What is sin? Week 11, 2016

“Sin is deliberate disobedience to the revealed will of God; it is written in 1Jn 3:4 (ISV)  Everyone who keeps living in sin also practices disobedience. In fact, sin is disobedience. ”

Yes. I agree. But does it then mean when I am unaware of God’s word or a command and fall short of it I am not guilty? That I have no sin? Pharaoh was ignorant Sarai was Abram’s wife when he took her into his palace but God held him accountable: But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife Gen 12:17(ESV).

“Are you sure he didn’t know? Besides why did he take her? Had he no wife?”

He didn’t know. So Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Gen 12:18-19(ESV).  And that ignorance didn’t prevent the guilt or punishment.  Have you considered Jonathan’s case? Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food. But Jonathan had not heard ... so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth1Sam 14:24, 27(ESV).  He was held guilty and would have died for his ignorant deed 1Sam 14:37-45.

“Was it not that when he knew he showed no remorse but faulted his father? These are all Old Testament examples.”

Consider the words of Jesus: But the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished Lk 12:48(GNB).  If being unaware makes me not a sinner why then would I still be punished? You know God is the just judge and if he says this, then sin cannot only be a deliberate disobedience to a known command.

“Some people may be unaware of a command but somehow their conscience pricks them when they do such things. I believe that is God speaking to them. What of when someone has a clear conscience? Conscience is God’s law written in the heart of man. So I say sin is a violation of one’s conscience” This proves that the conscience is like a law written in the human heart. Rom 2:15(CEV)  

A clear conscience is necessary. But sin isn’t necessarily a violation of one’s conscience: For my conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who examines me. 1Cor 4:4(ISV) 

“So far you have shot down my definitions. What is sin in your eyes?”

I just saw the answer in that same passage. Anything different from His pattern is deviant, is corrupt, is of the flesh. Anything different from the Lord’s will, either more or less, is sin. Have you sinned?