An Introduction to the Concept of Sin

In Chinese, “sin” typically refers to a criminal act. However, the Hebrew and Greek words translated as “sin” in the Bible originally mean “to miss the mark” or “to fall short of the standard.” A person falls short of God’s standard, and this is what the Bible calls sin. The essence of sin is lawlessness, disobedience, and unrighteousness. “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). In relation to the law, we must distinguish between our sinful nature and our sinful acts. We must also differentiate between the “sin we inherit” and the “sins we commit.”

1. The sin we inherit is passed down from our first ancestor, Adam, and is called original sin. Through natural procreation, Adam passed his sinful mind and body to his descendants, so no one can perfectly meet God’s standard. (Christ is the exception here, as He was not born through natural procreation.)
   
2. The other kind of sin is what a person commits in thought, word, or deed, and it is called personal sin. Original sin gives rise to all kinds of personal sins. This is confirmed in James 1:14-15: “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.” Since a person’s desire lures and entices them, causing them to sin, the desire itself is also a sin.
   

If a person’s heart has no desire to be united with God and the life of Christ, and they do not seek or long for this union and have no resistance to sin, then sin has a powerful hold over them. From a carnal perspective, this state of mind gives rise to wicked thoughts like jealousy, greed, lust, rebellion, unrighteousness, and ambition. A person without Christ has no God (Ephesians 2:12) and is “dead in the trespasses and sins.”

When believers are united with Christ through faith, sin no longer has power over them. This union causes believers to have an inner resistance to and hatred of sin’s nature. This attitude involves not only a believer’s external actions but specifically targets the feelings in their heart. Because of this union with God, the inner resistance to and hatred of sin are transformed into an active fight against sin in their daily life. Sometimes they are victorious, and other times they are overcome by a particular sin. Because they fear being overcome by sin, they strive to be careful and find ways to avoid any opportunity to sin. They are constantly resolved to fight against sin, praying for God to give them strength and a desire to be fortified. This is the process of sanctification that believers undergo through faith in Jesus Christ.

The almighty God, who is true, good, and beautiful, created the universe. Our first ancestors, Adam and Eve, rebelled against God and fell into sin. Sin entered the world through one man, and all people have sinned. The result of sin is death, and after death comes judgment. God loves us and gave His one and only Son, Jesus, to us. Christ became incarnate and came into the world. He took our sins upon Himself, died on the cross in our place, and completed the work of salvation. After His death, He was buried, and on the third day, God raised Him from the dead. He returned to heaven and will come again to execute judgment. Jesus Christ is the only Savior for humanity. When we confess our sins, repent, believe in Jesus, and accept Him as our Savior, we can be reconciled with God, be freed from sin and death, and enjoy eternal life.

The Bible records:

[Psalm 51:2-3] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

[John 8:34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

[Romans 5:12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.