What Does the Bible Say About Sin?

Sin is mentioned all throughout the Bible, and it is the existence of it that creates the calamities of life. The existence of sin is what brought death into the world. In 1 John 3:4 (NIV), the Bible tells us that sin is lawlessness and everyone who partakes of it breaks the law. It is also sin that causes our physical and spiritual death, which creates our need for a savior. Let's look at the topic of sin and how Jesus provides us a remedy to save us from it.

The Bible says that sin separates us from God. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 (NIV) that we “fall short” of God's glory because of sin. God also cannot look upon sin with approval. In Matthew 27:46 (NIV), the Bible tells us how God had to turn his back on Jesus while Jesus was on the Cross. Jesus had taken on all the sins of mankind in his sacrificial death, but God would not look upon them. This is why (and also the answer to why) Jesus cried out asking God why he was forsaking him.

The Bible says that everyone is guilty of sin. 1 John 1:8 (NIV) plainly states that if anyone thinks they are sinless, then that person is deceived. We are all descendants of God's first creation Adam. The Bible clearly states in Romans 5:12 (NIV) that all of us received the sinful nature passed to us by Adam.

Sin has serious consequences in this life and the life after. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 (NIV) that the price of sin is death. In this verse (Romans 6:23), death is physical and spiritual, which means to spend eternity apart from God in a place called Hell. But sin also destroys lives here on this earth. Think of all the wars, murders, abuses, robberies, and other crimes. The Ten Commandments, found in the Book of Exodus, are violated by many each day. And what are the results of sin? The results can be seen as poverty, disease, death, starvation, broken homes, and broken hearts. It is no wonder why God hates sin. Just look at what it has done to his creation.

We sin when we know to do something good, but do not do so. There are situations where we know we ought to do something right but take no action either because of inconvenience or worrying what others would think. The Bible says in James 4:17 (NIV) that when we fail to do what we know is right, we sin. A good example in the Bible of failing to do what is right is the Story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37 (NIV). Here was a man injured and dying on the road, and a priest and Levite both went to the other side and ignored him. These two were guilty of the sin of failing to do what was right because they could have helped the injured man just as the Samaritan did.

The Bible makes it clear that sin can be forgiven. This is the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in that God provides a way for all to be forgiven of their sin. Romans 6:23 (NIV) not only says that the wages of sin is death but that God gives a free gift of eternal life which means he forgives sin. And when God forgives sin, He also forgets. God makes this promise in Hebrews 8:10-12 (NIV). This is something we humans cannot do. We might forgive, but we struggle with forgetting. Additionally, in Psalm 103:12 (NIV), the Bible says that God can remove transgressions as far as the east is from the west. Finally, 1 John 1:9 (NIV) tells of God's promise to forgive our sins if we confess them to Him.

Always remember that God sent His only Son, Jesus, down to earth so that He could die for our sins and save us through His sacrifice (John 3:16-17). All you have to do is believe in Him as Lord and Savior to be saved (Romans 10:9).