There are a few really big themes in the Bible, and one of them is “sin”. Sin is really about the things that we do, and even what we think, that don’t line up with what God wants for us. It’s kind of like missing the goal in soccer or forgetting to take out the trash when we promised that we would. Sin shows up in stories and lessons all throughout the Bible. And since it is a really big theme (or mega theme), learning about it gives us a chance to learn and grow.
In the Old Testament, the word for sin is “chata“, which means ‘you’ve missed the mark.’ This is like shooting an arrow that does not land where you want it. It’s what happened when Adam and Eve made a choice that went against what God told them to do. Another example would be when Cain acted out of anger against his brother Abel. Sometimes, it’s about not listening, or making choices to hurt others, or just straying from the path that we know is right.
In the New Testament, the word for sin is “hamartia“, which also means ‘missing the mark.’ Here, we learn that sin isn’t just about what you do, but also about what is going on inside of you, such as your thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. Jesus explains that even if you don’t act out your anger or envy, letting it live in your heart can still be a problem. The apostle Paul reminds us that everyone messes up sometimes and needs help to do better.
There are several types of sin, but the consequence is still relatively the same. There is what we call personal sin. These are the everyday things like being snarky with someone because you are in a bad mood or telling your job that you are sick and can’t come to work when in actuality you were just tired and wanted to sleep in. Original sin is the idea that people have been missing the mark since the very beginning of time with Adam and Eve. And then there are sins of omission and commission. Sometimes sin is something you do like lying about breaking your co-worker’s coffee mug, or sometimes it’s something you don’t do like not helping someone when you could have. Even forgetting to help out or ignoring someone who needs you can be a kind of missing the mark.
The Bible says that sin can make us feel far from God and from each other. It can lead to hurt feelings, broken relationships, isolation and loneliness, and all the messiness that we sometimes see around us. However, that is not the end of the story. The really good news is that God loves us so much that He is always ready to help us start fresh. In the Old Testament, people made sacrifices to say sorry and make things right. In the New Testament, Jesus came in and made it possible for everyone to be forgiven and welcomed back, no matter what. All we have to do is be honest, ask for help, and try to do better next time.
As you read the Bible and you read about sin, remember that it is about the ways we get off track. But, it is also about how much God wants to help us find our way back to Him again. There is always hope, always a chance to turn things around, and always love waiting for us.
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 