Our starting point in exploring genuine salvation, is understanding what sin is and acknowledging that everyone has sinned. The original translation of sin means ‘to miss the mark’ of God's holy standard of righteousness, and any thought, word or action we do that falls short or ‘misses the mark’ of God’s perfect standard is considered sin.

Sin is described in the Bible in various ways….

• Sin is outlined in the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20.
• Sin is described as ‘going astray’ and choosing to live our own lives apart from God - Isaiah 53:6 ‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to their own way.’
• Sin is described as ‘trespassing’ which is stepping outside of the boundaries God has set for us - Jeremiah 14:10 ‘They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the Lord does not accept them; he will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.’
• Sin is described as ‘lawlessness’ which is basically breaking God’s law - 1 John 3:4 ‘Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.’

Are there varying degrees of sin? The answer depends on whether you are looking at this question from a human or God perspective. From a human perspective, sin varies greatly in nature e.g. committing murder is so much worse than stealing a paperclip. But from God's perspective, even though some sins are worse than others, they all lead to the same eternal consequence which is separation from God - ‘But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.’ Isaiah 59:2.

Think About: Sin is quite a confronting topic, but nevertheless, must be understood before someone can come to salvation. Reflect on why it is important to have a biblical understanding of sin and to acknowledge that we are all sinners in need of a Saviour.

How did Sin enter the World?

Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden by disobeying God’s command not to eat from the ‘Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil’. Adam, as head of the human race, passed sin on to all mankind and as a result, we have ALL inherited sin in our nature from Adam’s original sin of disobedience – Romans 5:12 ‘Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned…’ The Bible tells us that everyone has sinned - Romans 3:23 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' and that there is a penalty imposed for sin - Romans 6:23 ‘For the wages of sin is death’. We endure not only a physical death, but a spiritual and eternal death in Hell. Hell is a difficult reality to come to terms with, but the fact is, that Jesus taught about Hell more than anyone else in the Bible. Jesus describes Hell as an eternal fiery furnace where there will be 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' - ‘They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 13:42. Those who reject Christ will be sent to Hell to endure eternal punishment and be separated from God forever.