What is Sin?

Let's look at the definition of the word "sin". Sin can be a noun or it can be a verb. In John
16:8-10 states "And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin because they do not believe in Me; of
righteousness because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;". In this particular
verse, sin is refer to as a noun. The Bible states very clearly that sin is defined as not
believing in Christ Jesus.

Many Christians have always misinterpreted the meaning of sin in John 16:8. I for one,
used to think that the Holy Spirit comes to convict me of my sins. For so many years have I
come under this bondage and all the while I lived in the misery thinking that I am not
worthy to approach God. Reading vs.10 slowly, the second responsibility of the Holy Spirit
is to convict the Christians of righteousness. The "you" in vs.10 basically refers to the
disciples of Christ which translates to the present day believers of Christ. The Holy Spirit is
not a fault finder. He does not come to convict us of sin (verb) at all once we are believers.
Instead He comes to convict us of righteousness in Christ. See 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans
3:21-24, 5:19. However this is a separate topic altogether.

Sin as a verb is basically disobedience to God, rebellion towards God. It is an action or

actions that people do as an act of defiance towards the Creator. Sin in the Old Testament
is not considered rebellion towards God until the law is imputed during Moses' time. As we
read in Exodus 16, before the law was given, when the Israelites grumbled against God,
God did not punished them. When they grumbled and complained that God led them out
from Egypt to die, God rained down bread from heaven. When they complained that they
have no meat to eat, God sent quails to feed them. When they complained that they are
thirsty, God gave them water from a rock in vs.17. All these actions are actually rebellion
against God. But did God punished them? No. Do they deserved to be punished? Yes. But
God is a God of mercy and love. He is a God of compassion and grace. God gave them what
they do not deserved. This is called grace.

However, all these changed when the law was given at Mount Sinai. After the law was given
(Exodus 32), man will die whenever he complained and rebelled against the Lord God of
Israel. The death of Christ reverse this totally. Henceforth, our sins have been justified on
the body of Jesus. Jesus cried in John 19:30 " It is finished!". God's fiery judgment has
been totally exhausted on the body of Jesus. Our sins have been judged and there will be
no further judgment. Even if we do sin, Christ is our Advocate with God the Father. (Read
this in 1 John 2:1-2). As long as the believer is not living a lifestyle of sin (verb), remember
that we have Jesus to advocate with the Father.