WHAT IS SIN? DO BELIEVERS SIN?
By Ezekiel Kimosop
Sin is a transgression against God’s moral law taught in
Scripture. The first sin, also known as the original sin, was committed by Adam
and Eve in the Garden of Eden in violation of God’s express command (Genesis
2:16-17, 3:1-7). God judged and expelled the two from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:14-21, 24).
The succeeding generations of Adam’s offspring fell into sinful depravity
leading to God’s judgment through the flood of Noah (Genesis 6-8) and fire and
brimstone that fell on the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-29).
There are several other instances in Scripture that God punished people for
their transgressions.
The ten commandments outlined in Exodus 20 provide an
illustration of grievous violations that God forbade His covenant people from
committing. These include murder, adultery, uttering false witness against the
neighbor, and idolatry. The New Testament Scriptures outline several examples
of sins, including stealing, lying, fornication, adultery, hatred, envy,
uncleanliness, lewdness, idolatry, contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions, heresies, drunkenness, revelries and the like (Galatians
5:19-20). This list is illustrative rather than exhaustive. God is offended by
sin. Habakkuk 1:13 says “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot
look on wickedness…” (NKJV).
We learn from the Bible that believers are not immune to
sin. 1 John 1:8-10 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If
we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in
us” (NKJV).
The Greek verb for “confess” in v. 9 is in the present
tense, meaning that we should keep on confessing our sins. This is a continuing
duty for the believer. This text refutes the misguided notion of a
“once-for-all” forgiveness for sin at our conversion.[1]
Notice that God's forgiveness in this context is
conditional and is tied to the offender's action. Our confession of sin is
informed by our covenant relationship with God and our desire to maintain a
healthy relationship with our heavenly Father. Confession of sin is therefore a
natural response from the believer under the leading of the Holy Spirit (cf.
John 14:26).
Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6:9-15 reveals that we are daily
predisposed to sin. He teaches us to petition God to forgive us our trespasses
even as we forgive those who trespass against us (v. 12 ). Jesus’s
statement in Matthew 7:11 is instructive of our sinful nature.
Jesus alone was without sin in His incarnation (2
Corinthians 5:21). Unlike us, Jesus was both God and Man at the same time. His
divinity was not extinguished or obfuscated by His humanity. No other person,
not even Mary the mother of Jesus, was born sinless or led a sinless life on
earth.
Elsewhere in Scripture, we learn that it is impossible to
avoid situations that provoke our anger but we are obligated to manage our
wrath under those circumstances to avoid precipitating bitterness. The Bible
exhorts: “Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27, NKJV).
Habitual sinfulness or a lifestyle of sin and disobedience
is however condemned in Scripture. 1 John 3:9 says “Whoever has been born of
God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he
has been born of God” (NKJV). This Scripture text does not teach or imply that
a born-again Christian dwells in sinless perfection or that they cannot commit
sin. It has been hermeneutically understood as a condemnation of habitual
sinfulness.
Believers undergo sanctification in Christian obedience
throughout their lives on earth. To claim sinless perfection on earth is to
contradict the word of God. Charles Spurgeon posits: “If you say you have no
sin you have achieved a fearful success, you have put out your own eyes, and
perverted your own reason!”[2]
John Trapp observes the irony of a presumptive attitude
towards sin, saying “No man was ever kept out of God’s kingdom for his
confessed badness; many are for their supposed goodness”[3] What keeps sinners from God’s
forgiveness is their self-righteousness, pride, and self-justification.
We may sin through our ungodly thoughts, emotions,
prejudices, and acts of omission or commission. When we sin, we ought
to repent of our sin and seek forgiveness from God and from those we
have offended (Psalm 51:1-3; Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-20). We are also
commanded in Scripture to forgive those who offend us (Matthew 6:12-14).
Notice that Joseph forgave his brothers despite the pain and anguish that he
suffered in their hands as they sold him to the Ishmaelite slave caravan for
twenty shekels of silver (Genesis 37:12-36, 50:15-21)
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we can affirm that sin is a violation of
God’s commands in Scripture. It is a transgression against His divine law. Sin
cannot be purged unless it is confessed and atoned. Jesus came from heaven to deal with our sin when we were lost in sinful depravity (Romans 5:8). His
sinless blood that was shed at Calvary is the only means by which sin is
cleansed and the sinner restored to God. This blood is available for the
cleansing of our sins. The believer is therefore not immune to sin. We live in
a sinful and fallen world and only until we are ushered into the presence of
God in glory by Christ at His coming shall we be eternally separated from this
world of sin. We shall adorn glorified bodies and dwell in blissful heavenly
realms that are devoid of the stains of sin (Revelation 21- 22).
Meanwhile, we [believers] ought to daily confess our sins
to God and forgive those who sin against us. We need to maintain a clear
conscience before God. We should also submit to Christian sanctification and
obedience by daily abiding in God's word (Psalm 119:97-105; John 15:7).
© Ezekiel Kimosop 2024
[1] David Guzik, “Fellowship with God – Study Guide on 1
John 1”, in Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/1-john/1-john-1.cfm.
Accessed 13 May 2024 at 0952 GMT.
[2] Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The New Park Street
Pulpit Volumes 1-6 and The Metropolitan Tabernacle
Pulpit Volumes 7-63 (Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1990).
[3] John Trapp. A Commentary on the Old and New
Testaments. Volume 5 (Matthew to Revelation) (Eureka, California: Tanski
Publications, 1997).
Inspired by the teaching, thank you.
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ReplyDeleteFEEDBACK QUESTION
Delete///When one's sins are forgiven and has become a new creation in Jesus Christ, how is such a person still regarded a sinner? Still sinful? I believe every scripture has to be interpreted within its context.///
MY ATTEMPT
Thanks for the feedback. I do not recall stating anywhere in the article that believers are sinners. My view is that believers are not immune from sinful contamination on earth.
Scripture proclaims that that those that are in Christ are not under sinful condemnation (Romans 8:1-11). The blood of Jesus Christ has been applied against our sin in Adam and hence we are accepted in God's sight as His children.
Romans 1:1 states: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (NKJV).
This is the essence of our Christian justification in Christ Jesus. It is the foundation of assurance of our eternal hope in Christ. By this justification, Scripture proclaims that we are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) whose souls have been transformed by our adoption as members of God's family (John 1:12; cf. 1 Peter 2:9).
However, we continue to dwell in fallen sinful bodies in an evil world. Our inner man is redeemed and holy to God but our outer man is predisposed to sin.
The point is that this world is not an ideal environment for sinless perfection. We are therefore predisposed to sin in this world due to our mortal bodies - flesh and blood - and the sinful environment we dwell in.
This does not imply that believers should be construed as sinners in the manner that the rest of humanity outside Christ is! It simply means that we cannot attain sinless perfection on earth. My view is that this is what is contemplated in 1 John 1:8-10.
I hope this clarification is helpful.
E. Kimosop
LISTENING AND DOING BIBLICAL FORUM
A very informative piece. The King bless you, Rev. Kimosop.
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