What is Sin and How Do We Repent From It?
Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from our sin. That little word appears in the Bible over seven hundred times, plus the frequent use synonyms. Therefore, to understand anything of Christianity, we must know what the Bible means by sin.
The Biblical Definition of Sin
Sin is any violation of God’s requirements for human beings, whether it be in actions, words, thoughts, attitudes, or motivations. When God made mankind in his image, he intended them to reflect his character as well as to keep his commandments. Yet when we look at humanity (in general and in ourselves) we see clearly that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
The Meaning of Sin in Scripture
The Hebrew and Greek words that are translated “sin” both mean “to miss a mark,” like an archer missing his target. “Sin” is the most frequent term the Bible uses, as it is the most general and all-encompassing term. Other words the Bible uses are “transgression” (an act of breaking an expressed commandment or law); “iniquity” (internal immorality in the core of our being); “evil” and “wicked” (a disposition towards what is sinful); and “rebellion” (blatant defiance of God).
The Doctrine of Original Sin
The Bible teaches that all human beings are born sinners, which is known as the doctrine of “original sin.” In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve broke the God’s commandment when they ate the forbidden fruit, with the punishment for their sin being death (see Genesis 3). When Adam sinned—being the first man and the representative for all of mankind who come from him—he brought all human beings after him into sin. Paul says in Romans 5:12 that “Sin came into the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
The Nature of Sin
What this means for human beings—and this is key to understanding sin biblically—is that sin is both something we do and something that we have. Sin is not simply an outward breaking of a law, but it comes from something broken within us.
All human beings are born with a “sin nature.” It is, in a way, natural for us to sin. It is impossible for us not to sin. Every aspect of our humanity is tainted and corrupted by sin—our thoughts, our emotions, and our desires—and that internal corruption will show itself in external actions of evil, wickedness and rebellion.
Sin and the Christian Life
The Struggle with Sin
Even Christians still retain this sinful nature on this side of heaven. Paul, as a Christian who loves Jesus and is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, says of himself “I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. […] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Rom. 7:14b-15; 18-19).
While we are called to be perfect and holy like our Heavenly Father is perfect and holy (Matt. 5:48; 1 Pet. 1:15-16), we will never be perfect or sinless. While we grow in holiness, we may sin less. Yet, when we grow in holiness, we actually see that our sin is deeper than we ever imagined. Paul, a holy man in his own right, saw how deep his sin went and cried out “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24)
The Hope of Salvation
The answer? “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:25). We are all sinners, but Christ came into the world to save sinners. We are all guilty of iniquity, transgression, and sin, but the Lord is “a God merciful and gracious…forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Ex. 34:6-7).
In fact, in Romans 5:12-21, Paul explains that in the same way that in the same way Adam brought all of humanity into sin through his disobedience, those who believe in Jesus are brought into grace and new life through his obedience. “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Rom. 5:18-19).
Repentance from Sin
The Call to Repent
When we realize that we are sinners, guilty of transgressing God’s law and iniquitous in the core of our beings, and when we realize that Jesus Christ is the one way that we can be saved from our sin, the Bible says that we are to repent from our sins.
The Meaning of Repentance
Repentance cannot be simply defined as “to stop sinning.” Repentance involves the heart rather than just actions. The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament to describe repentance is the basic verb “to turn.” Repentance, in this sense means to turn from your sin and turn towards God in faith.
The New Testament Greek word is metanoia; meta- meaning “change” and -noia meaning “mind” or “opinion.” In this sense, repentance is to change your mind or opinion about sin and yourself. It means recognizing that your thoughts, words, and deeds—and you yourself—are sinful before a holy God and deserving of eternal punishment, while also recognizing that the God your sin offends is the God who will forgive your sins through the person and work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
True Repentance
True repentance must include this conviction of our sin and turning to God by faith. It is much more than just changing your actions. However, it is not less than changing your actions. If you truly see your sin for what it is, you will want nothing to do with it. You will turn from it, flee from it, and fight against it.
At the beginning of his Ninety-Five Theses, Martin Luther wrote, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. This word cannot be understood as referring to the (Roman Catholic) sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy. Yet it does not mean solely inner repentance; such inner repentance is worthless unless it produces various outward mortification of the flesh.”
The Battle Against Sin
That phrase “outward mortification of the flesh” essentially means “killing your sin.” The Bible uses violent words to describe our battle with sin:
“So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (Rom. 6:11-13)
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 8:13)
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” (Col. 3:5-6)
Salvation by Grace
But, we must remember this: we are not saved by how good we repent or by how much less we sin after we become a Christian. We must fight our sin until the day Christ returns or calls us home, but we are ultimately saved by grace through faith in Christ, the sinless Savior who took our sins and gave us his perfect righteousness.
