What is the essence of sin?

[Clay]

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sin​

What, then, is the essence of sin? Sin has three chief aspects: breach of law, violation of relationships with people and things protected by the law, and rebellion against God. The essence of sin, therefore, is not a substance but a relationship of opposition. Sin opposes God's law and his created beings. Sin hates rather than loves, it doubts or contradicts rather than trusts and affirms, it harms and abuses rather than helps and respects.

But sin is also a condition. The Bible teaches that there are lies and liars, sins and sinners. People can be "filled" (meaning "controlled") by hypocrisy and lawlessness ( Matt 23:28 ). God "gives some over to sin, " allowing them to wallow in every kind of wickedness ( Rom 1:18-32 ). Paul, speaking of the time before their conversion, told the Ephesians, "You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live" ( 2:1-2 ).

What is Sin? Biblical Meaning and Definition

Sin includes a failure to do what is right. But sin also offends people; it is violence and lovelessness toward other people, and ultimately, rebellion against God. Further, the Bible teaches that sin involves a condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined toward evil. The concept of...

www.biblestudytools.com

 

[Ahar]

When Adam sinned, he brought spiritual and physical death on the human race. All die—rich or poor, strong or weak, young or old, schooled or unschooled—“it is appointed unto men once to die” Hebrews. 9:27

Death reigned from Adam to Moses though individual guilt, because sin had not yet been imputed to mankind. People were not held individually accountable for their sins, because the law had not been given imputing personal guilt.

[To be sure] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men’s account where there is no law [to transgress].
Romans. 5:13

Because everyone dies, it is evident that everyone must possess a sin nature inherited through Adam.

Scripture bears testimony to that fact: “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”Genesis 6:5

“there is none that doeth good, no, not one”Psalms 14:3

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked”Jeremiah 17:9

Mankind became conscious of personal sin, with its accompanying guilt and consequences, when the law was given: “for by the law is the knowledge of sin” Romans 3:20

What then do we conclude? Is the Law identical with sin? Certainly not! Nevertheless, if it had not been for the Law, I should not have recognized sin or have known its meaning. [For instance] I would not have known about covetousness [would have had no consciousness of sin or sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, You shall not covet and have an evil desire [for one thing and another].
Romans. 7:7

Although God established personal responsibility for sin through the law, He also provided an offering for that sin. Naturally, the sin offering was established to atone for a person’s sin, but it taught people the seriousness of sin—the need for repentance and the consequences that unrepented sin would bring. Plus It foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah.

 

[civic]

Death is the result or consequence of sin, not a sinful inherited nature. Death is what resulted and like mentioned mans relationship with God was different from that point forward. One is not guilty of any sin until they are capable of sinning against God.

 

[Dizerner]

"The soul that sins shall die."

Since babies die, to protect a self-righteous theology, many have to deny death is a punishment for sin and try to use the softening language of mere "consequence."

But Scripture clearly tells us:

He shall not die for the iniquity of his father; He shall surely live! (Ezek. 18:17 NKJ)

Therefore, logically, babies cannot be dying for the iniquity of their father.

If they were born sinless, they must be born immortal, because they "shall surely live."

Basic logic dictates, they must therefore in some sense be inherently sinful.

"The wages of sin is death."

 

[Soyeong]

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sin​

What, then, is the essence of sin? Sin has three chief aspects: breach of law, violation of relationships with people and things protected by the law, and rebellion against God. The essence of sin, therefore, is not a substance but a relationship of opposition. Sin opposes God's law and his created beings. Sin hates rather than loves, it doubts or contradicts rather than trusts and affirms, it harms and abuses rather than helps and respects.

But sin is also a condition. The Bible teaches that there are lies and liars, sins and sinners. People can be "filled" (meaning "controlled") by hypocrisy and lawlessness ( Matt 23:28 ). God "gives some over to sin, " allowing them to wallow in every kind of wickedness ( Rom 1:18-32 ). Paul, speaking of the time before their conversion, told the Ephesians, "You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live" ( 2:1-2 ).

