What is Sin?

A Word No One Likes to Hear

The word "sin" is not a comfortable word — no one likes to be told: you are a sinner. Perhaps you say to yourself: I am a respectable person who has not killed anyone and has not stolen and has not harmed anyone — why does someone say to me that I am a sinner? Or perhaps you say: I pray and I fast and I give charity and I respect my parents — how can I be a sinner? This is a legitimate question and it deserves an honest and clear answer. But before you reject the word — ask yourself honestly: if you were suffering from a serious illness and did not know — would you want a doctor who lies to you and says you are fine so as not to upset you? Or would you want an honest doctor who tells you the truth so he can treat you and save your life? The King James Bible is the honest doctor — it tells you the truth about your spiritual condition not because it wants to discourage you but because it wants to give you the cure. And the cure exists — but you will not accept it if you do not know you need it.

What Exactly Is Sin?

Sin is anything that contradicts the will of the holy God — whether in action or in word or even in thought. Not only the major crimes that human law punishes — but every violation of God's perfect standard however small it may seem in our own eyes. Lying is sin — even the small lie you tell to avoid an embarrassing situation. Stealing is sin — even if it is something simple of no value in your view. Envy is sin — when you wish you possessed what someone else has or wish they would lose it. Pride is sin — when you think in your heart that you are better than others. Backbiting is sin — when you speak about a person in his absence in a way that harms him. Unjust anger is sin. Hypocrisy is sin — when you show people a face different from your true face. The lustful look is sin. The hurtful word is sin. And even the evil thoughts that no one has acted on and no one knows about — they are sin before God who sees the hearts and knows the thoughts.

Notice: the Lord Jesus Christ did not say that sin is only the physical act — but said that a mere lustful look is adultery in the heart. Meaning that God does not judge only your outward actions — but judges what goes on inside you of thoughts and intentions and desires. And before this standard — who among us is innocent?

Everyone Has Sinned — Without a Single Exception

This is not a human opinion or an arbitrary judgment — but a clear divine truth that the King James Bible declares with absolute clarity.

This verse is one of the most powerful verses in the King James Bible because it exempts no one. "All" — an absolute word that leaves no room for exception. Not some people, not only the wicked, not only unbelievers, but all humans without exception. The phrase "come short of the glory of God" means they have lost the honour that was given to them when created in the image of God. Sin has not merely made you bad, it has robbed you of the glory you were created to reflect.

"All" — this word exempts no one. Not the devout Muslim who prays five times a day, not the Catholic who attends Mass every Sunday, not the Orthodox who keeps the fasts, not the Jehovah's Witness diligent in field service, not the monk who retreated from the world, not the minister or the patriarch or any other human whatever. All have sinned — without a single exception. And even if you say: I am a good person better than many — this changes nothing. Because God does not compare you to people — God compares you to His own perfection. And the standard is not: are you better than your neighbour? But the standard is: are you perfect like God? And the answer is clear: no. No one is perfect. One single sin is enough to make you fall short before the holy God.

Where Did Sin Come From?

God created the first man — Adam — without sin in a perfect garden. He gave him freedom of choice and placed before him one simple commandment: do not eat from one specific tree. But Adam chose to disobey God and ate from the forbidden tree — and so sin entered the world.

This verse reveals the deep root of the problem of human sin. Sin did not begin with your actions, but with your first father Adam. When Adam sinned in the garden, he was not corrupting only himself but all his human descendants. How? Because he was the representative of all humanity. All of human seed was in him. When he fell, we all fell in him. This explains a perplexing question: why does an innocent child lie without anyone teaching him? Why do all naturally tend toward selfishness and hatred and lust? Not because society taught them, but because they were born with a corrupt nature inherited from Adam. This means that sin is not merely actions you commit sometimes — but a nature you were born with and inherited from Adam. You did not learn to lie from anyone — the small child lies automatically before anyone teaches him. No one taught you selfishness — but you were born selfish wanting everything for yourself. No one taught you anger — but it explodes from within you automatically when you do not get what you want. Sin is not something you did — but something you are. You do not become a sinner because you sin — but you sin because you are a sinner by your nature inherited from Adam.

Nothing Is Hidden From God

Perhaps you say: I hide my sins well — no one knows about them. But God is not like people — He sees everything and knows everything and nothing is hidden from Him.

"All things naked and opened" — every evil thought you thought in the dark, every forbidden look you gave when no one was watching, every lie you told thinking no one would know — all of it is uncovered before God as if it happened before Him in full view of all. There is no place you can hide from God and no secret you can conceal from Him. And on the day of judgment everything will be revealed — unless your sins have been forgiven by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Result of Sin — Eternal Death

What is the consequence of sin before the holy and just God? The King James Bible answers with frightening clarity.

