Sin
A study of what sin is, how it begins, how God's law identifies it, its consequences, repentance, forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and the Christian responsibility to resist and overcome it.
Sin is the transgression of God’s law –– the falling short or missing the mark of the character of Jesus Christ. Although the penalty for sin is death in the lake of fire, all sin can be completely forgiven by God who desires that all men be saved. God forgives sin upon the repentance of the individual who accepts the shed blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment in full for the penalty of his sins.
Understanding Sin, Repentance and Forgiveness
Sin is defined as the transgression of God's law and as unrighteousness. God's law identifies sin, while the law itself remains holy, just and good. Sin also involves falling short of God's way of life—the way of love, giving and outgoing concern.
The lesson expands the subject beyond outward violations of the commandments. Christ amplified God's law to include its spirit and intent. Sin can therefore involve actions, attitudes, motives, violations of conscience and sins of omission—knowing to do good and failing to do it.
The universal power of sin affects all mankind. Yet temptation itself is not sin. Jesus Christ was tempted and did not sin. James describes a process in which desire conceives and produces sin, and sin, when completed, brings forth death.
Sin separates man from God, damages character, blinds and deceives the mind, harms individuals and families, and ultimately carries the penalty of death. The lesson teaches that all sin is spiritually serious because every violation of God's law makes the individual a lawbreaker in need of God's mercy.
At the same time, the central New Testament message emphasized in this lesson is forgiveness. A repentant person who accepts the sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus Christ can be fully forgiven. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ and walking after the Spirit.
The lesson distinguishes weakness and temptation from the unpardonable sin. The unpardonable sin is associated with a hardened refusal to repent and rejection of God's forgiveness, rather than with an ordinary mistake or sin committed in weakness.
Repentance is described as a gift from God and as an ongoing part of the Christian life. As additional sins become recognized, the converted Christian continues to confess and repent. God's forgiveness is presented as loving and complete: He removes repented-of sin and does not continue holding it against the person.
Finally, the lesson places sin within the larger purpose of human life. God gives human beings free moral agency so they can make choices and develop righteous character. Through the bitter results of disobedience, mankind learns that rebellion against God's way leads to destruction, while God's forgiveness defeats Satan's effort to turn man away from his Creator.
The Biblical Framework of Sin
Sin Is the Transgression of God's Law
God's law makes sin identifiable. Sin also includes unrighteousness and falling short of God's way and character.
The Spirit and Intent of the Law
Christ's teaching expands obedience beyond outward behavior. Attitudes such as hatred, lust and self-righteousness can violate the spiritual intent of God's law.
Faith, Conscience and Omission
Romans 14:23 addresses actions contrary to one's faith and conscience, while James 4:17 identifies knowing to do good and failing to do it as sin.
Temptation Is Not Sin
Jesus was tempted yet remained without sin. Temptation must be resisted before desire develops into the process that produces sin.
Sin Brings Death and Separation
Sin harms people, deceives the mind and separates man from God. Its ultimate penalty is death.
Forgiveness Through Jesus Christ
Repentant sin can be completely forgiven through the sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Recognizing the Process
The combined lesson repeatedly presents sin, repentance and forgiveness as processes involving the mind, personal choices, God's law and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Temptation itself is not sin. Jesus experienced temptation. The Christian is to resist it rather than feel guilty simply because temptation exists.
James describes desire conceiving and giving birth to sin. Sin begins in the mind and develops through personal choice.
Sin violates God's law, its spiritual intent or the Christian's duty to do what he knows is right.
Recognition of sin is presented as a necessary step toward the solution. God's law helps reveal where a person has missed the mark.
Repentance is a gift from God and involves acknowledging sin, turning from it and seeking a changed life with Christ's help.
Through Christ's shed blood, genuinely repented-of sin can be forgiven and removed. The lesson encourages Christians to accept that forgiveness and not remain trapped in guilt over forgiven sin.
Read These Scriptures in Your Own Bible
These passages combine the Scripture summaries from both original parts of Lesson Twenty-One.
Questions
Part One and Part Two have been combined into one continuous 44-question review. All questions remain expanded; the answer key stays collapsed below.
Sin is the transgression of the ___ [what?]
God will gladly forgive sin...
- a) upon repentance
- b) acceptance of the shed blood of Christ
- c) baptism
- d) all of the above
Complete this verse from 1 John 5:17: “All ______________ is sin.”
From Romans 5:13 we learn that sin cannot be imputed where there is no ___ [what?].
By the law one can identify sin. True or False?
If one ultimately experiences the second death in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15), it will be because of…
- a) sin
- b) law
Christ came to do away with the law and commandments. True or False?
God defines His way of life by His law. True or False?
According to Romans 14:23, “Whatsoever is not of _____ is sin” [what?].
If a person believes in his or her mind that a certain action is a sin, even though it cannot be shown to be a sin in the Bible, then, to this person it is a sin. True or False?
Sins of omission are still sins. True or False?
Not helping the poor or needy when one is able to do so (in time, effort, or money), is a sin. True or False?
There is no condemnation to them in the Spirit (the Salvation Process). True or False?
Jesus Christ is our mediator and intercessor before God. True or False?
God knows that all of mankind will eventually repent of sin. True or False?
One who refuses to repent of sin or rejects God’s forgiveness of sins has committed the unpardonable sin. True or False?
God is not willing that any should perish. True or False?
According to Hebrews 9:22, there is no forgiveness of sin without the ________ of _____.
God’s forgiveness of sins defeats Satan’s plan to turn man from God. True or False?
Sin is the transgression of the ___ [what?]
Christ came to amplify the law of God to include the spirit and intent of the law. True or False?
According to amplified law, hating your brother is the moral equivalent of murder. True or False?
Probably the most insidious of sins is…
- a) murder
- b) adultery
- c) self righteousness
- d) covetousness
The power of sin is universal, permeating every nation, every race and every citizen. True or False?
Sincere recognition of sin in one’s life is the first step toward solving the problem. True or False?
When we experience temptation, this too is sin. True or False?
When we experience temptation, we should feel guilty. True or False?
Which of the following statements are true?
- a) Jesus experienced temptation
- b) sins don’t just happen but are the result of a process
- c) all sins begin with a thought
- d) sins result in the death of the sinner
- e) all statements are true
Spiritually speaking all sins are equal. True or False?
God originated sin to test man. True or False?
Sin originated in…
- a) God
- b) the world
- c) Satan
- d) man
Sin entered the world by…
- a) God
- b) Satan
- c) man
Sin can be …
- a) by commission
- b) by omission
- c) individual
- d) national
- e) affecting self
- f) affecting others
- g) all of the above
