WHAT IS SIN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?

Many people are often unsure what sin is in the New Testament. The lack of clarity is because there are certain life events/ actions that do not have direct examples in the Bible for which they can reference to. For instance, someone that gave to charity might be committing a sin if his sole purpose is to post the action on social media. In such circumstances, how do you determine if your actions are sinful or not.

In the New Testament, there are two key parameters for judging sin. The first one is love, the second one is faith. We will begin by taking a close look at these two parameters.

Firstly, let’s read Romans Chapter 13 verse 8:

(Romans 13:8-10 KJV) Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandments, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Did you read that? “He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” In other words, anything that is outside love is sin (i.e. has transgressed the law) because love is the fulfilling of the law. By walking in love, you walk in God.

Secondly, I recommend you read the entire chapter 14 of the book of Romans. In verse 22 and 23, it says, do you have faith? Let it be between you and God. Happy are those who do not feel guilty when they do something they judged right! And if they feel guilty when they do something they judged right, they are condemned. In other words, they have sinned because they are not doing it out of faith.

(Romans 14:22-23 KJV) Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eats, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

So, sin in the New Testament is whatever is outside love or whatever is outside faith or whatever is outside both (i.e. Faith that works by Love - Galatians 5:6).

(Galatians 5:6 ESV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Sin can therefore be defined as anything that is not of faith that works by love. The parameters for judging sin are love and faith.

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