The word "wages" means what you deserve by your work, what you have earned by your effort. The death here is not only physical death. Death in the King James Bible has three layers: physical death (the separation of the spirit from the body), spiritual death (the separation of man from God in this life), and eternal death (eternal separation from God in the lake of fire). Sin brings death in all its dimensions. But notice the beautiful turn in the verse: "but the gift of God." Death is wages you earn, but eternal life is a gift you do not earn. This gift is found "through Christ Jesus our Lord" — not in works, not in religions, not in prayers, but in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Perhaps you say: does the loving God punish people eternally? And the answer: yes — because God is not only loving but holy and just also. The judge who ignores crime is not a just judge but a corrupt judge. God is just — and His justice requires that every sin be punished. But — and this is the good news — God in His love found a way to punish sin and at the same time rescue the sinner. How? By paying the price Himself.

Why Cannot Works Erase Your Sin?

Here the greatest error that most religions and many people of all backgrounds fall into occurs. They think they can compensate for their sins by good works — as if good and bad works are placed in a scale and whoever's good deeds are heavier is saved. But this is not what the King James Bible teaches — and not how divine justice works. Think of it with a simple example from daily life: if you committed a murder and then went to court and said to the judge: I know I killed a person but after that I donated a million dollars to the poor and built a hospital and helped a thousand needy families — would a just judge drop the charge against you because your good works are many? Of course not — and if he did that he would be a corrupt judge and not a just one. Because good works do not erase the crime — the crime requires a punishment to be paid. So before God — your good works however great and numerous cannot erase a single sin. Islam teaches that good and bad deeds are placed in a scale — but the King James Bible says one sin is enough for condemnation and there is no scale. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches teach that church sacraments and Mass and confession to the priest are necessary for forgiveness — but the King James Bible says the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the Mediator and His blood alone cleanses from every sin. The Jehovah's Witnesses teach that loyalty to the organisation and field service are conditions for salvation — but the King James Bible says salvation is a free gift by faith alone. Even the atheist who says "I am an ethical person without religion" — his ethics however beautiful cannot erase a single sin before the holy God.

This verse demolishes a common illusion — the illusion that the "righteous" person is accepted before God because of his good works. People think that God puts their good deeds in one pan and their bad deeds in another, and if the good deeds outweigh they enter heaven. But this verse demolishes this thinking. God does not work by this system. His law is measured by absolute perfection not by relativity. Imagine a gold chain of a hundred links. If one link breaks, the whole chain is broken — it cannot be said that the chain is "mostly intact." This is what one sin does: it breaks your complete relationship with God. For this reason you need a Saviour. You cannot repair the chain by your future works, because it is still broken. You need someone to give you a completely new chain — and this is what the Lord Jesus Christ does.

The Good News — God Paid the Price Himself

If we stopped at the problem only — if the message were: you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and eternal punishment awaits you — then despair would be the natural result. But this is not the end of the story — it is its beginning. Because God did not leave us in our despair and fear. The holy God who does not accept sin is the same loving God who does not want anyone to perish. So how does He combine the justice that requires the punishment of sin with the love that wants to save the sinner? The answer takes your breath away: He paid the price Himself. His eternal Word became flesh in the Lord Jesus Christ — God Himself manifest in a human body — lived a complete life without a single sin because He is the holy one who does not sin — then went to the cross willingly with a love the human mind cannot comprehend and bore your sins in His body and paid their price with His precious blood. No one forced Him and no one compelled Him — but He did it because He loves you personally. Then He rose from the dead alive on the third day proving that the price was paid in full and that God accepted this sacrifice and that divine justice received its due.

This is the greatest exchange in history: the Lord Jesus Christ who never sinned once — took your sins upon Himself. And you the sinner — receive His righteousness. Like a completely innocent person who entered prison in your place and paid the full penalty so that you would be released forever. He died so that you might live. Notice the timing: "while we were yet sinners" — God did not wait until we reformed ourselves or deserved His love — He loved us and paid the price for us in our worst condition.

How Do You Receive Complete Forgiveness?

How do you pass from a state of condemnation to a state of complete forgiveness? Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone — by placing your complete trust in Him alone for your salvation. Not in your works and not in your prayers and not in your rituals and not in your church and not in your organisation and not in anything else — but in the Lord Jesus Christ alone who died for you and rose.

Notice the second verse carefully — it completes "the wages of sin is death": the wages of sin is death — but the gift of God is eternal life. Death is what you deserve — but eternal life is what God gives you freely as a gift by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You do not need to earn it and you do not need to deserve it — you only receive it by faith. And when you believe — all your sins are forgiven: past and present and future. All of them. Because the Lord Jesus Christ did not pay for some of your sins but for all of them. And your salvation is guaranteed forever.

Types of Sin in the King James Bible — A Deep Understanding of Your Problem

Many think sin is merely a small lie or a passing anger. But the King James Bible reveals that sin is deeper than that by far. It is a complete state of corruption that covers every dimension of your life. To understand the gravity of your situation before God, you must understand the different dimensions of sin as the King James Bible describes them.

