Christians' Dilemma: Defining Sin In A Secular World

The Christian doctrine of sin is central to the faith, with the concept of redemption in Christ being its basic message. Sin is an immoral act and transgression of divine law, and Christians are both able to sin and able not to sin.

In the Bible, sin is referred to as errors, mistakes, or poor judgment, but it is considered much more serious than this. It is described as falling short of the perfect standard God has set, and all humans are guilty of sinning against Him.

The concept of original sin, which is the belief that humans inherit a tainted nature and a proclivity to sin through birth, is a distinctively Christian doctrine. It is the idea that through Adam's sin of disobedience, all mankind was corrupted, and that sin is inevitable. However, Christians believe that through Christ, the power of sin is broken, and that while they will still sin, their hearts are transformed so that they no longer desire it.

Christians are thus able not to sin, but they are also able to sin.

Sin as an action

In Christianity, sin is defined as any thought, word, or action that goes against God's standards. Sin is viewed as a transgression of God's law, a rebellion against God, and an offence against religious or moral law.

Sin can be categorised in multiple ways. Sins can be classified based on the individuals or groups they are committed against, such as sins against God, oneself, or others. Sins can also be differentiated based on whether they are past or future sins, with future sins further divided into those likely to be committed due to personal inclinations or a fallen human nature.

Sin can also be understood as a disposition or vice, an ontological state, or as a structural phenomenon. Sin as a disposition refers to an inclination or vice to engage in sinful action. Sin as an ontological state, or "original sin", refers to a sinful nature that is inherited and passed on to descendants. Structural sin refers to sin that is embedded in social structures and committed by groups rather than individuals.

Sin as a disposition or vice

In Christianity, sin is an immoral act and transgression of divine law. The doctrine of sin is central to the Christian faith, and hamartiology, a branch of Christian theology, describes sin as an act of offence against God.

Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologiae, defines sin and vice as contraries of virtues. He discusses the subject in his Summa Theologiae Part Ia–IIae (Prima Secundae) qq. 71–89. Aquinas presents sin and vices as "contraries of virtues", and he quotes Augustine of Hippo's description of sin as "a thought, words and deed against the Eternal Law."

In one of his definitions of sin, Thomas quotes Augustine of Hippo's description of sin as:

> "Sin is a word, deed, or desire against the Eternal Law."

According to Aquinas, the gravity of sin depends on "some disposition of the agent". Sin, venial by reason of its object, may become mortal. It happens when a person fixes their ultimate happiness in the object of that venial sin. For example, when someone uses empty conversation to seduce someone to commit adultery.

The Roman Catholic Church distinguishes between vice, which is a habit of sin, and the sin itself, which is an individual morally wrong act. In Roman Catholicism, the word sin also refers to the state that befalls one upon committing a morally wrong act.

Christians believe there are two kinds of vice:

• Vices that come from the physical organism as instincts, which can become perverse (such as lust)
• Vices that come from false idolatry in the spiritual realm

The first kind of vice, though sinful, is believed to be less serious than the second. Vices recognised as spiritual by Christians include blasphemy, apostasy, despair, hatred, and indifference.

Sin as a state or the condition of being in sin

The concept of sin as a state or the condition of being in sin is closely tied to the Christian doctrine of original sin. Original sin is the belief that humans inherit a tainted nature and a proclivity to sin through the fact of birth.

The doctrine of original sin holds that all humans are born in a state of sin, which is a result of the fall of man. This fall of man is attributed to Adam's rebellion in Eden, specifically his act of disobedience in consuming the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The doctrine of original sin suggests that God holds all descendants of Adam and Eve accountable for Adam's sin of rebellion, and as such, all people deserve God's wrath and condemnation, regardless of their actual sins. This belief is based on the interpretation of Paul's writings in Romans 5:12-19, where he establishes a parallelism between Adam and Christ.

The idea of sin as a state or condition is not universally accepted within Christian theology. Some Christian scholars, such as Immanuel Kant, affirm the existence of sinful actions and dispositions without committing to the existence of sin as a state of being or original sin.

Additionally, the doctrine of original sin has been minimised and rejected by some Christian sects and interpretations, particularly those who view the story of Adam and Eve as a metaphor rather than a factual account.

Sin as an offence against God

In Christianity, sin is an immoral act and transgression of divine law. While sin often harms another person, it is ultimately an offence against God.

The Bible contains many references to people admitting, "I have sinned against God" (Exodus 10:16; Joshua 7:20; Judges 10:10). In Genesis 39:9, Joseph is tempted to commit adultery with Potiphar's wife. In resisting her, he says, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?". Joseph's greater loyalty was to God and His laws, and it was God he did not want to offend.

David said something similar after he had sinned with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). When confronted with his sin, David repented in great sorrow, saying to God, "Against You and You only have I sinned" (Psalm 51:4). He had clearly sinned against Bathsheba and her husband, but it was the violation of God's law that grieved David the most.

Sin is a transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4; Romans 4:15). By its very definition, sin is against God because it means either violating God's prohibitive commands or omitting to practice His positive commands (James 4:17). Since God's law is a reflection of His holy nature, transgressing His law offends Him personally.

Sin is also a perversion of God's perfect design. We all bear the image of God, and when we sin, we mar that likeness. We were created to be mirrors of God's glory (Ephesians 2:10; 4:24; Hebrews 2:7), but sin is a big smudge on the mirror, diminishing the beauty and holiness we were designed to reflect.

When we sin, we step outside the purpose for which we were created, violating God's moral law, and we are accountable to Him for this trespass. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Sin is anything that falls short of God's plan. So, whether it harms us or someone else, every sin is ultimately against a holy God.

Sin as a loss of love for God

In Christianity, sin is an immoral act and transgression of divine law. The doctrine of sin is central to the Christian faith, and its basic message is about redemption in Christ.

Hamartiology, a branch of Christian theology that studies sin, describes sin as an act of offence against God, by despising his persons and Christian biblical law, and by injuring others.

Some Christian scholars understand sin to be fundamentally relational—a loss of love for the Christian God and an elevation of self-love ("concupiscence", in this sense). This definition of sin affects the Christian understanding of grace and salvation, which are viewed in relational terms.

Sin puts up a barrier between God and humans, and cuts off the fellowship God wants to have with them. The Bible says, "But your iniquities [sins] have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).

However, God does not refuse to have anything to do with humans when they sin. Instead, He wants them to come back to Him and have their fellowship restored. God does everything He can to wake them up and bring them to repentance.

When Christians sin, they need to confess it and seek God's forgiveness at once. The longer they wait, the more the devil rejoices.

Christians cannot be followers of Christ and followers of sin at the same time. They are going in opposite directions. Romans 12:2 instructs, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Renewal can take some time, but it is a process that produces a change of behaviour.

When a true child of God goes astray, God administers discipline to bring him back into obedience. Hebrews 12:7–8 says, "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons."

The Good News is that God forgives sin. He poured out His divine wrath against it by punishing His own Son on the cross. "He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5, NASB). Sin's penalty—eternal death—was paid in full when Jesus died as a substitute at Calvary.

When Christians turn from their sin, acknowledging their rebellion against God and their utter inability to save themselves, and turn to God in faith, they receive the free gift of salvation.

Christ not only erases past sin, but He also transforms hearts so that Christians no longer desire it (Colossians 2:13–14). Paul asked, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:1–2).

Although Christians will still sin after being saved, the heart change that the Holy Spirit brings will result in a new attitude toward sin. Sin cannot continue to be a lifestyle choice if they have surrendered their lives to Jesus.

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