When you think about sin, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it murder? Adultery? Maybe lying? While these are all different types of sin, sin in the Bible is defined as anything that violates God’s laws or rebels against His ways.
What Does the Bible Say About Sin?
To understand what is sin and what isn’t sin, we have to return to the Garden of Eden in Genesis. When God made the world, everything was perfect and sin was non-existent. There was only one rule in all of the world: Adam & Eve were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When the serpent deceived Adam & Eve, they ate the forbidden fruit, and that’s when sin entered the world.
After the fall of man, God needed to define something important for us: what is sin and what isn’t sin. In response, God set clear boundary lines for humanity so that we would know what sin is according to the Bible. The Ten Commandments are an example of God giving humanity a list of directions on what not to do and what to do; a list of what is sin and what isn’t sin. The Ten Commandments are like God’s master list of what things are good for us and what things are bad for us.
Bible verses about what sin is show us how sin harms us, how it grieves God, and how, when we practice a lifestyle of sin, we’re partnering with the devil rather than God. But just how far does sin go? What is sin? The Bible says that lying, cheating, and stealing are all examples of sin. The scriptures also show us Bible verses about sins like lust, adultery, and sexual immorality. And even sins you might not think about: like knowing the good you ought to do, but choosing not to do it (James 4:17). Thankfully, God designed a way out for us: Jesus! God sent His one and only Son to save us from sin and give us freedom from sin.
Have you received Jesus into your heart yet? If not, today is your day! Learn how to surrender your life to Jesus and receive the hope that He offers in our blog: This is For You!
Bible Verses to Answer the Question: What is Sin?
If you’re searching for an answer to the question, “What is sin?”, you’ll find plenty of answers in the Bible. Scriptures on sin offer us clear teachings on what sin is, how it separates us from God, and how we can overcome it through Jesus Christ. Here are four of our favorite Bible verses that will help you define what sin is and how Jesus helps us conquer it:
But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” - Genesis 2:17
What is original sin in the Bible? This Bible verse shows us that the origin of original sin is found in disobedience to God. Out of kindness, God gave Adam & Eve a warning about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so that sin would not enter the world. However, they chose to eat the forbidden fruit, and now sin is in the world because of their actions. You can think of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as the match that lit the first spark of sin.
Related Post: What Does the Bible Actually Say About Self-Control?
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21
If you’re looking for a master list to answer the question, “What is sin?”, look no further than Galatians 5:19-21. The list may seem long and extensive, but this Bible verse on what sin is helps us name the problem so we can yield to the solution: Jesus Christ.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”- Romans 6:23
Now that you know more about the origin of original sin and what sin is in the Bible, it’s essential to understand that sin leads to death. If sin were your employer and you were its employee, your wages would be the grave. Yikes! However, despite our sins, God goes out of His way to save us through Jesus Christ, who offers us freedom from sin and eternal life.
Learn more about how to experience freedom through Jesus in our blog: How I Went from an Addict to an Evangelist
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - Romans 6:6
This Bible verse about sin shows us that our old self and our old ways were crucified with Christ. Jesus gave up everything so that sin might be done away with! And then, on the third day, He rose again, showing His supreme power over sin, darkness, hell, and the grave.
Hear a real-life story about what it's like to leave a life of sin and skepticism to follow Jesus:
Why is Sin So Serious to God?
As you learn more about what sin is, you’ll begin to understand why sin is such a serious matter. At surface level, you can see how lying or adultery could lead to divorce and broken homes. But when you dig deeper, you discover that lying not only hurts others, but it grieves the heart of God…because if you think about it, a lie is what got us into this mess in the first place.
Sin is serious to God because He never intended for us to know the knowledge of good and evil. However, God desired that humans have free will. Free will means that we can choose God or we can choose evil. Each time we sin, we are choosing evil and selfish things over God.
When you pause and take a moment to think beyond the reality of what sin is and remember that God gave us Jesus to be free from sin, so much of life comes into perspective. Whatever sin habit you’re struggling with, Jesus has freedom for you!
Renew your mind with a song about freedom from sin and redemption through Jesus: Come to Jesus by Steffany Gretzinger
Different Types of Sin
To answer the question, “What is sin?” sometimes it’s helpful to have a list to refer to. We’re going to define different types of sin in two ways: The Seven Deadly Sins as well as a thorough list of common sins that are documented in the Bible.
Seven Deadly Sins:
The seven deadly sins are a list of cardinal sins or capital vices that are recognized in the Catholic Church. This piece of Catholic philosophy has been a part of Christian culture for centuries. The seven deadly sins are listed as:
1. Gluttony
2. Lust
3. Greed
4. Sorrow
5. Wrath
6. Sloth
7. Pride
Sins Mentioned in the Bible:
Lying (Proverbs 12:22, Colossians 3:9)
Adultery (Exodus 20:14, Hebrews 13:4)
Theft (Exodus 20:15, Ephesians 4:28)
Murder (Exodus 20:13, 1 John 3:15)
Rage (Galatians 5:19–20, James 1:20)
Gossip (Proverbs 16:28, 2 Corinthians 12:20)
Malice (Ephesians 4:31, 1 Peter 2:1)
Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16, Mark 3:28–29)
Fornication (any sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman) (1 Corinthians 6:18, Hebrews 13:4)
Lust (Matthew 5:28, 1 John 2:16)
Covetousness and jealousy (Exodus 20:17, James 3:16)
Greed (Luke 12:15, Colossians 3:5)
Abuse (Colossians 3:19, Ephesians 4:29, Matthew 18:6)
Drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18, Proverbs 20:1)
Debauchery (Galatians 5:19, 1 Peter 4:3)
Orgies (Galatians 5:21, Romans 13:13)
Deceitfulness (Proverbs 12:20, 1 Peter 2:1)
Lovers of money (1 Timothy 6:9–10, Hebrews 13:5)
Lovers of self (2 Timothy 3:1–2, Philippians 2:3)
Witchcraft (Galatians 5:20, Deuteronomy 18:10)
Idolatry (Exodus 20:3–5, 1 Corinthians 10:14)
Mediums (Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:11)
Necromancy (talking to the dead) (Deuteronomy 18:11–12, Isaiah 8:19)
Taking God’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 19:12)
Conclusion
After reading that list, the gravity of sin can feel overwhelming and heartbreaking. The Bible teaches us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But all hope is not lost: Jesus can save you from all of these sins! Not only does He wash away your sins, but He separates your sin from you as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). Now that you know what sin is and how you can be free from sin, it’s time to follow Jesus and share His hope with others, every day.
Learn how to tell others about the hope you have in Jesus in our FREE e-book: 4 Steps to Live Out Your Everyday Faith
