Section 2: Will you go back to the Bible to understand sin?

    I.     How does the Bible define sin?                                                                                                             

          ·       Sin is a transgression of God’s law.

    1 John 3:4 4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

    James 2:10 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.    
    II.     How does the Bible define God’s law?

          ·       God’s Old Testament law was used to show man that he was a sinner and in need of 
                  forgiveness.

    Romans 3:20 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

    Hebrews 10:1-4 1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

          ·       Due to man’s failure to keep the first law (Old Testament) perfectly, a second law (New   
                  Testament) was needed for man so that we may have an opportunity to be forgiven of our 
                  sins.

    Hebrews 10:8-11 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;  9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

          ·       We are no longer judged by God’s Old Testament law because it has been fulfilled      
                  through Christ.


    Galatians 3:23-25 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

          ·       The Ten Commandments are included in God’s Old Testament law and the entire Old 
                  Testament is no longer used by God as a standard of judgment because Christ’s gospel  
                  completed its purpose.

    Deuteronomy 4:13; 5:21-22 13And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. 21Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's. 22These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

    Romans 7:4, 7 4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

    Matthew 5:17 17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

    Galatians 2:21 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

    Romans 10:4 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

          ·       The Old Testament law is now used for our learning and the New Testament law is now 
                  our standard for what is considered sin.

    Romans 15:4 4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

    1 Corinthians 10:11 11Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

    Galatians 6:2 2Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

    2 John 9 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.    
    III.     Is sin inherited?

          ·       Infants are not born with sin because sin is attributed to the one who sins.

    Ezekiel 18:20 20The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.    
    IV.     How is sin committed?

          ·       Sin is committed when one does that which God has prohibited.

    Genesis 3:3 3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

    Genesis 3:6 6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

    Genesis 3:17 17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;    
          ·       Sin is committed when one does NOT do that which God has commanded.

    Jonah 1:1-4 1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 4But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.    
          ·       Sin is committed when one does that which God has NOT commanded.

    Leviticus 10:1-2 1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them. 2And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah. (ASV)    
    V.     Who has sinned?

          ·       All accountable people that have reached an age of being able to reason have sinned 
                  against God (little children are not accountable).

    Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

    Romans 3:23 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;    
    VI.     What are the consequences of sin?

          ·       In order to go back to the Bible, one must understand that death and separation from God 
                  is a result of sin.

    Romans 6:23 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    Isaiah 59:2 2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.    
    VII.     Can sin be forgiven?

          ·       Jesus Christ is God’s gracious gift to man so that through Him man may have the 
                  opportunity to be forgiven of his sins.

    Romans 6:23 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    Hebrews 5:9 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;