What is sin? Biblical questions and answers

 

730. What is sin? 

“Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).

731. What is included in this subject? 

“All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17). 

732. What has faith to do with this subject? 

“Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

733. When does foolishness become sin? 

“The thought of foolishness is sin” (Proverbs 24:9)

734. What sweeping statement does James make with reference to those who know their duty and neglect it? 

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

735. How many kinds of sin are there? 

Two: original or Adamic, and actual or committed. 

736. What is original sin? 

It is the depravity of man, originating with the fall of man and transmitted from generation to generation. 

737. What Is actual sin?It is the voluntary wrongdoing of responsible beings. 

738. Who are responsible beings? 

He “that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” 

739. What part of the human family is free from sin? 

They who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour (Romans 8:12). 

740. What part is good enough without Christ? 

“There is none righteous, no, not one . . . all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 

3:10, 23). 

741. How do we get rid of sin? 

“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). 

742. Are there not some who say they have no sins? 

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). 

743. That is as much as to say that we sin every day, and can’t help it. 

“He that committeth sin is of the devil.” 

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin” (2 John 3:8, 9). 

744. What lesson do we learn from these Scriptures?

That we are all poor, weak mortals, subject to error and liable to make grievous blunders; but not so poor 

and weak that we may not by the grace of God live the overcoming life above knowingly doing things which 

are wrong. 

745. What about the man who knows that he is not doing what he ought to, but justifies himself because of 

his weaknesses? 

He is either deceived or a hypocrite. Self-justification is no substitute for James 4:17 and 1 John 3:8, 9. 

746. Is it possible for people to live up to all the light they have? 

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). 

747. Has any man whereof to boast? 

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest be fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). 

748. What is our duty toward those who boast of their exalted standing spiritually? 

Pity them, warn them, pray for them. 

749. What is our Saviour’s warning? 

“Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation (Matthew 26:41). 

750. Who is the author of sin? 

The devil (John 8:44). 

751. How look upon it? 

“Abhor that which is evil” (Romans 12:9). “Sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). 

752. What are some of the sins mentioned in the Bible ? 

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviouness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, emulations, strife, sedition, 

heresy, envy, murder, filthiness foolish talking, drunkenness, reveling, covetousness, jesting, boasting, pride, 

blasphemy, ingratitude, fierceness, treachery, dissipation, high-mindedness, persecution, etc., etc., (Galatians 

5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3,4; 1 Timothy 5:4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5). 

753. What is the divine sentence? 

“They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21). 

754. What is the effect of sin upon the soul? 

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). 

755. What will become of the wicked? 

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). 

756. Is there no escape? 

Yes. 

757. By what means? 

Through Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), repentance (Luke 13:1-5), by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). 

758. What is God’s message to a sinful world? 

“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the end of the earth” (Isaiah 45:22). 

759. What encouragement to vile sinners to accept their Saviour? 

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as White as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall 

be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).760. Are there any sinners who are beyond redemption? 

Yes. The Bible mentions those who have blasphemed against the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12-31, 32), and 

those who had once attained a very high state of spirituality and then wilfully fell away (Hebrews 6:4-6). 

761. What of those who persist in wilfully disobeying the truth? 

There is danger that God will deliver them to reprobacy of mind. Read Genesis 6:3; Romans 1:28; 2 Thessa-

lonians 2:11. 

762. What advice should be given to all sinners? 

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found” (Isaiah 55:6).