Salvation

What is sin?

By Jeremy Osborn

Sin is an unfashionable word, and most people hear it as a list of embarrassing habits. The Bible means something far bigger and far more personal.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23 (KJV)

What Scripture says

Scripture says sin is universal and that it is fundamentally direction, not degree: every one of us has turned to his own way. It also says sin has a wage, and that wage is death.

What this means

This levels everybody. The respectable and the wrecked are in the same position before God. That sounds like bad news until you see why it matters: a problem everyone shares can be answered by a rescue offered to everyone.

Go deeper

Notice that Isaiah puts the diagnosis and the cure in a single sentence. Our iniquity is laid on Him. The verse that names the disease already names the doctor.

Supporting Scripture

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6 (KJV)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23 (KJV)

Think about it

Where have you been measuring yourself against other people rather than against God? What changes when the standard is His glory and not the average?

Put it into practice

Be honest with God about one specific thing today. Not a general apology — name it.

Pray

Father, I have sinned. I have gone my own way. I am not going to argue with you about it any more. Have mercy on me. Amen.

Your next step

See what God did about sin: the salvation study.

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