What does it mean to sin?

What does it mean to sin?

December 12, 2010

Introduction

What does it mean to sin? In (Exo 9:27-30 NKJV) we have this statement: “And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. {28} "Entreat the LORD, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." {29} So Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord's. {30} "But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God."

We know from the reading of this text, that the consequences of sin are not fun, but is there a definition of sin? What does it really mean to sin? There are many ways that we might define sin, but I’d like to begin by looking at the dictionary definition of sin. We’ll look first at the Old Testament, and then at the New Testament. Since we have a different language, we want to look at the meaning of the word as used in both testaments.

Body

I. How do we define sin?

Let’s look at the Old Testament.

חטא châṭâ'

BDB Definition:

1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit,

1a1) to miss

1a2) to sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty

1a3) to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit

1c1) to miss the mark

Let’s look at the New Testament.

Thayer Definition: ἁμαρτάνω hamartanō

1) to be without a share in

2) to miss the mark

3) to err, be mistaken

4) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong

5) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin

II. How do people to miss the mark?

It’s easy to miss the mark by not putting God first.

This past week, I had a man work on our baptistery. He is one of our subcontractors, so I know him and the work he does, so I told him I didn’t expect him to do the work for nothing. He assured me that he wanted nothing, and that he would not charge for a work for the Lord. Friday, he came out to make the repairs, and he was excited. He said, Harley last night, I got a call from Cleburne from a man that wanted me to do six jobs for him. He just smiled and kinda laughed, and said, “You can’t out give God.”

1. This man hit the mark.

2. He gave to God, and he was rewarded for his faith.

Adam and Eve missed the mark and missed the Garden of Eden.

1. How did they miss the mark?

a. They failed to listen to the voice of God.

(Gen 2:16-17 NKJV) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; {17} "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

b. They listened to the devil’s lie.

(Gen 3:4-5 NKJV) Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. {5} "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

c. They used their own reasoning instead of God’s clear instructions.

(Gen 3:6 NKJV) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

2. They will miss their garden home.

(Gen 3:16-19 NKJV) To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." {17} Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. {18} Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. {19} In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."

3. They will miss their walk with God.

III. Today, how many lives have missed the mark?

Young people as they celebrate the rites of matrimony without assuming the responsibilities that go with it, but they pay a dear price.
A different word for sin might be called cheating.

1. Someone cheated on a husband or wife. – They missed the mark.

2. Someone cheated their children out of the love and attention they needed and deserved – They missed the mark.

3. Someone cheated on their take return – and may be paying a dear price.

God’s plan is the mark we need to hit.

1. Jesus summarized it like this:

(Mat 22:35-40 NKJV) Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, {36} "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" {37} Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' {38} "This is the first and great commandment. {39} "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' {40} "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

2. That’s the mark! Love God and love each other. Jesus put it another way:

(John 14:6 NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Conclusion

I. Sin is to miss the mark and mess up life.

II. Many times it others besides ourselves who are hurt by our sins.

III. Jesus has provided a way of having our sins forgiven, and to show us how to live.

Bible Study with Harley

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