As the world continues evolving, there are always going to be new things. But the only thing that will never change in significance is sin. What was sin yesterday, it’s today and tomorrow. So, it’s normal that in these changing times now and then you might get confused, and want to know if something – known or unknown – is a sin.
In this article, we’re going to teach you how to identify sin and avoid it. We’re going to give practical tips to remain strong and reject temptation because we consider this highly important to be in communion with God.
How can I know if something is a sin?
We want to stress about three powerful premises. We believe that these important facts, once you assimilate them in your soul and mind, you can definitely identify sin.
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Discernment
Study, reflection, and meditation are required in order to have discernment in order to recognize what’s good or bad. In the bible, for example, there is no specific allusion to the vices of modern times, but it also says that you must not let yourself be dominated by them.
This is a principle that tells you what’s wrong when something tries to dominate you and change your behavior.
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Conscience
There are laws written by God in all of us. They are very clear in our soul. For instance, we know that it’s wrong to steal, to lie, to be greedy and envious. And we recognize them, but sadly most people ignore this evildoing.
This is a universal conscience. All of us have, as the bible points out, testimony about right and wrong. There are diverse cultures and beliefs around the world, but one thing is for sure: All human beings have the same conscience.
And you have to embrace it. This conscience is fueled by God. It has power because it can stop you, reminding you at every step when something you do is not right.
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The word of God
Apply the word of God in your life. Everything that you do must be in line with God’s will—that way nothing can be presented to you in a distorted way.
Even when they do, you won’t be deceived. You will clearly differentiate right from wrong.
As an extra advice, surround yourself with people who are in communion with God. They will not only advise you in times of despair, they can also provide you with some spirituality. Yes! those people who apply the word of God distill part of the Lord’s light around.
Tips for avoiding sin
One thing is to identify sin and another thing is to avoid it. And that means refraining from giving in to temptation.
Here are seven great tips:
- Shut down all activities in your life that lead to sin.
- Give more attention to all the things that have true value.
- Reject brief and extreme materialistic satisfaction. They are short-lived.
- Embrace humility. Don’t think for a second that you’re a God.
- Pray in silence to God. Ask him for guidance.
- Cut everything that causes sin. That includes friends who are a bad influence on you.
- Go to church. It’s a refreshing experience to be around people who praise God.
Watch the video below to strengthen your faith. It contains a beautiful message!
Quotes that make you avoid sin
Be alert. But if you think you’re about to give in, just read these motivational quotes to reject sin.
Can something be a sin for one and not another?
No. A sin is a sin. There are no diverse interpretations. If someone goes against God’s commandments, no matter who they are, will not be excluded from sin.
If you see people telling you a different story, they are deceivers, trying to manipulate you. Don’t believe them. They don’t have your best interest in their minds.
When you encounter a person like this, do the following:
- Don’t overreact, but don’t take their word for granted.
- If you feel inclined to respond, just say that you’re not going to offend God at all.
- Walk away from that person if he becomes too intense.
- Don’t let him play tricks with your mind.
What does the bible say about sin?
You can find meaningful teachings about sin in the Old and New Testaments.
Let’s first see what the Old Testament says:
Old Testament
It says that sin affects our morals. It is described as a beast that is lurking for its prey.
Sin also affects our behavior, making us violent. It turns us into monsters with the sole purpose of oppressing other people.
Sin distorts the truth. Sinners lie. And purposely, they claim falsehoods, mispresenting the truth to manipulate and achieve selfish and evil interests.
Speaking about lies, the first sin registered in the bible is lying. We’ll talk more about this in a moment.
Wisdom is also hit by sin. The sinner acts with evil intentions not only because they don’t stop thinking twice about what they do, but also because they don’t care.
New Testament
The testament adds more description to sin:
Sin is also self-indulgence. A sinner becomes a rebel. He starts following his path away from God. They prefer to strive for their own will instead of God’s.
Sin is described as a hopeless fall into a life full of rebellion against God’s commandments, where sinners pay little or no attention to all that is sacred.
In the New Testament, you can find that sin is an error. It refers to the sins committed without knowing.
Bible verses about sin
There are various verses in the bible about sin. We are going to cite three that resonate a lot with the way many people lead their lives.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19–21
As stated, sin is a fall into a debauchery of the self. Sinners indulge in their desires, thinking that they will get true satisfaction. But it’s a wrong path that will only distance them away from God.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
James 1:14–15
The work of the devil is to entice humans (his prey), and then trap them. This verse is a clear depiction of temptation. The devil lays the traps, awaiting for humans to surrender to desire and temptation.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:6
This is the original sin: The disobedience of Adam and Eve against God. It’s the origin of all the sins that produced the fall of mankind.
Source: Verses extracted from crossway.org.
Can we sin without knowing it?
We sin every day. We get carried away by our impulses and desires without stopping for a second to consider what we are doing. And sometimes we do stop, but we don’t realize that we’re sinning.
In this life, we shouldn’t go around thinking that we know it all, demanding people to do as we command, and claiming that all our inputs are always correct.
There are moments (many) when we go blind and make mistakes, thinking at the same time they will bring no consequences. But they do. Each action we carry out, either good or bad, brings consequences.
Sin in ignorance
It’s common to sin in ignorance. We do it daily. But it cannot be an excuse because it doesn’t justify the bad deed. It’s up to us to correct ourselves.
