Definition of Sin - What is it?
A definition of sin is doing what is wrong or not doing what is right according to God's rules (1 John 3:4). If God says "Do not lie" and you lie, then you have sinned. If God says "Do not steal" and you steal, then you have sinned. According to God, sin separates you from Him (Isaiah 59:2).

The Bible says, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 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 men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. . ." (Romans 1:18-22).

God has a moral law and has given every man a conscience. The conscience acts to accuse or excuse us, compelling us to remain within the bounds of God's moral standards of conduct. Nevertheless, the conscience, much like a human muscle, though it remains strong if exercised, it atrophies with disuse. At one point, while morality still exists, one no longer feels constrained by it. After continually ignoring the urging of the conscience for a period of time, the conscience no longer functions as it should.

Definition of Sin - What are God's rules?
If a definition of sin is breaking God's rules, then what are His rules? What are God's moral standards of conduct? There are ten basic rules:

1. "I am the LORD your God. . .You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:2-3).

God - your Creator - commands that He be the focal point of your affection. If you love your life, possessions, spouse, children, or vocation more than your Father in heaven, you love the gift more than the Giver.

2. "You shall not make for yourself a graven image" (Exodus 20:4).

You shall not make a god that suits yourself, either with your hands or your mind. One might say, "My god is not a god of wrath and judgment, my god is a god of love and mercy. He would never create hell." Well, that person has shaped a god to suit his sins. That's called idolatry.

3. "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

You shall not use God's name as a curse word, or use it lightly, or fail to give it honor. When a man or woman uses God's name to curse, they are taking His name and substituting it in place of a four-letter filth word to express disgust. They equate God's name with that filth word. That's called blasphemy.

4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).

The Bible says, "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God." Most people break this law once every seven days. It doesn't matter which day you choose. The Bible says one man esteems one day, someone else another day. It's a matter of conscience, not a matter of legalism.

5. "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12).

God doesn't command us to honor our parents because they deserve it. We're all sinners. We are to honor them out of obedience to God. 6. "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13).

You would think that most of us would be safe from this one. However, the Bible says, whoever hates his brother is a murderer. That's the spiritual nature of God's Law. Jesus says if you are angry without cause, you are in danger of the judgment.

7. "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).

Sex is for marriage. In fact, Jesus said whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her (if she is not your wife) has already committed adultery with her in his heart. This includes fornication (sex outside of marriage) too (1 Timothy 1:8-10).

8. "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15).

The value of the item stolen is totally irrelevant.

9. "You shall not bear false witness" (Exodus 20:16).

This includes fibs, "white lies," exaggerations, and half-truths.

10. "You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17).

Who of us can say they have never desired something that has belonged to someone else?

Definition of Sin - The Next Steps
According to God's rules, we're all sinners. No one has kept all of God's laws. Guess what? The Bible declares that there is a death sentence for breaking any one of the above commandments. Therefore, we all face God's wrath on judgment day. But God has done something absolutely incredible! God Himself paid the penalty for our sins when He died on the cross and three days later rose again.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame'. . .for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:9-10, 13).

And now we have a chance to choose Him or reject Him. On judgment day, God will judge us by His rules. If you accept Christ, you won't be held accountable for your sins, because Christ will have already paid the debt for you.

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him" (Hebrews 9:27-28).