What is Sin?

In 1 John 3:4 we read, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." Someone might ask, "What law is he talking about?" The New Testament law teaches we must be born again and live free from sin. Sin is separation from God Isaiah59:1-2, "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God; and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Sin is yielding to temptation To be tempted is not sin, but to yield to the temptation is sin. Hebrews4:15b, “But was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Sin is the devil’s work I John 3:8, "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." He goes on to tell us in verse9, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Sin is in the heart and is more than just having bad habits or going to the wrong kind of places. Sin is also wrong attitudes and wrong feelings. We might mention only a few, such as envy, strife, hate, jealousy, resentment,unforgiveness, rebellion, and lust. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus said, "but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Here sin is committed without a thing being said or a move being made. I John 3:15, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." Here again sin is the wrong attitude or feeling. Sin caused God to ignore us Psalms 66:18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."John 9:31“Now we know that God heareth not sinners.” Jesus spoke to the Pharisees in John8: 21 saying, “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins; Whither I go ye cannot come.” Sin not only separates us from God now, but will also separate us forever. Sin is the way that seemeth right. Proverbs 14:12,"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." It seems right for some people to join a church, but church joining will never lead to life eternal. It will only lead to death.The moral man's life also seems right to him. He says, "I live good. I do not have any bad habits. Why should I have to be born again?" Nicodemus, in the third chapter of John, was this kind of man. He was both religious and a good moral man, but Jesus said to him, "Ye must be born again." Many religious ways may seem right to some people, but they need to keep checking them by the word of God. John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life." The Bible is our road map, and if we study it with an open heart, God will show us the way. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." Why not repent today and let Christ blot out your sins?