Sin
Definition:
1. The Meaning of Sin in Christianity
In the Bible, sin (Hebrew: ḥaṭṭā’th, Greek: hamartia) literally means “to miss the mark” — as an archer misses the target.
So sin, at its core, is failing to live according to God’s perfect design of love, truth, and holiness.
But it’s more than moral failure — it’s relational. Sin breaks communion with God. It distorts what it means to be human.
“Sin is not only the breaking of God’s law but the breaking of His heart.”
— Adrian Rogers
2. Biblical Understanding
Old Testament
Sin is rebellion against God’s will (Isaiah 1:2).
It’s a failure to love justice, mercy, and humility (Micah 6:8).
It is both individual and collective — entire nations can sin through injustice and idolatry.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” — Isaiah 53:6
New Testament
The New Testament deepens this: sin is not only actions, but a state of the heart.
Jesus teaches that sin begins in desire and intention (Matthew 5:27–28).
Paul describes sin as a power — something that enslaves humanity (Romans 6:6–14).
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23
Sin is therefore universal, inward, and spiritual — not just outward wrongdoing.
3. The Theological Core: Sin as Separation and Self-Centeredness
Christian thinkers across the centuries agree: sin is fundamentally separation from God, caused by self-centeredness.
St. Augustine (354–430 AD)
“Sin is love turned in on itself.” (Incurvatus in se)
Augustine taught that sin is disordered love — loving things, or self, more than God. When human beings turn inward and make themselves the centre, their relationship with God and others collapses.
For Augustine, this condition (original sin) is inherited — humanity’s bent will comes from the Fall (Genesis 3). We need divine grace to be healed.
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)
“Sin is nothing else than a morally bad act.” (Summa Theologica, I-II, Q.71)
Aquinas saw sin as the misuse of free will — a deliberate choice of a lesser good over the highest good (God).
He emphasizes reason: when we choose wrongly, we act against the order of reason and divine law.
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
“Sin is essentially a departure from God’s Word.”
Luther stressed that sin is unbelief — the failure to trust God. Outward disobedience is only the symptom; the root is a heart that doubts God’s goodness.
For Luther, faith is the opposite of sin because it re-centres trust on God rather than self.
John Calvin (1509–1564)
“The human heart is a perpetual factory of idols.” (Institutes of the Christian Religion)
Calvin defined sin as idolatry — putting anything in the place of God.
He saw sin as a pervasive corruption of the human will, intellect, and emotion — everything is touched by it. This is the doctrine of total depravity: not that humans are utterly evil, but that sin affects every part of human nature.
C.S. Lewis (1898–1963)
“We are not merely imperfect creatures who must be improved; we are rebels who must lay down our arms.” (Mere Christianity)
Lewis paints sin as rebellion — a refusal to submit to divine order. He also said:
“The moment you have a self at all, there is the possibility of putting yourself first—wanting to be the centre—wanting to be God.”
Sin, for Lewis, is self-idolatry — the inward turning of the soul away from love.
Karl Barth (1886–1968)
“Sin is the contradiction of the grace of God.” (Church Dogmatics)
Barth viewed sin in relational and theological terms: sin is humanity’s “No” to God’s “Yes.”
It’s the refusal to live as the creatures we were made to be — the denial of our true identity in God.
John Piper (Contemporary Theologian)
“Sin is what you do when your heart is not satisfied with God.”
Piper defines sin as misplaced desire — finding more pleasure in created things than in the Creator. This echoes Augustine’s idea of disordered love.
4. Sin as Condition and Action
Christianity distinguishes between:
Sin as condition (original sin): The inward brokenness of human nature inherited from Adam.
Sins as actions (personal sins): The outward expressions of that brokenness in thought, word, or deed.
The condition gives rise to the actions, and both separate us from God — but both are healed through repentance and grace.
5. Modern Reflections on Sin
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945):
“The essence of sin is man’s flight from responsibility.”
Sin, he said, is evasion — refusing to live truthfully before God and neighbour.
N.T. Wright (Contemporary theologian):
“Sin is the failure to be genuinely human, the failure to reflect the image of God.”
For Wright, sin is not just moral failure but the distortion of the divine image in us — a betrayal of vocation.
Graham Cooke:
“Sin doesn’t define who you are — it distorts how you see yourself.”
He reframes sin as identity confusion — forgetting who we are in Christ.
6. The Remedy: Grace and Restoration
Christianity doesn’t leave sin as the final word. The gospel declares that sin has been overcome through Christ:
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8
Forgiveness and transformation are possible not by human effort, but through God’s grace — which heals the broken relationship and restores the image of God in us.
7. Summary
In short:
Sin is humanity’s turning away from God to self — and salvation is God’s turning toward humanity to save.
Biblical Imagery & Metaphors:
• Darkness that hides the light.
• A sickness of the soul.
• A stain that cannot be washed by our own effort.
In Daily Faith:
We all carry sin, but we are not defined by it; repentance is the bridge back to the light.
