THE CHARACTER AND NATURE OF SIN
The outline for the following study titled “The Character
And Nature Of Sin” is taken in its entirety from “Landmarks
Of Baptist Doctrine”; Book III, pages 431-434, by Pastor
Robert J. Sargent; Bible Baptist Publications; 1219 North
Harns Road; Oak Harbor, Washington 98277. We have used their
Bible Institute material for decades now and highly
recommend it for training men for the ministry. It also
makes for outstanding Sunday School material.
In Psalm 51:1-3 (and also in Isaiah 59:12), there are three
words which are used most often in the Word of God to refer
to ‘sin.̓ They are:
● Transgression
● Iniquity
● Sin
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy
lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy
tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me
throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my
sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my
sin is ever before me. Psalm 51:1–3
12 For our transgressions are multiplied before
thee, And our sins testify against us: For our
transgressions are with us; And as for our
iniquities, we know them; Isaiah 59:12 |
This lecture studies the full nature of sin as it relates to
God, God̓s Law, and to man.
I. “SIN” DEFINED: Romans
3:23:
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23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God; Romans 3:23
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The word “sin”, means to “miss the mark”, to “deviate from
the standard of moral rectitude.” It is a term associated
with ‘marksmanship̓ —see: Judges 20:16:
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16 Among all this people there were seven hundred
chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones
at an hair breadth, and not miss. Judges 20:16 |
With God, everything that is not absolutely perfect is sin.
In the Old Testament, the Law was God̓s perfect standard,
and the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ (Who fulfilled
the Law) is God̓s perfect standard.
God̓s demands are very exacting — James 2:10; I Peter 1:16.
One sin makes a man a sinner. A man may live an extremely
‘good̓ life, but he will fall short of God̓s holy demands.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1 Peter 1:16
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The term “sin” relates to the holy character of God.
II. “TRANSGRESSION” DEFINED:
1 John 3:4:
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John
3:4
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The word “transgression” means “to go beyond,” “to exceed
the limits.” It means a violation or breach of the law. It
is a failure to conform to the will of God.
See: Numbers 14:41; Joshua 7:11,15; I Samuel 15:24; Isaiah
24:5; Daniel 9:11; Hosea 6:7; 8:1; Matthew 15:3:
41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress
the commandment of the Lord? but it shall not
prosper. Numbers 14:41
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also
transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for
they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have
also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put
it even among their own stuff. Joshua 7:11
15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the
accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all
that he hath: because he hath transgressed the
covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought
folly in Israel. Joshua 7:15
24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I
have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and
thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed
their voice. 1 Samuel 15:24
5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants
thereof; Because they have transgressed the laws,
changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting
covenant. Isaiah 24:5
11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even
by departing, that they might not obey thy voice;
therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath
that is written in the law of Moses the servant of
God, because we have sinned against him. Daniel 9:11
7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant:
There have they dealt treacherously against me.
Hosea 6:7
1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an
eagle against the house of the Lord, Because they
have transgressed my covenant, And trespassed
against my law. Hosea 8:1
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also
transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Matthew 15:3
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The term relates to the holy Law of God.
III. “INIQUITY” DEFINED:
Isaiah 59:2-7, Isaiah 59:12:
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it
cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot
hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between
you and your God, And your sins have hid his face
from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands
are defiled with blood, And your fingers with
iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue
hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for
justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: They trust in
vanity, and speak lies; They conceive mischief, and
bring forth iniquity. 5 They hatch cockatrice’ eggs,
And weave the spider’s web: He that eateth of their
eggs dieth, And that which is crushed breaketh out
into a viper. 6 Their webs shall not become
garments, Neither shall they cover themselves with
their works: Their works are works of iniquity, And
the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet
run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent
blood: Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
Wasting and destruction are in their paths. Isaiah
59:1–7
12 For our transgressions are multiplied before
thee, And our sins testify against us: For our
transgressions are with us; And as for our
iniquities, we know them; Isaiah 59:12
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The word “Iniquity” means “lawlessness,” “wickedness,”
“crookedness,” “perverseness.” It as a distortion of what is
right.
See: 2 Samuel 19:19; 2Chronicles 19:7; Psalm 53:1; 66:18;
106:6; Matthew 7:23; Acts 8:23; James 3:6:
19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute
iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that
which thy servant did perversely the day that my
lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king
should take it to his heart. 2 Samuel 19:19
7 Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon
you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity
with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor
taking of gifts. 2 Chronicles 19:7
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity:
There is none that doeth good. Psalm 53:1
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will
not hear me: Psalm 66:18
6 We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed
iniquity, we have done wickedly. Psalm 106:6
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew
7:23
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of
bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Acts 8:23
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so
is the tongue among our members, that it defileth
the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:6
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The term relates to the creation of God — including
man—which has been perverted by sin.
