Romans 3:20

WHAT IS SIN?

‘For by the law is the knowledge of sin.’

Romans 3:20

The scriptural definition of sin is that ‘sin is the transgression of the law.’ And it is a most accurate and comprehensive description, for if there were no ‘law’ of any kind, there would be no ‘transgression.’ ‘Transgression’ is a stepping over a certain line, and the line—the only line—is ‘the law.’

I. There are many ‘laws,’ and the ‘transgression’ of any one of them is a ‘sin.’

(a) There is the natural ‘law’ of conscience, which is born with every man who comes into the world.

(b) There is the Old Testament ‘law,’ which is chiefly negative. It lies, for the most part, in prohibition; those words, so often repeated, ‘Do not.’ This law is higher than the law of nature, more clear, more minute, and far more stringent.

(c) Above both there is the ‘law’ of love—the law of the New Testament, the law of the gospel. You are forgiven; you are saved; you are loved. Therefore love back the God Who so loves you, and show your love by your obedience both to His Word and to His will.

It is evident that as these three laws rise in their character, so do they also in their obligation upon us; and the sins committed against them grow in the same proportion.

II. Sins of omission are not sufficiently regarded in their true character.—A sin of omission is greater than a sin of commission in this—that all the sins of commission have their growth in sins of omission. It will not be too much to say that omission is the cause of every sin you ever commit! At the Day of Judgment the charge against those on the left hand is sins of omission. It is not what they did, but it is what they did not do. It is only the empty house which the evil spirit can enter; and if it is empty he can and will enter! Let me advise you earnestly to think more of your sins of omission, and you will have very little cause to think of any other sins besides.

III. The genealogy of sin.—No sin is isolated. Ever sin lies in a chain. First, there is a thought; then there is a picture to the mind and the imagination; then there is a desire; then there is a purpose; then there is an act; then there is a habit; and then there is death! In that chain where does the greatest sin lie? In the indulged thought.

IV. All sin resolves itself into self.—Selfishness of some kind or other is at the root. Self-independence, self-indulgence, and self-exultation make every sin. They are almost one word—self and sin! We are made for one another—for the world, for the Church and for God; and whatever we take from these, and give to self, is sin. In Christ there was no self. All self was lost in love. This was the Jaw of the life of Christ, and by that ‘law’ of the life of Christ ‘is the knowledge of sin.’

Rev. James Vaughan.