Sin
Sin is defined by the Bible as “lawlessness”.1 It was first encountered in the Garden of Eden when Eve broke the one law given by God when she ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.2
It is important to note that where there is no law, there is no sin.3 However, that does not mean that without the law there is no such thing as “right” and “wrong”. Paul highlights in Romans 7:7-8 that:
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
(Rom 7:7-8)
Without a law or a knowledge of good and evil, someone does not have the ability to make a choice of right or wrong and therefore cannot be fairly judged for breaking the law (making the wrong choice).
it is important that sin is primarily concerned with breaking God’s laws. However, the Bible instructs us to obey the various laws instituted in the country we live in4 unless they contradict God’s law.5
Sin is more complicated than simply following a set of rules written down. James makes it clear that sin is also when you do not do things that you should6. Jesus was also very clear that the “spirit” of the law is the essence that must be followed, not the legalistic application of God’s law. This is perhaps best epitomised in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5 and 6. There Jesus explained that laws such as “you shall murder” from the law of Moses is teaching us that we should not even be angry at our brother without cause. It is not enough to not kill someone, we should not even want to kill them.
The fundamental requirement to avoid sin is not to memorise and abide by a set of written laws as the Pharisees had done in the time of Jesus and were severly reprimanded for doing so7. Instead the intent is to use the examples and commandments in the Bible to assist in discerning, considering and doing out best to act as God would in the same situation8.