What is the clearest definition of sin?1 John 3:4 says, “Sin is transgression of the law.” This refers to sins of commission.James 4:17 says, “One who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin”. This refers to sins of omission.But the clearest definition of sin is in Romans 3:23: Sin is “coming short of God’s glory”. Sin is not just breaking the Ten Commandments, nor even coming short of the standard Jesus laid down in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 to 7). It is more than these. It is coming short of the glory of God.What is the glory of God? “The Word became flesh, and we saw His glory…full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The glory of God was seen in the life of Jesus Christ. So when we put these two verses together (John 1:14 and Romans 3:23), we see that sin is anything unlike Christ. Who then can say that he is totally free from sin? No-one. Because none of us have become totally like Christ.It is those who lower their definition of sin who imagine that they are totally free from sin. Pass-marks in God’s kingdom is not 40% but 100%. Anything less than total likeness to Christ is sin. Many believers feel that they were not as bad sinners as some others. But that would be like a student who got 2% in an examination considering himself better than another student who got 1%. But both of them failed! Even if you managed to get 99% in God’s kingdom, you would be in the same class as the one who got zero. “The person who keeps every law of God but makes one little slip is just as guilty as the person who has broken every law there is” (James 2:10 - Living).Having known thousands of Christians in my life, I have come to the conclusion that the fundamental problem with the vast majority of them is that they have never seen themselves as filthy, good-for-nothing sinners in God’s eyes. They will acknowledge that they are sinners but not as bad as some others. This hinders them from enjoying the full power of the Holy Spirit for a full salvation in their lives.Many people avoid sin, fearing the punishment they will get. But when God sees someone sin, He thinks of the glory he is missing. There is a glory that you will miss throughout eternity if you tolerate any sin in your life. The measure in which you tolerate sin in your life will be the measure of the glory that you will miss.
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
...an additional thought...Right in the Centre of SIN we find the little letter that imagines great things of itself.... I...........wherever and whenever we find the word I taking center stage in our lives we may be sure that sin lieth at the door.In contrast, once a man is born again this I is replaced by the revelation that Paul received:" Not I but Christ "It is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of Him Who loved me and gave His life for me.Sin = I am god, captain of my ship, ruler of my destiny Righteousness = Christ is Lord, I live in total dependence on HimBlessings,
_________________William
Many people avoid sin, fearing the punishment they will get. But when God sees someone sin, He thinks of the glory he is missing. There is a glory that you will miss throughout eternity if you tolerate any sin in your life. The measure in which you tolerate sin in your life will be the measure of the glory that you will miss.-Quote-Yes...and also the glory of the Lord that you will not be able to experience in this life also.That is why we need to persevere in our faith.Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 and having an high priest over the house of God; 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.Blessings!