Here we look at the meaning of sin, the three kinds of sin, and how to overcome them.
Table of Contents
Meaning of Sin
The meaning of sin is that it is deliberate disobedience of God’s rules. According to Augustine of Hippo, transgression is any word, behavior, action or desire, which opposes God’s everlasting law. It is a violation of the law. Iniquity happens when a person deviates from the Supreme Being’s set path of life and breaches the Creator’s basic moral standards.
“It is fundamentally a restless refusal on the side of the creature to dwell in the domain and limitation in which the all-wise Creator placed him,” argues Lewis Sperry Chafer in Systematic Theology.
The meaning of sin is defined as “a lack of conformity to God’s character.” The only yardstick by which transgression can be measured is God’s holy character. Iniquity is diametrically opposed to God. We will never comprehend trespass unless we have a thorough understanding of God’s character. Listening to what God has to say about Himself, as well as studying and meditating on His Word, is the only way to knowing the true nature of God.
The meaning of sin is failing to satisfy God’s requirement of living virtuously. The meaning of sin is not only faltering to meet our Creator’s commandment but also working against our own best interests by participating in immoral behavior. The meaning of sin is to fall short of the full potential that the Absolute Being has given us and miss the mark of our finest self and life quality.
Failure to do what is right is a form of iniquity. Transgression offends people because it involves brutality and insensitiveness toward others, as well as disobedience against God. The meaning of sin is described in the Scriptures as a condition where a person’s heart has been perverted and is prone to wickedness.
Seriousness of Transgression
Again, hearing God’s appraisal is the only way humans can comprehend how terrible iniquity is. Because sin is so awful, angels who have sinned will never be able to escape the Lake of Fire. Because transgression is so dreadful, Adam and Eve’s single deed resulted in the deterioration, corruption, and immeasurable suffering of all humanity. Because trespass is so vile and offensive, the sinless Only Begotten Son of God endured an unlimited amount of suffering on the cross to save all humanity.
The Three Types of Transgressions (Meaning of Sin)
There are three types of sin that all people must cope with:
Imputed Sin: This refers to the guilt imputed by Adam to all of his descendants (Romans 5:12). Every member of the human species is born spiritually dead and under condemnation due to imputed sin (John 3:17).
Inherent Sin: This refers to the sinful nature that every human being inherits from his/her parents (John 3:6; Galatians 5:17). Our innate talents and weaknesses, like our physical qualities, are a blend of our parents’ characteristics. Sin natures are as unique as fingerprints, with no two being alike.
Personal Sin: This refers to the external proof that everyone has a sinful nature, which is the result of the decisions we make on this Earth (Romans 3:23). Personal sin is what the Bible frequently refers to as “sins.” Our thoughts, words, and actions are the three ways we commit iniquity.
The Solution
God, on the other hand, has offered a solution. Jesus Christ became sin for all humanity on the cross so that those who believe in Him can become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). All humans have now the chance to be set free from transgressions and their consequences since our Savior suffered all the condemnation reserved for us. However, that liberty is contingent on a decision.
Adam, who was free in the Garden of Eden, beheld the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and, knowing what would happen if he ate from it, chose to do so. The outcome was death. We, who are no longer alive in Adam, are standing in front of another tree. We can gaze at the cross of Calvary and decide whether or not to take part in it, understanding the consequences. Life and liberty will be the result if we choose to take part in the mission of Jesus Christ.
The cross provides the answer to all three types of sin:
Imputed Sin: The fact that we are in Christ at the moment of salvation takes care of imputed sin. We were sinful in Adam, but now we are recognized as innocent in Christ. “For just as everyone dies in Adam, so everyone will be brought alive in Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22; Romans 4:22–24; Philippians 3:9).
Inherent Sin: It is addressed by the fact that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are given a new nature, a sinless spirit. “Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Personal Sin: The truth that Jesus Christ paid for every sin ever committed deals with personal sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:6). Because He paid the punishment for all our trespasses, we can confess and be forgiven when we commit transgressions and break our relationship with God Almighty (1 John 1:9; Ephesians 5:18).
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