What is Sin?

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” — James 4:17

What do we learn about sin from this scripture?

1) To commit sin is to willfully disobey God’s commandments or to fail to act righteously despite a knowledge of the truth.

2) Our ability to sin is connected to our knowledge of what sin is, therefore, our coming under the condemnation of sin is a result of our knowledge of what is right and wrong.

Expanded Q&A:

1) Is sinful behavior only a sin if you believe the behavior is sinful?

No. What is wrong is always wrong, regardless of whether you know it is wrong or even believe it is wrong, but your accountability to God for your actions is limited by your knowledge.

An example would be: Gravity will make you fall whether or not you know that gravity will make you fall, but if you are a young child who believes he can fly off the deck like a bird and you get hurt when you hit the cement below, the adults who have care of you are less likely to be angry at your foolishness than if you did the same foolish act at an age when your knowledge should have prevented it.

2) If a person doesn’t know something they are doing is wrong, then are they free and clear of the consequences of their actions?

No. Actions against God’s law lead to painful consequences for everyone who breaks these laws, regardless of their knowledge of God or their belief in him. However, those who have the greater light will receive the greater condemnation before the Lord when they sin against that light.

An example: Regardless of whether or not you know the spiritual consequence of sexual promiscuity, your life will suffer because of it. The natural consequences of possible physical disease, the emotional damage of choices related to unwanted pregnancies, the diminishing ability to have healthy attached relationships, etc., these will come as consequences to all who engage in this unhealthy and dangerous behavior. For those who had knowledge of the serious sinfulness of sexual impurity and promiscuity outside marriage but willfully sins against that knowledge, will not not suffer these earthly consequences but they will suffer even greater spiritual consequences and must stand before God under a greater condemnation if they do not repent.

Other than Jesus Christ, each person who has ever lived on earth has broken the commandments of God or failed to act according to knowledge of the truth. The Apostle John taught: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

The Light of Christ “lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9), even those who have not studied the laws of God, reject his authority, or deny his existence have some knowledge of what is right and wrong. Their consciousness may have become less sharp and their spiritual eyes may have darkened, some may even become “past feeling” and “without natural affection,” but at some point in their lives, and at moments in their downward path, they had moments of choice aided by the conscience and clarity of the light of Christ.