Let’s Talk About Sin – Psalm 4:4

In the New Testament there are 13 Greek words to describe sin.  For the sake of clarity, I’m not going to itemize the Greek words themselves. Instead, I will just give you the translation of those words and where they are found because that’s what matters the most.

1. Moral evil, sometimes denoting physical evil. Romans 13:3
2. Also used to denote evil. Matthew 5:45
3. Godlessness,  the opposite of pious. Romans 1:18
4. Guilty such as guilt worthy of death. James 2:10
5. Any departure from the way of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 6:13
6. Any unrighteous conduct in the broadest sense. 1 Corinthians 6:9
7. Lawlessness or sometimes translated iniquity. 1 Timothy 1:9
8. Transgressor usually referring to Mosaic law or a specific law. James 2:9
9. Ignorant, innocent ignorance or culpable ignorance. Romans 1:13

10 To go astray, culpable error being deceived. 1 Peter 2:25

11 A deliberate trespass or transgression. Galatians 6:1

12 Hypocrite. 1 Timothy 4:2

13 To fall away, a deliberate turning aside as in apostasy. Hebrews 6:6

Some of these listed are temptations from Satan and some of them are temptations that we bring on ourselves. We must be careful to remember that under no circumstance does God tempt anyone as stated in James 1:13. A prominent example for how we tempt ourselves is in the 26^th versus where James declares a man’s religion is vain if he does not bridle his own tongue. Keep in mind that we have the responsibility to resist the devil so that he flees from us as in 4:7.

So far, we have discussed active sinning. Now let us look at   passive sin. James tells us in 4:17 that if we know to do good and do it not, that is a sin. Then James tells us about internal sin in 5:9 that we are not to is hold a grudge because we will be condemned. Furthermore, if the person is sick as a result of sin, other believers who pray for his sickness will discover that there is forgiveness available. Let us be on guard that we do not fall into temptation from Satan or that which we create for ourselves. We are to be holy as God is holy since we are his children. (1 Peter 1: 16)