Biblical definition of Sin:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Character Study:
Adam is the father of the human race, the first person made in God’s image and the first person to have an intimate relationship with God. When confronted by God, he blames Eve. Genesis 3:12 It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit and I ate it.”
Genesis 1:26-5:5; 1 Chronicles 1:1; Luke 3:38; Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 1 Timothy 2:13, 14
Eve – Genesis 3:20 Then the man – Adam – named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who lives.
Genesis 2:18 “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him’”
She was the first wife and mother. She had a special relationship with God and also displayed certain characteristics of God. She acted impulsively without first talking to God or Adam when tempted by Satan. As with Adam, when confronted, she blames the serpent.
Genesis 2:18-4:26
Adam and Eve are known as:
First husband and wife:
Adam was to obey and serve the LORD, and at God’s appointed time, He provided a wife for Adam in His way. Genesis 2:21-24
Their relationship with God:
Genesis 2:1-25 Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with the LORD. After God had created heaven and earth He planted a garden in Eden and there He placed Adam, who gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. God formed Eve from Adam’s rib, and He brought her to him.
Their sin:
Genesis 3:1-7 God had permitted them to eat from any tree in the garden. The only exception was that they were not to eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden; they must not touch it or they will die.
In verse one we see that the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals God had made. Satan tempts Eve by saying that she can eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden, assuring her that they will not die!
Their punishment:
Genesis 3:16-19 describes their punishment. They were banished from the Garden of Eden.
God then placed cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
What the Bible teaches us about sin:
Old Testament:
In the story of Cain and Abel Genesis 4:3-7, both Cain and Abel presented a gift to God. Cain’s was rejected and Abel’s was accepted. God questioned Cain about his anger and said to him that sin was crouching at the door, eager to control him, but he must not allow sin to be his master.
In Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21 Moses gives the people the instructions – The Ten Commandments – that were given to him by God. These Commandments were given to help the Israelites lead a life of holiness.
After Moses had given the Ten Commandments we read in Exodus 20:18-20 that the people heard thunder, a loud blast from the ram’s horn, saw flashes of lighting and smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. Moses reassures them to not be afraid. God wants them to fear Him and not sin.
When we read the Old Testament we see that the Israelites sinned over and over again – as individuals or as a nation.
Examples of Israelites breaking the Ten Commandments are:
1) Deuteronomy 5:6, 7 – First Commandment – To love only God
In 1 Kings 11:1-13, we see Solomon had many wives who turned his heart after other gods.
2) Deuteronomy 5:8-10 – Second Commandment – Make idols and bow down to them.
In Exodus 32:1-6 we read the people made a golden calf with the help of Aaron while Moses was up on the mountain with God.
3) Deuteronomy 2:11 – Third Commandment – Misusing the LORD’S name
In Leviticus 24:10-16 a son of an Israelite mother and Egyptian father was involved in a fight when he blasphemed the Name of the LORD with a curse. God said that those who blaspheme the name of the LORD must be put to death.
4) Deuteronomy 5:12-15 – Fourth Commandment – Observing the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Nehemiah 12:27-47 deals with the dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 13:15-22 deals with the purging of sin from the land. The people were buying and selling food and merchandise on the Sabbath day. The Sabbath was from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.
5) Deuteronomy 5:16 – Fifth Commandment – Honour your father and your mother.
Ezekiel 22:2-16 addresses the sins committed by the people. One of their sins was that they treated their father and mother with contempt.
6) Deuteronomy 5:17 – Sixth Commandment – You must not murder.
Abner was the commander-in-chief of Saul’s army. In a battle between Ishbosheth (Saul’s son), and Joab (David’s commander-in-chief), Abner killed Joab’s brother, Asahel. Joab was determined to avenge his brother.
In 2 Samuel 2:20-23 and in 2 Samuel 3:22-27– Joab murders Abner
7) Deuteronomy 5:18 – Seventh Commandment – You must not commit adultery.
In 2 Samuel 11:1-5, we read the story of David and Bathsheba. In the spring of the year, he sent his army out to war, v2b However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. (NLT) Late one afternoon he got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace. He noticed Bathsheba taking a bath. He sends for her, sleeps with her and sends her back home.
8) Deuteronomy 5:19 – Eighth Commandment – You must not steal.
In Joshua 7:1-26 we read how the Israelites were defeated by the men of Ai. Achan took some of the devoted things for himself. The LORD’S anger burned against him and the LORD dealt with him.
9) Deuteronomy 7:20 – Ninth Commandment – You must not testify falsely against your neighbour
In 1 Kings 21:8-16, we see Ahab’s wife, Jezebel devised a scheme that appeared legal to get the land of Naboth which Ahab coveted. She had people falsely accuse him of cursing God and the king.
10) Deuteronomy 5:21 – Tenth Commandment – Do not covet.
In 1 Kings 21:1-7, Ahab coveted his neighbour, Naboth’s vineyard and became angry and sullen when Naboth would not sell him, his vineyard.
New Testament:
Luke 15:11-21– The Parable of the Lost Son.
In Luke 15:1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. The Pharisees and religious leaders complained that Jesus associated with “sinful” people. Jesus used a parable to illustrate a point: “Parable of the Lost Son” – the son realised his sin and went back to his father.
Romans 1:18-32 – God’s Anger at Sin
This passage deals with every kind of sin ever “invented” by people.
James 4:13-17 – Warning about Self-Confidence
v17 This verse tells us that it is sin to do wrong, but it is also sin by deliberately not doing the right thing i.e. It is a sin to lie, but it is also a sin to know the truth and not tell it.
1 John 1:8-10 – Living in the Light
In this passage, John addresses the false teaching that “people had no natural tendency to sin.” Because they had “no sin” they were incapable of sinning. John says that we are fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
2 Peter 2:17-22– False Teachers and Their Destruction
In this passage, Peter is warning the people about these false teachers.
In Matthew 24:11 and Mark 13:22, 23 Jesus told the disciples that “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect.”
Application:
Our definition of sin says: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (NLT)
As we saw in our study on prayer, we need to come to the Lord in faith, worship His Holy name and confess our sins.
The one thing we need to remember when we come to the Lord to confess our sins is that: He is all-seeing and all-knowing.
Psalm 139:1-6 says the Lord knows our v2(b)” thoughts from afar,” He knows what we are v4 “going to say before we have said it.”
We cannot hide our sins from the Lord.
We need to remember, it must not just be “lip service” when confessing our sins. It must be genuine!
The wonderful thing is that we can go directly to God asking for forgiveness. However, in the life of the church, we also need to confess our sins to each other. It might be to an individual, or it might affect the church itself, or we might be struggling with sin and need the support of our church leaders or fellow believers. James 5:16
It is so amazing that when we have confessed our sins to the Lord, He forgives us! Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9
See Proverbs 6:16-19
Conclusion:
Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; v12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. v13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;
Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 51:1-19 – Praying Our Sin.
This is a Psalm written by David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. With this psalm, we can express true repentance, especially after God’s amazing grace saved us from our past sins. There are times when we feel alienated from God and we know it is affecting our relationship with God. It helps to pray this psalm, asking God to cleanse us from within, and then renew a loyal spirit within us. We need to come to God with a “broken spirit” and a “repentant heart.”
(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)
Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: