-5), Jesus explains that the standard by which one judges others will also be used to judge them, emphasizing self-awareness and humility.

It would behoove believers to take these truths into full account in their daily walk of life. To know that no one is better than someone else and that we all are in a state of physical sin. Though we have been spiritually redeemed, we still have not received our glorified bodies. Therefore, we are still creatures of sin and are not free to pass judgment unto fellow believers and non-believers alike.