In today's lesson I want to focus on understanding what sin actually is according to Scripture. Too often the definition gets muddled and people are left thinking that 'sin' is just having a bad attitude or in general "falling short" or that being a 'sinner' is just a vague sense of not being good enough. There is a lot of confusion about what sin is and if we don't stop to define it we can't end up with some very incorrect ideas about Scripture.
In John 8, the Messiah tells the woman who was caught in adultery to, "Go and sin no more." This tells us that the definition of sin to Yahusha is clear cut and easily understandable. This is not like an encounter with an upset boss who tells you not to disappoint him again when you're not sure what he is upset about in the first place. That doesn't leave you with any tangible ways of how to please your superior. But when the Messiah said it, the woman understood that she really could stop sinning because she understood what that was.
What is sin according to Scripture?
1 John 3:4 tells us.
Anyone who commits sin violates Torah, for sin is the transgression of the Torah. RSTNE
Everyone who keeps sinning is violating Torah - indeed, sin is violation of Torah. CJB
Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. BYNV
Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law. CEV
Scripture defines sin as disobeying the commandments of YHWH. This particular sentence was penned by John, who of course as one of the disciples spent a lot of time with the Messiah. If Yahusha had taught that it was okay to disobey the instructions of YHWH John would have heard him, but he didn't!
Is this just talking about commandments in the New Testament?
First of all, when John wrote this there was no 'New Testament.' At the time the Scriptures consisted of the Tanakh, or what many would call the 'Old' Testament. All of John's basis for commandments would have come from the Tanakh, as did all the Messiah's teachings on the instructions.
Second, when instructions are given in the 'New Testament' they stem from the commandments in the Torah. We see the Messiah do this many times like in Matthew 5:27-28 when he talked about adultery. He acknowledged the commandment to not commit adultery, and then clarified that you shouldn't even think about it. He gave us a better understanding of the commandments, he never did away with them.
What does this mean?
It means we don't have to wonder what sin is or if we're doing it. By studying Scripture we learn the commandments of YHWH and that tells us how we should live. By keeping the commands we are obedient to YHWH. He does not want us to be in the dark, blindly guessing at every decision what his will would be. Understanding what sin is empowers us to walk with confidence in our faith.
Read these passages with a better understanding of sin.
"If you don't do what is right, violating the Torah is crouching at the door - it wants you, but you can rule over it." -Genesis 4:7
"If we confess we have violated his commands he is faithful and just to forgive us." -1 John 1:9
"He bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to Torah violations and live for righteousness." -1 Peter 2:24
"Forgive others when they violate the commandments against you, and YHWH will also forgive you." -Matthew 6:14
"Should we violate the Torah because we have the favor of YHWH? Of course not." -Romans 6:15
"Direct my footsteps with your word. Don't let violating the commandments rule over me." -Psalm 119:133
"We have violated the Torah and done wrong." -Daniel 9:5
Yahusha said, "I tell you that everyone who violates the Torah is a slave." -John 8:34
"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I wouldn't disobey your commands." -Psalm 119:11
"He did not violate the Torah." -Hebrews 4:15
More Hebrew School:
What a Hebrew is
The Set Apart Times of Scripture
Keeping the Law...even if we can't do so perfectly
What a 'no-work day' is
The Northern and Southern Kingdoms
Syncretism!
Why We Don't Sacrifice Animals
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