The first type — the sin of action. This is the simplest type and the most obvious. It is the evil deeds you commit by your will: lying, stealing, anger, adultery, hatred, envy. Every wrong act is a sin of action. The problem is not only in the actions — the problem is in the person who commits them. No one is born innocent and becomes evil — but every person is born with a corrupt nature, and evil actions flow from this nature naturally.

The second type — the sin of neglect. Most people are unaware of this sin, but it is more serious than they think. It is the failure to do what you ought to do. Consider this frightening verse: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." — James 4:17. You may not lie today. But did you love your neighbour? You may not steal. But did you help the needy? You may not kill. But did you pray for the salvation of the lost? The sin of neglect is the failure to do what God requires of you. Many think that being "harmless to no one" makes them righteous. But before God, failure to do the required good is sin.

The third type — the sin of thought. This is the deepest dimension of sin. People may or may not see your actions. But God sees your thoughts. And the King James Bible is clear: "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." — Matthew 5:28. The Lord Jesus Christ says the passing glance of lust equals actual adultery before God. Why? Because God judges the heart, not only the outward action. By the same logic, murderous anger equals murder, and deep-seated hatred equals murder. This demolishes every claim of innocence. Who among us has not thought evil thoughts? Who among us has not harboured hatred even for a moment? Every person is guilty in his thoughts, even if nothing appears in his actions.

The fourth type — inherited sin. This is the deepest layer of sin. Not a sin you committed but one you inherited. Since Adam's fall in the garden, the corrupt nature has passed to all his descendants. "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." — Psalm 51:5. Man is born with a natural inclination toward sin. The child lies without being taught by anyone. Selfishness is in him before any social influence. This is not bad upbringing but an inherited nature. And you cannot rid yourself of it by your own strength. Man cannot change his nature just as the tree cannot change its species. Fundamental change requires a divine act that only the Lord Jesus Christ performs — and this is what is called "the new birth."

The Consequences of Sin — Deeper Than You Imagine

The first consequence — separation from God. This is the most dangerous consequence of sin. Sin does not merely make you bad, it separates you from God: "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." — Isaiah 59:2. Sin builds a wall between you and God. God is not far because He wants to be far, but because your sins have hidden Him. This is the deepest tragedy in the universe: man separated from the source of life. The second consequence — eternal death. "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." — Revelation 20:15. The holy God cannot accept sin in His presence. And whoever dies in his sins without accepting the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ remains in a state of eternal separation from God. The third consequence — slavery in this life. Sin is not merely a future problem — it is a painful present reality. The sinner is a slave to sin, a prisoner of it, unable to leave it: "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." — John 8:34. The addict to alcohol knows it is destroying him, but cannot stop. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can free him: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." — John 8:36.

The Origin of Sin in the History of Humanity — The Story of Adam and Eve

We cannot understand sin in your life today without going back to its origin in the history of humanity. God created Adam and Eve in a state of complete perfection. They lived in the Garden of Eden, enjoying the direct presence of God, knowing no death or sickness or pain. God gave Adam complete freedom with one condition only: not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The devil entered in the form of a serpent and tempted Eve with fundamental doubts: "Yea, hath God said...?" This is the first attack on man's confidence in the Word of God. Notice the tactic: the devil did not directly deny the Word of God but cast doubt on it. Eve ate, then Adam. And in one moment everything changed. They felt nakedness and shame for the first time. They hid from God for the first time. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Sin did not change only their behaviour but their very essence. And since that moment, every human being is born in the image of fallen Adam — not in the image of Adam before the fall. This is why every person since then is born with a natural inclination toward selfishness and lying and pride — not because society taught him these things but because his nature inherited from Adam is such.

How to Overcome Sin in Your Daily Life

Knowing the nature of sin is not enough. You need a practical way to overcome it daily. The King James Bible gives you six practical steps. The first step — know your enemy. The sinner cannot fight an enemy he does not know. Sin is not an abstract concept but a real force working against you. It comes from three directions: the world with its culture and pressures, the flesh with its lusts and desires, and the devil with his temptations and lies. The second step — cut off the paths of temptation. "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out." (Matthew 5:29). Cut off everything that drags you to sin, however dear it is to you. The third step — fill yourself with the Word of God. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." — Psalm 119:11. The more you are saturated with the Word of God, the harder it is for sin to capture you. Notice how the Lord Jesus Christ resisted the devil in the wilderness: "It is written." Every answer was from the King James Bible. The fourth step — pray continuously. Prayer is your channel of communication with God. When you face temptation, pray immediately. The fifth step — confess immediately when you fail. When you sin, confess to God immediately and ask forgiveness: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." — 1 John 1:9. The sixth step — do not trust yourself but trust the Holy Ghost. Many fail because they depend on their willpower. But the human will is weak before the lusts of the flesh. True victory comes from the Holy Ghost dwelling in you. "For he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world."

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