And how can we do it?
We must study the word of God. That’s the only way to do the right thing without overlooking any holy command.
In addition, it’s very important to ask God to give us discernment. We will feel peace in our hearts, knowing that we’re going through the right path doing God’s Will.
Before making any important decision, commune with God, pray in silence, feel his presence, and adorn him. Let him reveal to you his will.
If it’s difficult for you, that’s because you have been away from him though God’s always been around. The lord is inside of you. But the problem is that you haven’t accepted him yet.
What happens if you sin without knowing?
When you act through your emotions, you make a lot of mistakes without realizing all the damage caused to others and yourself as you go.
You have to grow in God’s presence and embrace the holy spirit. Otherwise, you will just act without understanding, oblivious to the truth which will stop you from getting divine knowledge.
If you are a Christian, is it possible to sin without knowing it?
Yes, after all, we’re humans. As Jesus says: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
No matter if you’re Christian or belong to another religion, you’re not exempt from sinning. What should matter for a Christin is sincere repentance.
The act of acknowledging that you have offended God, and the desire to turn away from sin or sinful life and return to worship him.
The repentance has to focus on how sinful the offense is. But be aware because the repentance has to be felt in high esteem towards God. It’s not about fearing him because you disobey. It’s about loving him to restore the divine connection.
Is anything done without love a sin?
No, unless you do not love God for grating your life, the most precious gift.
There are many things people do without love. However, everything that is done with love is special because you do it with a vocation. It’s like a calling.
You see those people that love what they do tend to excel. The feeling is pure. You see it in their faces. They look happy. The only motivation is to be useful and serve their fellows.
The world would be better if we did everything with love. Unfortunately, it’s not possible. Not because we’re not capable but rather because we don’t accept God completely in our hearts, souls, and minds.
If we do, extraordinary changes will happen in our lives:
- Negative thoughts will not come up. And if they do, you will dismiss them like background noise.
- Those trivial things that most people label as problems will not affect us.
- No inconvenience will overwhelm us.
- The truth will be revealed to us, simple as it is.
- Life will be full of purposes, enriching our behavior and encouraging our motivation.
- Tragic moments will not destroy us and leave us in a traumatic state.
- And the spirit of God will wrap us, making us feel his guidance throughout our lives.
Faith without Love is Nothing
If you truly embrace your faith, you’re also embracing love. As we stated in other articles, we all have faith in our hearts though some people don’t recognize it.
And love goes hand in hand with faith. The subject here is where or who you put your faith in. When you put your faith in emotions, whims, and material things over important things, there’s no love even when you think there is. It’s all fake!
It’s common to see people who give so much value to things that are trivial and superfluous. They put their faith in them and no true love comes of it.
On the other hand, if you put your faith in God, it means you’re admiring him and loving him. And that’s what God wants from us. He wants us to sin no more and return to his grace.
Living in sin truths
Living in sin steers you away from God. Learn the 10 shocking truths that will make you see living in sin leads to perdition.
Living in sin is like being cought in a laberynth with no easy way out.
Anonymous
Sin’s joy will never match the happines of a righteous life.
Anonymous
Sin produces a curtain that distorts our perception of reality and takes us away from the truth.
Anonymous
Though sin could seem liberating at first sight, it eventually becomes a chain that enslaves us.
Anonymous
Sin corrupt our relationships, eroding trust and planting division.
Anonymous
Living in sin steers us away from God and his healing love.
Anonymous
The weight of sin takes a toll on you over time, making it impossible to carry it on.
Anonymous
Sin leaves invisible scars in the soul that decades to heal.
Anonymous
Indulgence in sin forbid us to reach our potential and find our purpose in life.
Anonymous
Though sin promises freedom, in reality, it chains us to our desires.
Anonymous
FAQs
This topic generates conversation. It’s something that taps into people’s fear. They want to be sure they’re not committing any sin even if they’re not aware of it.
It’s understandable the concern. So, let’s also bring some of the related questions this conversation usually leads to.
Is wishing for something a sin?
Not entirely. That depends on the intention behind the wish and how pure and disinterested it is. For instance, if you wish something good happened to other people, it’s not only noble, it’s also divine.
Is it a sin to do something illegal?
The law of man is not the law of God. Something can be determined illegal by the structures of a society, but not in the eyes of God.
Are all sins equal to God?
Absolutely. God doesn’t make a distinction among sins because all of them are unrighteous and an offense to his glory. There’s no sin that is above or beyond the other.
Can you only sin against God?
Yes, but you can also sin when you offend other people. For example: when you sin against your earthly father, you’re also sinning against God because it’s his fifth commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).
Are babies born with sin?
All humans are born in a fallen state. Even when Jesus came to die for our sins, we’re still sinners. But of course, the sins of the father and mother are not passed down to the sons and daughters. We’re all going to be judged by the sins we individually commit.
Conclusion
You can know for sure what’s right and what’s wrong. We have explained that it’s written to all of us. But sometimes we can get confused by temptation and deceivers.
That’s why we’ve laid out these important principles to help you recognize sin when it is presented to you:
- Discernment.
- Conscience.
- The word of God.
- Be around people who are in communion with God.
Also, don’t forget to review again our tips to avoid sin. And remember that even though we’re tempted every day, with God’s help, we have the power to reject sin.