Sin and transgression

October 6, 2023

Sin comes in many different shapes and forms, and many don’t have a clear understanding of what it is. Understanding transgressions against God to the fullest extent is crucial to your salvation and maintaining it.

What is sin?
Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). In a more broad sense, sin is anything that is contrary to God's will and all forms of unrighteousness (1 John 5:17). All transgressions are either sins of commission or sins of omission.

The sin of commission
The sin of commission relates to breaking the Ten Commandments. Jesus described defilement as sin that occurs within you, which subsequently comes out (Matthew 15:18; Mark 7:20). Breaking any of the commandments would be a sin relating to defilement because that evil transpires from the heart (Mark 7:21-22). Other sins that can be derived from breaking the commandments would also be defilement. For instance, hatred. Jesus compared hate to the sin of murder (Matthew 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15). Jesus also explained that if you look at someone lustfully, then you have committed adultery with them in your heart (Matthew 5:28). Essentially, the act of physically violating any of the Ten Commandments is the result of the sin that occured in the heart, which is what caused the defiling act to be performed. Therefore, the sin of commission relate to any evil works that you commit.

The sin of omission
The sin of neglect was one of the great transgressions that many Jews were delinquent of during Jesus’ ministry on earth. Some Jews kept the commandments entirely (Matthew 19:20). However, Jesus rebuked them for not doing good works, in some cases for not giving to the poor (Matthew 19:21-22). Good works are the honorable things you do for others apart from keeping the commandments (1 Timothy 3:1, 5:10; James 2:21, 2:25). Good works could be reading the Bible, engaging in prayer, taking a leadership role in church, or simply holding the door open for someone. Notice how failing to do any specific good work isn’t directly breaking any of the commandments, which means this sin can take different forms depending on your circumstances. But you will know when you have sinned because the Holy Spirit will convict you of it (John 16:8). Not doing good works when convicted is the sin of neglect (James 4:17). Doing good works is required for all faithful followers of Christ. When Christ separates the sheep and goats before condemnation (Matthew 25:31-33), the sheep, who are representative of God's elect, are the ones who have done good works to others (Matthew 25:34-36). On the other hand, the goats did not do good works to others, and were to depart from the presence of the Lord (Matthew 25:41-43). Both the sheep and goats in this parable were professed followers of the Lamb (in saying "Lord"), who may have kept all the commandments of God. Yet the sins of neglect were considered in the judgement and were weighed against the goats. Therefore, the sin of omission is relating to good works you neglect to do.