What is Sin? Biblical Meaning and Definition

Sin includes a failure to do what is right. But sin also offends people; it is violence and lovelessness toward other people, and ultimately, rebellion against God. Further, the Bible teaches that sin involves a condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined toward evil. The concept of...

www.biblestudytools.com

Character traits like holiness, righteousness, goodness, justice, mercifulness, faithfulness, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control are aspects that are in accordance with God's eternal nature while sin is what is contrary to God's eternal nature, such as with unrighteousness being sin. God's eternal law was given as a gift to teach us how to correctly divide between the way to express, know, worship, love, believe in, and testify about aspects of His eternal nature, which leads to eternal life, and to the way to do what is contrary to God's eternal nature, which leads to death, and which is why sin is the transgression of God's law. Likewise, God's law teaches us the right way to have a relationship with Him and our neighbor through acting in accordance with His nature.

 

[civic]

"The soul that sins shall die."

Since babies die, to protect a self-righteous theology, many have to deny death is a punishment for sin and try to use the softening language of mere "consequence."

But Scripture clearly tells us:

He shall not die for the iniquity of his father; He shall surely live! (Ezek. 18:17 NKJ)

Therefore, logically, babies cannot be dying for the iniquity of their father.

If they were born sinless, they must be born immortal, because they "shall surely live."

Basic logic dictates, they must therefore in some sense be inherently sinful.

"The wages of sin is death."

conflating again. Sin results in death since all die.

guilt of sin is different, one is not guilty of sin until the commit a sin.

your augustianian/pagan, greek and gnsotic philosophy is showing again,

babies are not guilt of sin but like all living things since the fall die.

one can die as a consequence of adams sin ( taught in the bible) without being guilty of personal sin.(taught in the bible )

 

[TibiasDad]

conflating again. Sin results in death since all die.

guilt of sin is different, one is not guilty of sin until the commit a sin.

your augustianian/pagan, greek and gnsotic philosophy is showing again,

babies are not guilt of sin but like all living things since the fall die.

one can die as a consequence of adams sin ( taught in the bible) without being guilty of personal sin.(taught in the bible )

We are born into a race of beings who are separated from relationship with God by means of our first Father’s sin. Being so separated and thus unprotected by the Spirit’s direct presence in our hearts, the presence of sin as an active power controls us from birth, insomuch that, apart from God’s direct influence and grace, we cannot ultimately overcome it, and this will eventually sin.

I do not believe that death, in the case of a baby in the physical sense, is because they have personally sinned, but rather that death, in at least its relatively quick occurrence compared to, say a sequoia, is the effect of Adam’s sin. We become personally liable for sin after we actually sin, but not until we become morally cognizant of what sin is and what our responsibility is relative to sin.

The death factor of sin is more importantly Spiritual in nature than physical. Personally, I think a good argument can be made for physical death to have been an eventual reality for man, but that is not a discussion for this thread, nor is it one that I necessarily think is right. I just think spiritual death should be the primary focus in terms of the result of sin.


Doug

 

[Seabass]

Rom 4:15
"Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."

1 Jn 3:4
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."

Rom 7:8-9 (see also 1 Cor 15:56)
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

The way the Bible defines, describes sin makes the idea of original sin impossible. For a person to be a sinner there;
1) must be a law per Rom 4:15
2) that law must be transgressed 1 Jn 3:4
3) law must be transgressed by an accountble person Rom 7:8-9

Nowhere does the Bible define sin as how one is innately born against his will apart from having transgressed any law. Or that sin is some kind of an abstract idea or substance as a virus that is unconditionally passed from person to person. Or that one person will be held accountable, responsible for the sins of another person (Eze 18:2-4) for each person is accountable for his own sins.

Eze 18:19-32 original sin implies the ways of the Lord are not equal in holding one person accountable for the sins of another.....
"Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."

By holding each person accountable for thier own sins, God's ways are equitable and fair.

"Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. (equitable and fair)

 

[Frank Russell]

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sin​

What, then, is the essence of sin? Sin has three chief aspects: breach of law, violation of relationships with people and things protected by the law, and rebellion against God. The essence of sin, therefore, is not a substance but a relationship of opposition. Sin opposes God's law and his created beings. Sin hates rather than loves, it doubts or contradicts rather than trusts and affirms, it harms and abuses rather than helps and respects.

But sin is also a condition. The Bible teaches that there are lies and liars, sins and sinners. People can be "filled" (meaning "controlled") by hypocrisy and lawlessness ( Matt 23:28 ). God "gives some over to sin, " allowing them to wallow in every kind of wickedness ( Rom 1:18-32 ). Paul, speaking of the time before their conversion, told the Ephesians, "You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live" ( 2:1-2 ).

