Sin is not just the breaking of Sunday school do’s and don’ts. It is not the violating of some impersonal cosmic code of morality. Sin is a personal offense against the creator. It unravels and corrupts each aspect of creation…

1. Sin distorts the distinction between Creator and created. We put ourselves at the center of the universe and the center of the story. We attempt to be god, defining good and evil for ourselves. We deify creation, trying to turn created things into gods. (See Romans 1:25)
2. Sin erodes our awareness of life lived always before the face of God.
3. Sin corrupts the image of God in mankind and treats it with contempt.
4. Sin corrupts worship.
5. Sin spoils shalom.

Above abridged from Redemption by Mike Wilkerson

Have you ever struggled with sin? I don’t mean the commission or omission of sin, but the simple definition of sin. Is sin absolute or relative? If it is absolute, then why are things okay today that were not okay in our parents’ time? If sin is relative, then everything I have ever learned about good and evil is open to interpretation.
I am going to assert here that sin is absolute. You can take my word for it, or you can do some research on your own. If you decide to do the research, Romans might be a good placed to start.
But the question for today is; what is sin?
This is what I have always been told, “Sin is falling short of the Glory of God.” A good definition, perhaps, but one I cannot get my arms around. I cannot imagine the glory of God, so I am fairly sure I fall short on a regular basis, if not entirely, completely, hopelessly. So, I need to find a better definition.

Webster says about sin;
1      A. an offense against religious or moral law
        B. an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible (it’s a sin to waste food)
        C. an often serious shortcoming (fault)
2      A. transgression of the law of God
        B. a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God

Okay, reading Webster’s definitions, I’m guessing that the first set is the common world view, and the second set is the Judeo-Christian world view. 2. A is the act of sinning, 2. B is like we live in a fallen world and are born in sin, or born estranged from God.

What does God say about sin?

The first mention of the word “sin” I could find in the Bible is Genesis 4:7, when Cain offered a sacrifice that was unacceptable to God, and God said (starting in Gen 4:6 for continuity), “6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Sin is crouching at the door… Ominous thought. I can just imagine sin, in the form of a roaring lion, waiting for the opportunity to destroy me. Very much like the image in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. “
So, what is sin? There are sins that you commit.

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 1 Peter 3:4

And sins that are a result of doing nothing.

17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 3:17

The biggest sin is to reject Jesus, who came to save many.

I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3

However, if we repent, and accept the free gift of Jesus Christ, and follow Him, then we have Jesus Himself as our advocate when we do sin.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:1-6

So, we are sinners, and because we are sinners we sin. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are no longer slaves to sin, even though we still sin.

5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:5-7

Thank you for reading my ramblings,
God Bless,
Cliff