WHAT IS SIN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Sin is a nature

Sin is the nature of Satan (the Devil) inherited by man by reason of Adam's obedience to the Devil and his disobedience to God's instruction in the garden of Eden. Therefore sin is a nature and not an act. The acts of telling lies, stealing, murdering, fornication, pride, idolatry, etc. are the result of the sinful nature of man; they are not the real sins but they (the acts) are the manifestations of the nature (of sin) by reason of Adam's fall from grace by obeying the devil.

This is what Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary to correct (to give us back the original nature of righteousness, prior to the fall of man (Adam). Learn more about Righteousness HERE...

SIN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The parameters for judging sin are two things – two key things in the Bible. The first one is love, and the second one is faith.

1. Sin is anything done outside Love or without Love.

In Romans Chapter 13:8-10; “Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Did you hear that? “He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Then it goes on to say this, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandments, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. [Romans 13:8-10]” That’s what the Bible says. So, anything that is outside love is a sin. So, love is the fulfillment of the law. So, by walking in love, you walk in God.

2. Sin is anything done outside Faith or without Faith.

In Romans 14:22-23; “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth, not himself in that thing which he alloweth. [Romans 14:22]” Are you hearing that? So, in the New Testament, it says, it’s not whether “What is this? Or what is that? How do I define this, or how do I define that?” He says it’s got to do with something here that he gives us. I’ll read it again but you’ll have to read the whole chapter for yourself to get the whole picture. He says “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God” – let it be between you and God – “Happy is he that condemneth, not himself in that thing which he alloweth.[Verse 23] And he that doubteth is damned if he eats, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Sin kills

He’s telling you that in faith towards God and in faith towards the Word of God, whatever you do, with which you do not condemn yourself, like in this case where he was giving [for example] eating food offered to idols. He says, if you condemn yourself for it, then you have sinned. He says, “happy is he that condemns not himself in that thing which he allows” – which he ‘does’. The one who doubts is damned; he’s condemned if he goes ahead because he is not doing it out of faith, because “whatsoever is not of faith is sin”. So, you want to understand sin in the New Testament? That’s exactly it. Something, whatever is outside love or whatever is outside faith or whatever is outside both of them, because the Bible does say “Faith works by love. [Galatians 5:6]”

Then, two things are given to us as the causes of sin: the first one is selfishness and the second one is fear. Really, when you study the Bible, you’ll discover that selfishness is really the opposite of love and fear is the opposite of faith. See, why do people tell lies? Because they are afraid. They’re afraid of what might happen if they told the truth. That’s why. Why do people steal? Because they’re selfish and they have no faith in God being able to provide for them; they’re afraid that they may never have and they’re selfish. So, selfishness and fear are the causes of sin, and the parameters for judging sin are love and faith.

CAUSES OF SINFUL ACTS

Then, two things are given to us as the causes of sinful acts: the first one is Selfishness and the second one is Fear. Really, when you study the Bible, you’ll discover that selfishness is really the opposite of love and fear is the opposite of faith. See, why do people tell lies? Because they are afraid. They’re afraid of what might happen if they told the truth. That’s why. Why do people steal? Because they’re selfish and they have no faith in God being able to provide for them; they’re afraid that they may never have and they’re selfish. So, selfishness and fear are the causes of sin, and the parameters for judging sin are love and faith.