What is sin?

[SaintAugustine]

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law." from the CCC, paragraph 1849.

 

[Student of X]

Sin is whatever keeps us from union with God.

We are imperfect vehicles for the Holy Spirit, and when we become filled with it we are united with God. But due to our weaknesses we can't always retain it. We are like sponges and the Holy Spirit is like water. We can be filled with it but it will leak out and eventually we will dry up. Or we are like rods of iron. We can be filled with the Holy Spirit until we are red hot and radiating the heat of God. But red hot iron is still iron, and that heat will fade.

That which causes the heat to fade from the iron and the water to drip from the sponge is sin.

 

[Thief]

Sin is whatever keeps us from union with God.

We are imperfect vehicles for the Holy Spirit, and when we become filled with it we are united with God. But due to our weaknesses we can't always retain it. We are like sponges and the Holy Spirit is like water. We can be filled with it but it will leak out and eventually we will dry up. Or we are like rods of iron. We can be filled with the Holy Spirit until we are red hot and radiating the heat of God. But red hot iron is still iron, and that heat will fade.

That which causes the heat to fade from the iron and the water to drip from the sponge is sin.

I wouldn't take the idea quite that far.
The sword is best when first fully hardened.
Then heated again for the draw.....tempered.

Your first sentence was sufficient.

 

[SageTree]

The Biblical Greek term for sin is αμαρτία (amartia) which means missing the mark

Pretty much captures the base understanding imo. It's an act and not a state of being.

How you try get your 'sights' steady closer to the bullseye is perhaps a different matter or topic.

 

[Shermana]

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law." from the CCC, paragraph 1849.

Sin is "lawlessness", as in against the commandments of the Mosaic Law. 1 John 3:4.

 

[Thief]

I found it interesting the word can also mean... 'without'...(Spanish)

To be 'without'....spirit, soul, the acceptance of spiritual life.

 

[doppelganger]

"Sin" is confusing the sign with the thing signified.

 

[jtartar]

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law." from the CCC, paragraph 1849.

SaintAugustine,
The Holy Scriptures tell us what sin is.
Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So it seems that sin is anything done that is different than what God would do.
1John 3:4 says that sin is Lawlessness.
1John 5:17 tells us that sin is Unrighteousness. Some translations say Wrongdoing.
For anyone to know exactly what these words mean to God, we are obligated to search His word to understand Him. Notice how this point is brought out at Rom 12:2.
Eph 5:10, 17, say something similar. Consider also 1Thes 5:21, which says we should test all things and hold fast to the good.
If you are serious about what is righteous, Proverbs 2:1-6. Consider James 1:5-8.:yes:

 

[4consideration]

I second SageTree's post on the definition of "sin."

I grew up with a rather commonly held definition of "sin" as an indication of some action that had the ability to stain the soul -- and treated as confirmation that because of "sin" people are somehow "unworthy" to be in the presence of God. I no longer read it that way. When I read anything in the Bible now, I translate "sin" to mean "error." I find that a lot of things make more sense using that understanding of the word.

 

[Thief]

I second SageTree's post on the definition of "sin."

I grew up with a rather commonly held definition of "sin" as an indication of some action that had the ability to stain the soul -- and treated as confirmation that because of "sin" people are somehow "unworthy" to be in the presence of God. I no longer read it that way. When I read anything in the Bible now, I translate "sin" to mean "error." I find that a lot of things make more sense using that understanding of the word.

And if you stand in error, are you still allowed the presence of God?

 

[SageTree]

And if you stand in error, are you still allowed the presence of God?

"Allowed in the presence of God"? Explain please.


To me there ONLY is God and we can do nothing BUT stand in It's Presence.


Would like to hear more from you Friend. Thanks.

 

[4consideration]

And if you stand in error, are you still allowed the presence of God?

IMO error may prevent your ability to feel or recognize the presence of God, error may drive destructive actions, and error may convince you that you are unworthy to even be in the presence of God. It may feel really real. However, I believe that God is everywhere -- that there is no place that God is not. So, I think we are all, and always, in the presence of God.

This idea is not exactly the same as, but it is also not in opposition to, the concept of "sin" meaning being without God, because if God is real (which I believe he is) then the idea that anything (action, belief, etc.) would have the ability or authority to remove God from reality would be an illusion. No action or belief could cause God to be in the presence of his absence -- or absent from his presence.

(Ok, my brain hurts now. I'm going to take a break in a minute.)

