Nearly everyone has a different idea about what constitutes sin. Do you know? If sin brings the death penalty (..."slickWindow('Romans','6','23')" title="View scripture">Rom. 6:23), then the Bible must tell us what it is so that we can avoid such a terrible punishment. Do not settle for half-answers or the opinions of men. Do not concern yourself with what "religious people" and this world's ministers say, but with what the Bible says.
God's Word reveals truth (..."slickWindow('John','17','17')" title="View scripture">John 17:17). Here is His definition-the true definition-of sin: "Whosoever commits SIN transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (..."slickWindow('1 John','3','4')" title="View scripture">I John 3:4). GOD decides what sin is. And He states that it is transgressing-breaking-His laws. Since sin is the transgression of the law, and the opposite would be obedience to the law, then exactly what law must we obey?
The answer is the Ten Commandments! Let's prove it with some review. John also wrote, "All unrighteousness is sin" (..."slickWindow('1 John','5','17')" title="View scripture">I John 5:17). Remember, "all [God's] commandments are righteousness" (..."slickWindow('Psalms','119','172')" title="View scripture">Psa. 119:172). So then, unrighteousness is sin-breaking God's Commandments.
The apostle James added, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend [sin] in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law [a lawbreaker]" (..."slickWindow('Psalms','2','10-11')" title="View scripture">2:10-11).
James was directly referring to the Ten Commandments.
