Unraveling Sin’s New Testament Definition!

Part 3 in the series “Knowing the Truth About Sin Will Set You Free”

In previous messages in the series, “Sin: Knowing the Truth About It Will Set You Free,” we have learned that there is no longer any condemnation for sin and that the Old Testament law system has been abolished. Yet the term sin is found in the New Testament and even before the giving of the Old Testament law sin existed. So if sin isn’t the infraction of a law system, what is it and where did it come from?

Find a New Testament definition of sin and learn how to live free from its destructive effects by living the new covenant, kingdom way.

Message presented to ZChurch.life April 27, 2024

Review of previous messages

All sin has been paid for for all time by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:12).
Since all sin is paid for, there is no act of human conduct that can condemn us if we are in Christ (Romans 8:1, John 3:18).
The Old Testament law system has been abolished, nailed to the cross, and made obsolete (Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 8:13).

The primary point of this message is to get us to stop hearing the word “sin” as meaning individual infractions of law in a works-based system and the associated condemnation for failure.

We need to understand the different meanings of the word “sin,” and when, where, and how to apply them.

Three Definitions of sin (Taken from or based on definitions in Thayer’s Greek lexicon)

The state of being without a share in the divine nature.
A violation of the Old Testament law.
To miss the mark.

Sin
Greek: hamartia
Thayer Definition:
1) equivalent to 264
1a) to be without a share in
1b) to miss the mark
1c) to err, be mistaken
1d) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
1e) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin
2) that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act
3) collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many

Definition #1 – Sin as a state

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

These same words are used in Genesis 5:3 to describe the son whom Adam begot in his likeness and image. Man was made in the God class and infused with the divine life just as much as Adam’s son was made human and infused with Adam’s physical life and nature.

Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

In that day, Adam died because the divine nature of life went out of him. He became spiritually dead and without a share in the divine nature of life.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

SIN AS A STATE SOLVED

The state of being without a share in the divine nature of eternal life was solved by the new covenant that makes believers alive together with Christ (Colossians 2:13) and restores us to sharing in the divine nature through the exceeding great and precious promises of the New Testament (2 Peter 1:4).

Definition #2 – Sin as a violation of the law

The Old Testament law was not given to make men righteous. It was given to demonstrate to men that they were without a share in the divine nature and therefore could not approach God on merit.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law was not given to provide men a way to earn right standing by works, but to make them despair of works and of any effort to justify themselves by works.

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

SIN AS VIOLATIONS OF LAW SOLVED

Jesus Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for all sins forever (Hebrews 10:12).

Then God abolished the Old Testament law system (Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 8:13).

NOTE: The law is still right and good, but is no longer in effect as a requirement that believers are judged by (Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin).

Definition #3 – Sin as missing the mark under the new covenant

Both the state of sin in Adam and individual acts of sin under the law are dealt with and are nonfactors for new covenant believers – they don’t apply to us.

Nevertheless, the New Testament still uses the term sin, for example:

Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Since the first two definitions of sin have been dealt with, this could only be a reference to definition #3, “To miss the mark or deviate from the way of the divine nature.”

What is the mark?

For the new covenant believer, the mark is conformity to Christ (Romans 8:29) who is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3). The mark for the new covenant believer is the glory of God in the divine nature.

A more practical definition of sin for the new covenant believer is to miss the mark by knowing, seeing, thinking, believing, speaking, or doing anything that is against, contrary to, other than, or in place of our maker’s design for us (moral conduct) or the right ways of our king and his kingdom (seek first the kingdom’s right ways – Matthew 6:33).

SIN OF MISSING THE MARK SOLVED

The good news is that under the terms of the new covenant, there is no law against missing the mark, and therefore, no condemnation or punishment for it.

1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

Under the terms of the new covenant we’re not under a works-based, performance-based system, and missing the mark doesn’t condemn us or disqualify us from the divine nature or cause us to forfeit the Father’s love. When we miss the mark, God doesn’t even remember it.

Hebrews 8:12 FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”