What is Sin? Biblical Meaning and Definition

Sin includes a failure to do what is right. But sin also offends people; it is violence and lovelessness toward other people, and ultimately, rebellion against God. Further, the Bible teaches that sin involves a condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined toward evil. The concept of...

www.biblestudytools.com

I recall in Romans 7 Paul said, "it is no longer I who sin, but the sin within me"

This separates sin from creation.

Perhaps an important distinction since all was "very good" to God after creation was completed.

Sin is a byproduct like rust, corrosion, or erosion.

1st John instructs that confessing sin results in God forgiving and cleansing it.

 

[Behold]

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sin​

What, then, is the essence of sin?

Sin is rebellion against holiness., is one simple way to think of it..

"iniquity"..... started in the Heart and Mind of Lucifer, who LUSTED to be above God's Throne.

See that "lust"?

Lust is the nature of sin.

Sin, is all of this, being defined by the Law, as sin. So, if there was no Law then there is no Measure that can define it.

God gave the Law and Commandments, not to save us, but to REVEAL us, as ungodly, so that by this "seeing ourselves", as God sees us, we turn to God, through Christ so that God can forgive our sin, and rejoin us spiritually to Himself..

"In Christ'
"one with God'.

 

[Scott]

My take on what is sin.

In biblical terms, sin is often described as any action, thought, or attitude that opposes God’s will and commandments. The Hebrew word for sin, "chata," means to miss the mark, indicating a failure to live up to God’s standards

The Greek word "hamartia" carries a similar meaning, emphasizing the idea of falling short of God's glory

Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

 

[Jim]

When Adam sinned, he brought spiritual and physical death on the human race.

When Adam sinned, he brought spiritual death upon himself, no more and no less.

 

[Jim]

Basic logic dictates, they must therefore in some sense be inherently sinful.

Basic logic dictates that physical death must be an inherent feature of physical life. There is not a single physical thing in this entire physical universe that was created to be eternal.

 

[TedT]

logic dictates that physical death must be an inherent feature of physical life. There is not a single physical thing in this entire physical universe that was created to be eternal.

Sorry I can't agree Jim, death is the wages for ( a consequence for) sin, not a consequence for life. In other words, only sinners live and die on earth...some never condemned for their sin and some damned already, Jn 3:18,but sinners all.

 

[Jim]

Sorry I can't agree Jim, death is the wages for ( a consequence for) sin, not a consequence for life. In other words, only sinners live and die on earth...some never condemned for their sin and some damned already, Jn 3:18,but sinners all.

So then tell me why did God put the tree of life in the Garden? It says in Genesis 3:22 that God ejected Adam and Eve from the Garden to keep them from eating of the fruit of the tree of life and living forever. If they were created to live forever, i.e., not die physically, then why the need for the tree of life in the Garden?

 

[Behold]

Its lust to have.

 

[Jim]

Its lust to have.

??????

 

[TedT]

So then tell me why did God put the tree of life in the Garden?

What is the tree of life? Can we access it and eternal life without Christ or is it Christ? How can any sinner reach out and eat of it and live forever without it being Christ?

I don't accept any commentators renderings of the verse and have little to offer about it.

Some side issues have been identified by:

Sin causes nakedness and blindness:
Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Having your eyes opened to your nakedness / sin is a good thing.

Gen 2:25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
with
Gen 3:7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked;
They were naked before they ate because eating is said to have opened their eyes to the sinfulness they had before eating but it did not provide them provide them with eternal life automatically which is only comes through Christ.

All the elect in Adam, ie, born into his line yet predestined to be saved were so born NOT to become sinners in him but to allow Christ to die once for all, not once for each elect sinner.

 

[Jim]

What is the tree of life?

You didn't answer the question, and the rest was just wandering around in the woods somewhere.

Can we access it and eternal life without Christ or is it Christ? How can any sinner reach out and eat of it and live forever without it being Christ?

I don't accept any commentators renderings of the verse and have little to offer about it.

Some side issues have been identified by:

Sin causes nakedness and blindness:
Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Having your eyes opened to your nakedness / sin is a good thing.

Gen 2:25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.
with
Gen 3:7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked;
They were naked before they ate because eating is said to have opened their eyes to the sinfulness they had before eating but it did not provide them provide them with eternal life automatically which is only comes through Christ.

All the elect in Adam, ie, born into his line yet predestined to be saved were so born NOT to become sinners in him but to allow Christ to die once for all, not once for each elect sinner.

 

[TedT]

You didn't answer the question,

I don't accept any commentators renderings of the verse and have little to offer about it.