Who defines sin, God or culture?

What is sin? And who gets to define what sin is? According to Culture sin is defined as actions, thoughts, words, or acts considered immoral, selfish, shameful, harmful, or alienating. While according to the Bible, sin is the transgression of the law of God. The word Sin is a verb, Meaning it is in the intent and action. The Bible says in 1 John 3:4 NLT Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. So whoever practices sin is practicing lawlessness.

What are the origins of sin? Culture only defines sin by its own limited capacity. The moral compass of this world cannot define sin. God is the author, Creator of heaven and earth with all that’s in it. Sensibly speaking, He alone can define what is right or wrong. The truth has to be derived from His word. let’s look at the origins of sin to get a full picture from the Bible. Let’s start by looking at the beginning of creation in Genesis 1 where God created Man. In His Image and Likeness he created them. Male and Female He created them and gave man dominion over the land and animals. Genesis 1:27-28 NIV: So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then we go to Genesis 2 where God places man in the Garden of Eden to watch over it and tend to it. God commands him to partake of any other fruit in the garden except the forbidden fruit, for in the day they eat of that fruit they shall surely die. Genesis 2:16-17 ESV says: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 

In Genesis chapter 3, Sin came to the world through the fall of Adam and Eve who were deceived by the fallen angel Lucifer who became Satan(Devil) due to his own rebellion in heaven, was cast down for his pride(Isaiah 14:12-15). Adam and Eve fell to the temptations of Satan and disobeyed God’s commandment. Genesis 3:1 says Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Satan only needed to plant the seed of doubt in Eve’s mind, so she could question if God indeed said they should not eat the forbidden fruit. When she believed the lie, she ate of the fruit and passed it on to Adam who also ate the fruit, which led to disobedience and rebellion against God’s direct command to not eat of the tree. Due to their disobedience, Adam and Eve fell into sin and were cast from God’s presence. The curse of death fell on all mankind. When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned says Romans 5:12 NLT.  Since we are all descendants of Adam by birth, all are born into sin because of man’s fallen state. We have all inherited the fallen state of the first man Adam from birth. King David says in Psalm 51:5 ESV Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Now that we have a picture of the origin of sin according to the Bible. Let’s look at how God has made a way for us to be saved from the condemnation of sin and death. In the Old Testament, God made a covenant with the people of Israel, His chosen people through Moses. The Mosaic Law (Exodus 20) had instructions and commandments for them to follow and in it also was the penalty of death for breaking some of the laws. In the law of Moses, the atonement for sins was through blood sacrifices which had to be done continually for every time people sinned. Hebrews 10:4 NLT For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins Hebrews 10:11 NLT. It is important to note, without the shedding of blood their is no remission of sins. Hebrews 9:22 ESV Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. God had a plan(a hidden mystery from times past) in Jesus Christ to restore mankind(both Jew and Gentile) to his original plan. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time Hebrews 10:10 NLT. For the remission of sins, for he was perfect sacrifice.

Today, we are recipients of a new and better covenant through Jesus Christ. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly Romans 5:6 NIV. God made a way through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for man to be restored back to His original plan as intended in Genesis 1 and 2. This will only fully happen when Christ returns the second time. For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant Hebrews 9:15 NIV.  Now we can all have a relationship with God through Faith in Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous Romans 5:18-19 NLT. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 6:23 CSB.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness 1 John 1:8-9 NLT. Everyone deserves the penalty of death due to their sins, but God in his mercies through Christ Jesus offers a way out of the just condemnation that we all deserve. Hebrews 9:27-28 ESV: And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Isn’t this wonderful news?

Having this knowledge, let’s look at what God deems sinful in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT: Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. There are many other sins not on this list. Note what the word of God says in the previous verses, and now in verse 11 it says Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. This is because of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 3:22-24 CSB. What God calls sin hasn’t changed. Nothing under the sun is new, it has happened before, what is today already was.

Sin is Still sin in God’s eyes whether society approves it or not. As much as we all have the power of choice, everyone will still answer before God on the judgement day. God is real, whether people choose to acknowledge Him or not. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse Romans 1:20 NIV.

Finally, Many identify themselves with the sinful things that they practice. Society tries to normalize what God deems sinful and calls abomination. Many twist God’s word and are led astray by all kinds of false doctrines and ideologies that pervert the commandments of God. Sin is so deeply integrated into our societies today, and culture tries to pacify its effects. Many find it unusual when one decides to live a consecrated and set apart life for Jesus. As a matter of fact, many get offended by people who renounce a worldly lifestyle full of sin for a life of purity. Jesus died so that people can receive the Gift of eternal life through His death and resurrection, and this offer extends to all mankind. This requires humility and godly sorrow which leads to repentance. It requires, one to see themselves as sinners and humble themselves before God. God resists the proud.

Repentance is an action. True repentance is a complete 180 degree turn from sin. It is turning away from practicing sin and a change of heart by Choosing to forsake everything that is sinful in the eyes of God and not culture or man. Everyone is born into sin but to die in sin is a choice. Those who continue in willful sin will not inherit the kingdom of God.