What is sin?

October 6, 2023

Sin comes in many different shapes and forms, and many don’t have a clear understanding of what sin exactly is. Understanding transgressions against God to the fullest extent is crucial to your salvation and maintaining it. This writing will reveal the four categories of sin so you know what to avoid in your walk with Christ.

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 unrighteous (1 John 5:17). All sin falls under any of these categories: defilement, neglect, abomination, and irresponsibility.

The sins of defilement
Jesus described defilement as sin that comes from within you (Matthew 15:18; Mark 7:20). Breaking any of the commandments would be the sin of defilement because that evil comes from your heart (Mark 7:21-22). Other sins that stem from any of the commandments would also be defilement. A great example is swearing, which is considered obscene and hateful language. 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 from your heart which is what caused the defilement.
Violating either of the two greatest commandments recited by Jesus would also be the sin of defilement (Matthew 22:37; Matthew 22:39), since those two commandments are the sum of the Ten Commandments (Romans 13:9).

The sins of neglect
The sin of neglect was one of the great transgressions that the Jews were guilty 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 most cases for not helping the poor (Matthew 19:21-22). Good works are the good tangible acts you do that support your faith 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 that failing to do any specific good work isn’t directly breaking any of the commandments, which means that this sin isn’t black-and-white and varies based on the circumstances. But you will know when you commit this sin because the Holy Spirit will convict you of it (John 16:8). Not doing good works in general when allowed to do so is the sin of neglect (James 4:17).

The sins of abomination
An abomination is any physical act that is obscene in God’s eyes and is also a sin. The sins of abomination are separate from the sins of defilement, but they primarily come from defilement. For example, consuming unclean meats will not defile you since that sin is not sourced from within you (Mark 7:19), but it is an abomination (Leviticus 11:41-43; Isaiah 66:17). In other words, it is an outrageous physical act in God's perspective. Additionally, refusal to refrain from unclean meats would fall under the sin of defilement because it is an insubordinate attitude towards God's will. Most sins of abomination are simply the sins of defilement but taken to extreme levels.
Some other abominations stated in the Bible include drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18), homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22), wearing clothes of the opposite sex (Deuteronomy 22:5), and bestiality (Leviticus 18:23). Although some abominations may not directly break any of the commandments, they are still sins that need to be confessed and repented of. Willfully committing abominations, like any other sin, can certainly keep you out of God’s kingdom (Revelation 21:27).

The sins of irresponsibility
Breaking the law of your land out of ignorance will still result in legal consequences. Breaking God’s law out of willful ignorance is also no different (Leviticus 5:17).
Although everyone will only be judged based on the light that has been revealed to them throughout their time on earth (Romans 2:14-15), no provision has been made for willful blindness of any truth (Ephesians 4:18). For example, if someone humbly brings to your attention a sin that you are still practicing in your life (assuming it is the Holy Spirit pleading to you through them) and choose not to repent of it, then that could put you on the path of condemnation, even if you have already been born again (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). There is no Biblical support to suggest that not understanding the new truth revealed to you (as an excuse for being unrepentant) will automatically grant you forgiveness. The Holy Spirit was sent to you so that He can guide you to the truth (John 16:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13), not to sanction willful ignorance. Once new revelation is revealed to you by the Holy Spirit, it is your responsibility to repent (Matthew 3:8). If you willfully sin after new truth is spoken to you by the Holy Spirit, then Jesus can’t forgive you for that sin unless you confess it (Hebrews 10:26; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9). God winked at the ignorance of everyone before Jesus’ ministry on earth. But back then and to this day, He commands everyone everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). God will not hold a sin against you if it is not evident to you in your life. But that and His willingness to forgive your sins if you confess and repent of them is as far as His mercy will go for you.