Holiness: Defining Sin

To determine what Holiness is, you have to start with what it isn't. What ever Holiness may be, we all know for sure that sin isn't it. But what is sin? Can we give a clear definitive answer? The Scripture, in 1 John 3:4, simply says "sin is lawlessness" (ESV).

"...a right knowledge of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity."

Without clearly understanding sin, Christ's sacrifice will mean nothing to us."Why would anyone need to die for my sins, I'm a relatively good person, I make a mistake now and again, but nothing too big, I never hurt anyone else, plus I do a lot of good." This is a very logical position, if we do not understand the nature of sin.

The COE, in part, defines sin, in the Ninth Article of Religion:

"[Sin] is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world..."

As Ryle points out, in short, "the entire human race" regardless of their life position or social class, where they were born or decide to reside, or even what language they speak, everyone is infected with this "vast moral disease." A disease that "from which there never was but one born of woman who was free."


So right off the bat we must understand that we are by our very nature sinners, and that sin nature has pushed us far from any lingering righteousness of our own. But what is "a sin"? "If you call me a sinner tell me what a sin is, so I know what not to do, if I can."

"A sin...consists of doing, saying, thinking, or imagining anything that is not in perfect conformity with the mind and law of God." That is quite a list. One that is insurmountable, to say the least. Too often we neglect those sins that are internal. We simply gloss over them, assuming, perhaps, that because no one else knows that you hate that guy that cut you off, or that you sneaked a peak at some internet pornography, or muttered under your breath something too vile for anyone to hear, that these do not count. As if God did not hear them or see them or feel them on the cross. External sins are ofttimes easy to pass off as "bad habits" that we don't often take part in, because of the embarrassment that comes along with them. But even those, just as with the internal, when they do come separate us from God.

More on this soon.
Thank you for reading!
Scott