Overcoming Sin
by Mike James
As we end our first Holy Day season of the year (Passover and Unleavened Bread), we need to be reminded of the fact that we must work at eradicating sin from our lives. Yes, we are saved by grace through faith, but we are also expected to do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Good works, of course, are the opposite of bad works, or sin.
We will begin by defining the Greek and Hebrew words for sin. In Hebrew, the word for sin is hata or chattah. It can mean erring, doing wrong, missing the mark, or going astray. The primary Greek word for sin is harmatia. Much like the Hebrew word, it means to miss the mark. There are other terms in the Hebrew and Greek pertaining to sin, but these are the primary words associated with it.
Much like in archery, where you miss the bullseye, what is the bullseye we are missing when we sin?
Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 that the Christian life is a life of discipline and perseverance. He admitted in these verses that he could be disqualified in receiving his prize. James 1:22-25 also makes it clear we can't just talk about God's Word; we have to do what it says.
The first point to make about how to overcome sin is to define exactly what it is. Our most popular teaching on this is that sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4). In this same book, John makes it clear that unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17). When you put those verses together with Psalm 119:172, which tells us God's commandments are righteousness, we begin to see an obvious pattern in Scripture.
Keeping God's commands and law, which are expressed in your Bible, is the first step in moving your life away from sin. When we "miss the mark," we are moving away from God's law. God is righteousness. His character is RIGHT, and we need to follow His law as best we can as a goal. By meditating, studying, and reading God's Word (the Bible), we understand what sin is and what to avoid.
But there is more to sin than just the transgression of God's law. In Romans 14:23, we read that what is not from faith is also sin. The context of this chapter pertains to meat that was sacrificed to idols and then sold in the marketplace. Some Christians were afraid to eat that meat because it was first dedicated to an idol. They felt they would be sinning by eating that meat. There was no specific law of God that prohibited eating that meat. But some could misinterpret Exodus 34:12-15 to mean they should not eat this kind of meat.
Today, this issue is not as concerning to God's people, but we have similar issues dealing with how to observe the Sabbath. Some are much more conservative, and some are more liberal in making Sabbath decisions. Remember to keep in mind what is not of faith is sin if the Bible does not explicitly spell it out. If you are unsure, maybe it is better to refrain from the action.
We have yet another example of a sin we may not always think of. In James 4:17, we read that those who know the good to do and don't do it can also be sinning. This gets into the idea that sin is not just a commission, but an omission too.
Think about this example. You are walking down the street and come up to a homeless person asking for a handout. They look like they need a meal, and you do have an extra $20 you can spare. There is a fast-food joint nearby. Do you buy them a sandwich or just keep walking by? There is good to do here, are you going to do it? I'm sure you can think of other similar examples.
As we look at all three of these definitions of sin in the Bible, we see they all pertain to God's primary characteristic of love (1 John 4:8). In the first definition of sin, we can learn that all of God's commandments and laws pertain to loving God and man. The second definition of sin is related to concern (love) for not going against God's wishes, even if you were incorrect in your assessment. Finally, not doing the right thing is also related to failing to act from love.
I guess the Beatles were right, "All you need is love." Keep these ideas in mind as you work on eradicating sin from your life.