What Is Sin?Sample

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)

Sin is not only about the things you do; it’s how you are.

When I see a newborn baby, I can hardly believe that this little child will ever do anything wrong. It just looks perfectly innocent! But reality proves me wrong. Even the loveliest baby has been contaminated by sin from birth, and this will become clear when they grow up. This truth is hard to bear, but this is how serious sin is.

When David wrote Psalm 51, he begged God for mercy on his transgressions. These were really serious; David had just committed adultery and ordered the killing of an innocent soldier. God strongly condemned this.

David confessed: “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3). But he knew that the problem was even bigger. Ultimately, it was not about something he had done, but about the condition of his heart. He was a sinner from birth, and his recent missteps were just one example.

Jesus addresses this problem in Mark 7. He says that out of the heart of man comes “evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness”. Why do all these evil things come out of a person? Since his heart is full of sin. The problem is not just on the surface, but deep within.

Do you agree with God’s verdict that you are a sinner?