IV. OTHER BIBLICAL TERMS MEANING
“SIN”
A number of other terms are used in the Word of God to
convey the range and intensity of sin — 1 Timothy 1:9. For
example:
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9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a
righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient,
for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of
mothers, for manslayers, 1 Timothy 1:9
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A. Unrighteousness: Romans
6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Peter 2:13; 1 John 5:17:
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto
God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your
members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:13
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:9
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness,
as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day
time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting
themselves with their own deceivings while they
feast with you; 2 Peter 2:13
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin
not unto death. 1 John 5:17
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B. Trespasses: Matthew
6:14,15; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13:
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye
forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14–15
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in
trespasses and sins; Ephesians 2:1
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses; Colossians 2:13
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C. Offenses: Romans 4:25;
Romans 5:15-18:
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was
raised again for our justification. Romans 4:25
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift.
For if through the offence of one many be dead, much
more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which
is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto
many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is
the gift: for the judgment was by one to
condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences
unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence
death reigned by one; much more they which receive
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came
upon all men to condemnation; even so by the
righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men
unto justification of life. Romans 5:15–18
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D. Faults: Galatians 6:1:
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1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye
which are spiritual, restore such an one in the
spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou
also be tempted. Galatians 6:1
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E. Wickedness: 2
Chronicles 6:37:
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37 Yet if they bethink themselves in the land
whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray
unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We
have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt
wickedly; 2 Chronicles 6:37
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F. Ungodliness: Romans
1:18; 5:6; 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:7; Jude 4; Jude 15:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Romans 1:18
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the
eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing
in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 2 Peter
2:5
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by
the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire
against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly
men. 2 Peter 3:7
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who
were before of old ordained to this condemnation,
ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and
our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4
15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all
that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly
deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all
their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have
spoken against him. Jude 15
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G. Rebellion: Rebellion is
an affront to God: 1 Samuel 15:23; Isaiah 1:2; Job 34:37:
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And
stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because
thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath
also rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:23
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: For the
Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up
children, And they have rebelled against me. Isaiah
1:2
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, He clappeth
his hands among us, And multiplieth his words
against God. Job 34:37
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H. Unlawfulness: 2 Peter
2:8:
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8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in
seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from
day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 2 Peter 2:8
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I. Treachery: This means
the “betrayal of a trust”, “unfaithfulness”, to act
deceitfully: Hosea 6:7:
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7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant:
There have they dealt treacherously against me.
Hosea 6:7
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J. Indebtedness: Matthew
6:12:
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12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors. Matthew 6:12
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K. Disobedience: Jeremiah
3:25; Romans 2:8; Romans 10:21; Ephesians 2:2; Colossians
3:6; 1 Peter 2:7-8:
25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion
covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our
God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto
this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord
our God. Jeremiah 3:25
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not
obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
indignation and wrath, Romans 2:8
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have
stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and
gainsaying people. Romans 10:21
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the
children of disobedience: Ephesians 2:2
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on
the children of disobedience: Colossians 3:6
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which
the builders disallowed, the same is made the head
of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a
rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the
word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed. 1 Peter 2:7–8
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L. Unbelief: John 16:9;
Hebrews 3:18-19; Hebrews 4:6; Acts 14:2; Acts 19:9:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; John 16:9
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter
into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So
we see that they could not enter in because of
unbelief. Hebrews 3:18–19
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter
therein, and they to whom it was first preached
entered not in because of unbelief: Hebrews 4:6
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles,
and made their minds evil affected against the
brethren. Acts 14:2
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not,
but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he
departed from them, and separated the disciples,
disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. Acts
19:9
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V. CONCLUSION: We thus
arrive at the following statements concerning sin:
● SIN IS insubordination to God, rebellion against God,
insisting upon living our lives as we want to, willful
disobedience.
● SIN IS refusing to allow God to have His way in our lives:
Luke 19:14:
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14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message
after him, saying, We will not have this man to
reign over us. Luke 19:14
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● SIN IS a wrong relationship to God. It is primarily an
offense against the Living God, the Creator and Sovereign of
heaven and earth.
● SIN IS every abuse or perversion of God-given powers;
every indulgence in the lusts of the flesh; every
encroachment upon the rights, interests, or feelings of
others.
● SIN IS essentially a departure from God.
● SIN IS unlikeness to God, the want of conformity to the
holy standards of God.
● SIN IS SELFishness; the positive preference of self to
God, the exaltation of self above God.
● SIN IS —A STATE — unlikeness to God — 1 Samuel 16:7;
Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:15-17:
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his
countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not
as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1
Samuel 16:7
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I
would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto
the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I
that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans
7:15–17
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A PRINCIPLE — opposition to God.
AN ACT — transgression of God̓s Law.
You should memorize 1 John 3:4:
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4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John
3:4
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