However, the effect that "sin" (or error) has on a person can be real. You can feel isolated in a crowd. A person may think that gravity does not apply to them and step off a building. That error would have real consequences.

 

[Thief]

The previous two posts touch on the same notion.
We may be getting somewhere.

An old biblical story forms a situation where a man having gone to hell,
is close enough to the angelic to have conversation with one of them.

Never have I heard anyone notice and then report the perspective.

If you can be close enough to have speech with the angelic...but they say...
'....there is a great divide between us....'
then being without heaven is possible....no matter where you stand.

Error sent that one character to hell.
Yet, he can speak to the angelic.

Sin may very well be used to say...'without'.

 

[4consideration]

The previous two posts touch on the same notion.
We may be getting somewhere.

An old biblical story forms a situation where a man having gone to hell,
is close enough to the angelic to have conversation with one of them.

Never have I heard anyone notice and then report the perspective.

If you can be close enough to have speech with the angelic...but they say...
'....there is a great divide between us....'
then being without heaven is possible....no matter where you stand.

Error sent that one character to hell.
Yet, he can speak to the angelic.

Sin may very well be used to say...'without'.

I would say that you could certainly use the term "sin" as meaning "without." I had come to the same conclusion as you about taking the meaning from the Spanish word and had applied that concept for a number of years prior to the Greek meaning and origin being mentioned to me about 5 years ago. In applying the concept of "without" it did give me a better understanding than the "stain on the soul" concept that did not make any sense for me, and that I ultimately found to be inadequate.

However, I also found that the "without" meaning did have some limitation in application, because if God exists everywhere we really can't be "without" him -- but we can suffer from an illusion that we are without him. It is valid for the purpose of describe a state of being we may call "Hell."

I would rather use a more accurate definition than a different one I might prefer. It just so happened that when a new meaning for the word was presented to me, and I looked it up myself, then I applied it in my understanding -- I found that not only did things in the Bible make more sense for me, it also shifted many Bible stories, especially those featuring Jesus, into a much gentler and kinder understanding.

For example, it changes: Go, and sin no more

From: Go, and don't be without God (or god-less) any more (which seems like a judgement of the person)

To: Go, and don't make that error any more (now that you know better, apply that wisdom in the future)

I don't wish to convince you that you ought to change your definition. I am just stating what I have found to be the benefit of applying a definition that I understand to be more accurate to the original meaning, in case it is of benefit for you.

 

[garrydons]

Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law." from the CCC, paragraph 1849.

Sin is the transgression of the Law

 

[Thief]

I would say that you could certainly use the term "sin" as meaning "without." I had come to the same conclusion as you about taking the meaning from the Spanish word and had applied that concept for a number of years prior to the Greek meaning and origin being mentioned to me about 5 years ago. In applying the concept of "without" it did give me a better understanding than the "stain on the soul" concept that did not make any sense for me, and that I ultimately found to be inadequate.

However, I also found that the "without" meaning did have some limitation in application, because if God exists everywhere we really can't be "without" him -- but we can suffer from an illusion that we are without him. It is valid for the purpose of describe a state of being we may call "Hell."

I would rather use a more accurate definition than a different one I might prefer. It just so happened that when a new meaning for the word was presented to me, and I looked it up myself, then I applied it in my understanding -- I found that not only did things in the Bible make more sense for me, it also shifted many Bible stories, especially those featuring Jesus, into a much gentler and kinder understanding.

For example, it changes: Go, and sin no more

From: Go, and don't be without God (or god-less) any more (which seems like a judgement of the person)

To: Go, and don't make that error any more (now that you know better, apply that wisdom in the future)

I don't wish to convince you that you ought to change your definition. I am just stating what I have found to be the benefit of applying a definition that I understand to be more accurate to the original meaning, in case it is of benefit for you.

For now I think I'll stick for the.... 'without' idea.

Is this the world of sin?...without God?
Is heaven a place of peace?...with God.

There are good things I can do...without God...
There are good things I can do...with God....
Which would be sin?

For all the good I might do...and I end up....without God...
will I not suffer the same as anyone else who denied Him?

 

[miss interpret]

sin is quite simply rebellion against God and his word.

 

[Scott1]

I love the Orthodox description of sin as "missing the mark".....

OCA - Q &amp A - Sin

 

[Shermana]

I love the Orthodox description of sin as "missing the mark".....

OCA - Q &amp A - Sin

And I love 1 John 3:4's explicit description of sin as going against Mosaic Law. "Lawlessness".

 

[Shermana]

Sin is the transgression of the Law

^ For the win.