(3 minute read)
The First Sin
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, they brought sin and death into God’s perfect world. Adam passed on the curse of his sin nature to all of mankind.
It is sin that separates us from God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — (Romans 3:23)
We all fail miserably to live up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness. Everyone is a sinner, and everyone needs a Savior.
What Is Sin?
In the Bible, sin is:
- Breaking God’s law — an act of disobedience or rebellion against Him; lawlessness.
- Missing the mark — falling short of God’s holy standard of righteousness, His perfect measure of moral and ethical behavior that reflects His own nature.
- An offense to God’s holiness.
“All unrighteousness (wrongdoing) is sin.”
The Apostle Paul lists examples:
“The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like… those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” — (Galatians 5:19–21)
Simply put, sin is thinking, saying, or doing anything that is unrighteous and displeases God or fails to bring Him glory.
The Test of Christlikeness
- Is what you are thinking, saying and doing Christlike or is it not?
- Does it please God and bring Him glory or does it not?
If the answer is no—and you choose to say it and do it anyway—you are choosing sin and must understand His wrath. Turn from it and forsake it.
“He who sins is of the devil… For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” — (1 John 3:8)
The Life of a True Believer
Genuine Christians strive to live according to God’s moral standards, loving others, and pursuing holiness.
- Occasional sin? Met with conviction, confession, and repentance (1 John 1:9). Believers still struggle with sinful thoughts, attitudes, habits and desires. Rely on the Holy Spirit for help.
- Unbroken pattern of sin? Indicates a heart not fully surrendered to God. (1 John 3:6) It is those who do not struggle with it- those wo deliberately and eagerly revel in their sin who need to have their false sense of security shaken.
An “unbroken pattern of sin” means living in a continuous, habitual lifestyle of sin without genuine repentance or change.
It is not about someone occasionally stumbling (because all believers still sin at times), but rather about a person’s life being characterized by ongoing disobedience to God, showing no evidence of turning away from sin or being transformed by the Holy Spirit.
True believers cannot habitually practice sin because:
- It’s incompatible with God’s law.
- It’s incompatible with Christ’s work.
- It’s incompatible with the ministry of the Holy Spirit who provides a built-in check or guard against habitual sinning due to the new nature.
“By this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” — 1 John 3:10
No one can be both.
The Greatest Commandments
When asked which commandment was greatest, Jesus replied:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength… and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” — Mark 12:30–31
The first four of the Ten Commandments summarize loving God.
The last six summarize loving others.
We all have broken these greatest commandments many times.
The Law’s Purpose — Revealing Our Guilt
God’s law reveals our unrighteousness so we see our need for Jesus.
Have you kept the commandments? Can you stand before God uncondemned?
Answer honestly: No. Thinking otherwise is self-righteousness—also a sin.
The Ten Commandments Test
Read Mark 10:17–22 (The Rich Young Ruler).
Jesus used God’s law to show man his sin.
- Have you ever lied?
- Have you ever stolen?
- Have you taken God’s name in vain?
- Have you dishonored your parents?
- Have you committed adultery—even in your heart through lust? (Matthew 5:27–28)
Those are rhetorical questions. We all have. Nobody’s perfect. It proves that you are guilty before God’s perfect standard. It only takes one sin to be sinner.
So, here’s the truth:
You are a sinner and need a Savior!
There are consequences for sin—real, eternal consequences. Your sin provokes God’s wrath, His powerful and just anger, and brings His rightful judgment.
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