What is Sin?

BibleClinicMinistry

Lesson One: What is SIN?

Anchor Scripture:    1 John 3:4: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. [King James]

All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God’s order. [The Message]

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. [NIV]

Introduction:

No one can live a godly life without a correct understanding of what sin means. In this study, we examine what sin is or means. When you know what sin means, you will then understand what God wants. The power of sin is the law and the sting of death is sin.

A.      Sin is transgression of the law: Where there is no law, sin loses power.

God made a law in the Garden of Eden that man should eat of all trees in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil: Genesis 2: 15-17:  The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; ^but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

What law of God are you presently transgressing?---------------------------------Bow your head and ask God to forgive you.

Give examples in the Bible of how the following people transgressed or broke God’s law or instruction:

E1: Moses [Numbers 20: 8-12]--------------------------------------------------------------What do you learn from the apparent success (gushing out of water) in spite of transgression of God’s clear instruction?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E2: Children of Israel [Numbers 25: 1-9]----------------------------------------------------------What do you learn from the action of Phinehas? ------------------------------------------------------------

E3: Amnon [2 Samuel 13: 1-14]--------------------------------------------------------------------------

B.      Sin is disruption of order: When you are engaged in a course of action that will bring about confusion, destroy family harmony, and overthrow faith in God, you are sinning against God and society. Describe how the following people sinned:

·         Korah, Dathan, Abiram [Numbers 16: 1-3, 12-14]: --------------------------------------------

·         Absalom [2 Samuel 15: 1-5]:------------------------------------------------------------------------

·          Diotrephes [2 John 1: 9-11]-------------------------------------------------------------------------

C.      Sin is lawlessness: Taking the law in your hands and living as if you are accountable to no one, without restraint, and without law, is sin. “This is my life; I will do whatever I want,” is an attitude of sin. Describe how the following people lived defiantly and as outlaws:

·         Cain [Genesis 4: 3-9]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------What pushed Cain to become lawless?--------------------------------------------------------------------

·         Micah and his mother [Judges 17:1-13]-------------------------------------------------------How do you compare this with traditional or man-made religion in our day when people claim they can find God in their own way and on their own terms?-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

·         Unbelievers before receiving Jesus Christ as Lord [Ephesians 2:1-3, 11-12]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Do you live as if you were your own god?----------------------------------Pray now that God will have mercy on you and forgive your sins, and that Jesus Christ would come into your life now and become your Lord and Master.