In Daily Life: Understanding Sin and Living in Light of Grace
Sin is not just a theological concept or a list of moral failures. It’s the condition of the human heart that causes us to turn away from God and to center our lives on self. Recognizing sin’s presence in our lives is crucial for understanding our need for grace, but equally important is knowing that God offers forgiveness and restoration through Jesus Christ. In everyday life, living with an awareness of sin, grace, and repentance allows us to stay in right relationship with God and others.
1. Sin in Relationships — Brokenness and Self-Centeredness
Sin in our relationships often takes the form of selfishness, pride, and unforgiveness. We turn inward, valuing our own desires over the needs of others. In marriage, friendships, or family life, sin leads to misunderstanding, hurt, and conflict. Yet, recognizing our part in these struggles, and seeking forgiveness, is the first step toward healing.
Matthew 5:23–24
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Daily practice:
In times of conflict, examine your own heart. Ask, “How have I contributed to this situation?”
Confess your sin of selfishness or pride before God and seek reconciliation with others.
Understand that repentance and humility are keys to restoring relationships.
2. Sin and Identity — Finding Our True Self in Christ
Sin distorts how we see ourselves. We are tempted to define our worth by our actions, our achievements, or the approval of others. But the gospel reminds us that we are God’s beloved children, defined by His love, not by our failures. When we sin, it’s easy to forget our true identity in Christ, but repentance brings us back to the truth that we are forgiven and redeemed.
Romans 3:23–24
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Daily practice:
When you sin, remind yourself that your identity is not in your failures, but in the righteousness of Christ.
Regularly meditate on God’s grace and forgiveness as the foundation of your self-worth.
Challenge lies about your identity with the truth that you are loved and forgiven by God.
3. Sin in the World — A Call to Justice and Compassion
Sin is not only individual; it affects communities and the world at large. Systems of injustice, inequality, and violence are all manifestations of sin at a collective level. As believers, we are called to address these issues not only with words but with action, embodying the mercy and justice of God.
Isaiah 1:17
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
Daily practice:
Examine the world around you and consider where sin has created brokenness—whether in your community, your nation, or the global stage.
Advocate for the marginalized and oppressed, seeking justice in practical ways.
Remember that sin affects all of creation, and the gospel calls us to bring healing and justice wherever we can.
4. Sin and Temptation — Recognizing the Subtle Pull of Self-Centeredness
Sin begins in the heart with temptation, and it often manifests in desires that are misdirected or self-serving. Temptation can pull us toward things like greed, lust, or envy, leading us away from God’s will.
But God does not leave us to fight temptation alone—He offers strength and grace to resist.
James 1:14–15
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
Daily practice:
Recognize areas of temptation in your life and take proactive steps to avoid situations where you are vulnerable to sin.
When tempted, stop and pray for strength to resist, remembering that God provides a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Lean on the support of other believers, who can help you stand firm in faith.
5. Sin and Repentance — Returning to God’s Grace
Repentance is the key to restoring our relationship with God after sin. It’s not just feeling guilty; it’s turning away from our self-centeredness and returning to God. True repentance is a change of heart and mind that leads to a transformed life. It’s a continual practice, not a one-time event, and it’s the path to healing and restoration.
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Daily practice:
Regularly examine your heart and confess any sin that has crept in.
Ask God for the grace to turn away from self-centeredness and return to His love.
Remember that God’s mercy is always available, and there is no sin too great to be forgiven.
6. Sin and Grace — Living in Freedom from Condemnation
Sin does not define us, nor does it determine our future. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, and grace reigns over our lives. While sin leads to death, grace leads to life. This truth empowers us to live with hope, knowing that God’s love is greater than our failures.
Romans 5:20–21
“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Daily practice:
Embrace the freedom that grace brings, knowing that you are not condemned by your sins but forgiven in Christ.
Let grace empower you to live in victory over sin, not by your own strength but by God’s transformative power.
Be intentional about extending grace to others, knowing that you too have received unmerited favour.
7. Sin and the Christian Community — Encouraging Each Other in the Gospel
As believers, we are not meant to walk alone in the battle against sin. The church is a community of sinners saved by grace, and we are called to encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and support each other in our journey of faith. When one member of the body struggles, the whole body is affected, and when one repents, the whole body rejoices.
Galatians 6:1–2
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Daily practice:
Encourage fellow believers in their struggles with sin, offering support and accountability.
Confess your own sins to trusted friends in the church who can help you walk in repentance.
Rejoice together in the grace of God and pray for each other’s growth in holiness.
Encouragement to Live in the Light of Grace
Sin is a universal reality, but it is not the end of the story. The gospel offers us forgiveness, freedom, and restoration through Jesus Christ. By regularly confessing our sins, receiving God’s grace, and walking in the light of His love, we can live victorious lives that reflect His mercy and righteousness.
As we grow in awareness of our sin, let us also grow in awareness of God’s grace, which is sufficient for all our weaknesses. The Christian life is not about perfection but about repentance and restoration. By God’s grace, we are continually transformed into the image of Christ, free from the power of sin.
Scripture References:
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
“‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord.
‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’”
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”