What is Sin?

1. Read: 1 John 3:4

2. About the Text:

1) John’s letter concerns false teachers in the church who live sinfully.

2) “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4).

3) “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now” (1 John 2:9).

4) “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning” (1 John 3:8).

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. What does it mean?

1) The word that is translated “sin” is the Greek word “harmartia.”

2) It means “to miss the mark.”

3) John defines the word for us theologically in 1 John 3:4 – “Sin is lawlessness.”

4) This is the Greek word “anomia.”

5) It literally means “without law,” but is most commonly translated “iniquity.”

6) The word “iniquity” and “inequity” are very closely related.

7) Sin comprises unjust activities and actions.

2. Condemnation of lawlessness.

1) “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:23).

2) “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

3) “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42).

3. Redemption from Lawlessness

1) “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).

2) “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

3) “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered” (Romans 4:7).

1. The conscience is a regulator for right and wrong.

1) “who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them” (Romans 2:15).

2) “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:16).

2. We sin when we ignore the conscience deliberately.

1) “Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake” (Romans 13:5).

2) “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

3. If we continue to violate our conscience, then we risk grave consequences.

1) “But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ” (1 Corinthians 8:12).

2) “speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2).

3) “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled” (Titus 1:15).

1. When we know to do what is right, but we don’t do it.

1) “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

2) “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21).

2. This can be the sin of sloth.

1) “He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer” (Proverbs 18:9).

2) “not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

3. Hiding our talents.

1) “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed” (Matthew 25:26).

2) “The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway” (Proverbs 15:19).

1. What is sin?

1) Sin is Lawlessness

2) Sin is Violating One’s Conscience

3) Sin is Leaving Undone What Should Be Done

2. Invitation