The Evil Deeds: Sins Of Commission And Their Nature

In Christianity, a sin of commission is a sin committed by taking action that goes against God's commands in Scripture. It is a willful act of doing something that violates God's moral law, such as lying or stealing, and can be committed in thought, word, or deed. This is in contrast to a sin of omission, which is a failure to take action or perform a certain action that one ought to do. Both types of sins are referenced in the Bible and are considered to separate humans from God.

Sins of commission are positive acts that violate God's commands

Sins of commission are acts that violate God's commands. They are overt, sinful actions that go against God's moral law as laid out in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17). Sins of commission are positive acts, as opposed to sins of omission, which are defined by a failure to act.

The Bible states that all people sin, and even one sin is enough to separate us from God. Sins of commission can be intentional or unintentional. Foreknowledge is not the issue—if a sinful act is committed, it is a sin, whether it was done knowingly or not. For example, if you visit a country where traffic drives on the left side of the road and you drive on the right, you are breaking the law, regardless of whether or not you knew about it.

Some examples of sins of commission include:

• Lying
• Stealing
• Murder
• Adultery
• Idolatry

The first sin, according to the Bible, was a sin of commission. God told Adam and Eve not to eat a certain fruit, but they disobeyed and ate it anyway (Genesis 2:16–17). King David also committed sins of commission when he committed adultery and then had Uriah killed (2 Samuel 11).

When we commit sins of commission, we act out of harmony with God and His desires and intentions for us. We can, however, find redemption through Jesus Christ, who took on the punishment for our sins and paid the debt we owe to God (Colossians 2:14; Romans 6:6).

They can be committed in thought, word or deed

A sin of commission is a sin committed through an action, whether in thought, word, or deed. It involves doing something that goes against God's commands in Scripture, such as lying, stealing, or committing adultery. These are overt, sinful acts that violate God's moral law as outlined in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17). For example, "You shall have no other gods before Me," "You shall not murder," and "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:3, 13-15).

The key distinction of a sin of commission is that it is an act of commission, or doing, rather than an omission, or failure to act. It is important to note that a sin of commission can be intentional or unintentional. In other words, foreknowledge or intent is not the determining factor. Whether we are aware of it or not, if we break God's law, we have sinned.

To illustrate this, consider the example of driving on the wrong side of the road in a country where traffic drives on the left. Regardless of whether you knew the local traffic rules or not, driving on the right side would still be breaking the law. Similarly, in the story of Adam and Eve, their act of eating the forbidden fruit, despite God's command not to, was a sin of commission (Genesis 2:16–17).

Another example is King David, who committed adultery and then had Uriah killed to cover it up. Both of these were sins of commission (2 Samuel 11). The Bible is replete with examples of sins of commission committed by great leaders, including Abraham (Genesis 20:2), Moses (Exodus 2:11–12), David (2 Samuel 12:13), Solomon (Nehemiah 13:26), Peter (Matthew 26:74–75), and Paul (Galatians 1:13).

These examples highlight that we are all susceptible to sins of commission. We may commit intentional sins by acting in ways that God has forbidden, and we may also commit unintentional sins due to our ignorance of God's standards (Acts 3:17; 1 Peter 1:14; Leviticus 4:13–14). As Jesus said, "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander" (Matthew 15:18–19).

They can be intentional or unintentional

A sin of commission is a sin committed through an action, whether it be a deed, thought, or word. It is a violation of God's commands in Scripture, such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17). Examples include lying, stealing, adultery, and murder.

These sins can be intentional or unintentional. Foreknowledge is not the issue. For example, if you are driving in a foreign country where traffic drives on the left, and you drive on the right, you are still breaking the law, regardless of whether or not you knew about it. In the Bible, it is stated that "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander" (Matthew 15:18-19).

Humanity's first sin, according to the Bible, was a sin of commission. God forbade Adam and Eve from eating a certain fruit, but they disobeyed (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:6). This was an intentional sin, as they were aware of God's command but chose to disobey.

