What is sin? (the Bible's definition, and where it comes from)

Q: What is sin? (the Bible's definition — and where it comes from)

Sin is anything that falls short of, or breaks, God's will. The Bible describes it several complementary ways: - Missing the mark / falling short — 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (). - Lawlessness — 'sin is lawlessness' (), breaking God's commands. - Failing to do the good you know — 'Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin' (BSB, ). - Whatever is not from faith — 'everything that is not from faith is sin' (BSB, ). Sin is both things we do and a condition of the heart we're born into () — and the Bible says it is universal: 'There is no one righteous, not even one' (BSB, ).

Topical

Short answer

Sin is anything that falls short of, or breaks, God's will. The Bible describes it several complementary ways:

Missing the mark / falling short, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23).
Lawlessness, 'sin is lawlessness' (1 John 3:4), breaking God's commands.
Failing to do the good you know, 'Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin' (BSB, James 4:17).
Whatever is not from faith, 'everything that is not from faith is sin' (BSB, Romans 14:23).

Sin is both things we do and a condition of the heart we're born into (Psalms 51:5), and the Bible says it is universal: 'There is no one righteous, not even one' (BSB, Romans 3:10).

Question

What is sin? (the Bible's definition of sin, and where it comes from)

Analysis

Where it comes from

The Bible traces sin to the fall, the first humans disobeyed God's command in the garden (Genesis 3:6), and through that one act 'sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin' (BSB, Romans 5:12). Since then sin is not only individual acts but a corrupted nature everyone shares: 'in sin did my mother conceive me' (Psalms 51:5), and no one is exempt (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10–Romans 3:12). This is why the Bible treats sin as a deep problem, not just occasional mistakes.

Why it matters, and the remedy

Sin's seriousness is that it separates people from a holy God (Isaiah 59:2) and carries a cost: 'the wages of sin is death' (Romans 6:23). But that same verse continues with the answer, 'but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' The whole gospel responds to sin: God dealt with it at the cross (Romans 5:8), and forgiveness is promised to those who confess and turn, 'if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive' (1 John 1:9). So the Bible names sin honestly but never leaves it there; the point of the diagnosis is the cure.

Sources, trace every one

Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.

Romans 3:23bsb
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
1 John 3:4bsb
Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
James 4:17bsb
Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
Romans 14:23bsb
But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Psalms 51:5bsb
Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Romans 3:10bsb
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.
Genesis 3:6bsb
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
Romans 5:12bsb
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.
Ecclesiastes 7:20bsb
Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Romans 3:12bsb
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Isaiah 59:2bsb
But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.
Romans 6:23bsb
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8bsb
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 1:9bsb
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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