What Is Sin?

Sin began when Eve disobeyed God by eating the fruit He specifically commanded not to eat. When she and Adam ate of the fruit, they immediately felt shame and they hid from God. So the pattern begins. Sin changes people. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. Neither one of them took the blame. How easy it is to excuse our sins by blaming someone else or circumstances. But God knows the truth, and he holds each of us responsible for what we do.

We must realize that being tempted is not a sin. We have not sinned until we give in to the temptation. To resist temptation, we must first pray for strength to resist, second, run (sometimes literally), and three, say no when confronted with what we know is wrong.

Even Jesus was tempted by Satan 3 times, but did not give in to the temptation. Read this and think how strong you need to be to resist temptation:

Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (1) The tempter (Satan) said "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' (2) Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down for it is written (see how Satan mocks?): 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' Jesus answered hm, "It is also written: 'Do not put the lord your God to the test.' (3) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came and attended him.

Be strong, my brothers and sisters in Christ!

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. When tempted, no one should say 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:12-15

Jesus said "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." John 8:34

The penalty for sin is death.

"They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless." Romans 1:29-31

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other...Colossians 3:1-9

Sin hurts people - individuals, families, and whole societies.

We are born with sin. "For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God." God knows we are going to sin. We must recognize our sin, admit to God that we have sinned, ask God to forgive our sin, and don't do that sin again.

Read here what Jesus teaches us about sin!