What Is Sin?
We all agree no one is perfect. The Bible refers to that which keeps us from being perfect as sin. Sin is when we go against God's word or His law (1 John 3:4) and can occur in three ways:
1) Thought (1 John 3:15, Matthew 5:28)
2) Word (Matthew 5:22)
3) Deed (Romans 1:32)
We sin by either DOING what God forbids us to do or by NOT DOING what He
requires of us.
Because
God is just, He must deal with sin and "the wages of sin is death". But we have
hope because "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus out Lord" (Romans
6:23). Because God loved the world, He gave His only Son to die on the cross to
pay for our sins. Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal
life (John 3:16).
Critics
say that since God created everything He is responsible for creating sin. But
when God created the world everything He created was good (Genesis 1:31). God
did not create sin. He created us with free will so that men would have the
option to either follow Him or reject Him (Joshua 24:15). Sin came as a result
of Creation rebelling against their Creator (Genesis 3).
To hold God accountable for our sin would be like holding a parent accountable
for a crime his child committed. The parent created the child, but the child is
responsible for his or her own actions because the child has free will. In the
same way God created us, but we are responsible for our actions because we have
free will.
* For Further Study:
- How To Be Forgiven For Your Sins
http://www.biblestudyplanet.com/good.htm
- Did God Create Evil?
http://www.biblestudyplanet.com/q2.htm
- What The Bible Says About Sin
http://www.biblestudyplanet.com/say1.htm
- From Slaves To Sin To Slaves Of God
http://www.biblestudyplanet.com/s56.htm
- Can I Sin So Often That I Can’t Be Saved?