The story of humanity in the Bible is mostly about people living in sin and going against God, and about God's plan to save us and bring us back to Him. So, it's important to understand what sin is and how it separates us from God.
What is Sin?
Sin means not following God's moral rules in what we do, think, or are. It's not just about actions like stealing or lying, but also about wrong attitudes and desires that God doesn't approve of. For example, the Ten Commandments tell us not to desire what belongs to others: "You shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife, servant, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17 NIV). This shows that even wanting to steal or commit adultery is a sin in God's eyes.
Sinful Attitudes
Jesus also talked about sinful attitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. He said that being angry (Matthew 5:22) or having lustful thoughts (Matthew 5:28) is sinful. Paul lists jealousy, anger, and selfishness as sinful attitudes (Galatians 5:20). To live a life that pleases God, we need to be morally pure in our actions and in our hearts.
The Greatest Commandment
The most important commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). This means our inner nature should also be aligned with God's law. Before accepting Christ, we were not just committing sins but were sinful by nature. Paul says, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) and "We were by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3). Even if an unbeliever isn't actively sinning while asleep, they still have a sinful nature in God's eyes.
The Seriousness of Sin
Sin is serious because it doesn't just hurt us and others but also goes against God's moral law. In God's perfect universe, sin is the opposite of His goodness and holiness. God loves all that is good and hates sin because it contradicts His perfect moral character.
Conclusion
Understanding sin helps us see why we need God's plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. It's not just about avoiding bad actions but transforming our hearts and minds to align with God's will. Sin separates us from God, but through Jesus, we can be restored to a right relationship with Him.
