The Definition of Sin
“for sin is the transgression of the law”
1 John 3:4
Sin is the breaking of God’s law. But what is the law? The law is God’s commandments. “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments” (Proverbs 3:1). And what are God’s commandments? Jesus answers: “if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 19: 17-19).
The Ten Commandments are God’s moral law (Exodus 20:3-17). God formulated these laws to guide men, to enable them to enjoy life fully, to protect them from evil, and to preserve them from harm. “Happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18).
But you cannot be justified or saved by keeping the law. It is absolutely impossible. “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” (Romans 3:20). The law only points out our sin. We get saved only by faith in the Lord Jesus. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
In James 1:23-25, our lives are compared to a mirror. When we look into the law of God, we see spots on the character, but the law of God does absolutely nothing about cleaning those spots. It takes the blood of the Lord Jesus to cleanse us from sin (Galatians 3:24).
God’s Victory Over Sin
Further, God gives mankind all the necessary grace and strength to be able to keep His law and not sin (2 Peter 1:4). Christ came to restore that which was lost, and the Christian may therefore expect to have the divine image restored in his soul (2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 3:14).
This possibility is the believer’s goal to stimulate him to overcome sin (Philippians 4:13). The believer will reaches to this goal to the extent that he accepts and uses the powers in the spiritual gifts Christ has made available to him. The transformation begins at the new birth and continues until Christ’s appearing by God’s grace (1 John 3:2).
Through God’s grace and power, Christians become “more than conquerors through him” (Romans 8:37). For this they will proclaim, “thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). And they will give praise and glory to God throughout eternity (Revelation 5:11–13; 15:3, 4; 19:5, 6).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
