Are you human? If so, you’ve sinned.
Understanding the nature of sin must be important because the word “sin” appears in the Bible about 400 times. But what is sin exactly?
The Hebrew word for sin is Khata. It means a failure to achieve a goal or to miss a target. The first mention of sin in the Bible is in reference to Cain’s sacrifice to God …
Genesis 4:7
If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin (Khata) crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.
From this verse it’s clear that sin is not passive. It’s a predator ready to pounce on us and hurt our relationship with God.
But What Exactly Is The Goal Or Target?
Thankfully, Jesus was very clear about the target and how to hit it …
Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
So, sin is a failure to love God and His creation – humankind.
Unfortunately, Sin Can Hide In Plain Sight
To make matters even more difficult, people often have trouble recognizing their sin. For example, the notorious crime boss Al Capone saw himself as a public benefactor. We must be willing to look at our thoughts, words, and actions and ask ourselves if they are in service to Father God and our neighbors.
What Happens To Us When We Sin?
When we sin, we move away from the example and attributes of Christ. This, in effect, puts distance between us and God; it separates us from Him. Our sin doesn’t just harm those we sin against. Our sin separates us from God. This is the opposite of our goal to become more Christlike.
With A Big Problem Like Sin, What’s The Remedy?
The remedy for sin is Jesus … the perfect example of how to love God and every person on planet earth. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross covers every one of our sins …
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Though there is no forgiveness of sins without Christ, we still must take responsibility for our sins. We must repent.
Luke 5:31-32
Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Where sin increases the distance (spiritually speaking) from us to God, repentance brings us closer. Repentance undoes sin’s damage. So, start learning to recognize when you miss the target … confess your sins … and repent. Wouldn’t it be a sin not to?