Unintentional sins of commission can occur due to ignorance of God's standards or commands. For example, in Acts 3:17, it is acknowledged that people may unintentionally sin due to their lack of knowledge of God's standards. Similarly, 1 Peter 1:14 refers to "the ignorance of my sinful nature".

In Catholic teaching, the degree of guilt associated with a sin of commission is influenced by the magnitude of the precept violated, the dignity of the virtue, and the amount of deliberation involved. For instance, consider a person who chooses to drink excessively and, as a result, becomes unable to perform a necessary task. Even though they may be physically unable to complete the task, they are still responsible for their failure because they knowingly put themselves in a state where accomplishing the task was impossible.

While sins of commission are overt acts, they can be committed intentionally or unintentionally, depending on the circumstances and the individual's knowledge and intentions.

Examples include lying, stealing, murder and adultery

A sin of commission is a sin committed through action, whether in thought, word, or deed. It involves willfully doing something that goes against God's commands in Scripture. Sins of commission can be intentional or unintentional. For instance, when visiting a country that drives on the left side of the road, driving on the right is still breaking the law, regardless of one's knowledge of the rule.

Lying, stealing, murder, and adultery are all considered sins of commission. In the Bible, God commands his followers not to lie, steal, murder, or commit adultery. These acts are considered violations of God's law and are thus classified as sins of commission.

Lying is considered a sin of commission as it goes against God's command to speak the truth. In the Bible, lying is often associated with deception, false witness, and dishonesty. It is seen as a distortion of the truth and a breach of trust.

Stealing is another example of a sin of commission. It violates God's commandment against theft and is considered a sin against property. In the Bible, stealing is mentioned alongside murder and adultery, emphasizing the seriousness of the act.

Murder is also considered a sin of commission. It is a direct violation of the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." Murder is seen as an unlawful taking of life and is considered a grave sin in the eyes of God.

Adultery is a sin of commission as it breaks the commandment against committing adultery. It is considered a violation of the sacred covenant of marriage and is symbolic of spiritual infidelity towards God.

These examples demonstrate how lying, stealing, murder, and adultery are all considered sins of commission, as they involve taking actions that go against God's commands.

They can be redeemed by repentance and faith in God's mercy

Sins of commission are those in which a person takes action to commit a sin, whether in thought, word, or deed. This can be done intentionally or unintentionally. For example, in the Bible, Adam and Eve committed a sin of commission when they ate the forbidden fruit from the tree (Genesis 2:16-17).

However, even these sins can be redeemed through repentance and faith in God's mercy. Repentance is a crucial step towards reconciliation and restoration with God. It involves acknowledging and rejecting one's sin, seeking forgiveness, and striving to avoid repeating it. In Acts 3:19, the apostle Peter says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." This highlights the connection between repentance and forgiveness, leading to spiritual renewal.

The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who repented and turned to God for mercy. One such example is King David, who committed adultery and then had Uriah killed to cover up his sin (2 Samuel 11). In Psalm 51, David models the right way to deal with sin. He repents sorrowfully, yet with confidence in God's mercy, saying, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (Psalm 51:10-12).

David's repentance led him to turn to God, confess his sin, and seek God's cleansing power. This act of repentance and faith in God's mercy brought about a transformation in his life, and he was able to restore his relationship with God.

Another example is found in 1 Samuel 7:3-17, where the people of Israel truly repent and experience God's mercy. Samuel, a prophet, calls them to put away their foreign gods and turn back to serving the Lord with all their hearts. Their repentance is reflected in their actions, as they pour out water, fast, and confess their sins. In response, God forgives them and delivers them from their enemies, demonstrating His mercy.

These examples illustrate that even sins of commission can be redeemed through genuine repentance and faith in God's mercy. By turning away from sin, seeking forgiveness, and embracing a life of faith and obedience, individuals can restore their relationship with God and experience His grace and mercy.

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