What is Sin?
What is sin? Though we often talk about it, we rarely define what it is. David asks God for forgiveness for his transgressions (51:1), iniquity (51:2), and sin (51:2). These three words describe the reality of sin.
Transgressions describe willful rebellious acts against God. You know the right thing to do and do not do it. It has the basic idea of “crossing the line.” When we cross the line of what is right and wrong (according to God’s word) we are in rebellion against God.
Iniquity describes going astray from the right way. It is following a twisted path instead of the path of life (Ps 16:11). This twisted or perverse life is a life lived apart from God and His Law. This crooked life influences those around you. The iniquity you sow can bear fruit in future generations (Ex 34:7).
Sin means to “miss the mark.” We were created for the glory of God, but sin causes us to fall short of that. It is any thought, desire, word, or action that is contrary to the Scriptures.
Our Creator has a right to call His creatures to live by His standard. We owe God our obedience. But because of our sin, we are indebted toward God with a debt that he can never pay. The penalty for this debt is eternal separation from God in Hell. Praise be to God that He did not leave us in this wretched state of sin. When we were dead in our transgressions, God made us alive in Christ and forgave us our sins (Col 2:13). He canceled out the debt we owed, nailing it to the cross of Jesus Christ (Col 2:14). It is by His grace alone that we are saved from our sins (Eph 2:4-5).
