THE DOCTRINE OF SIN MADE SIMPLE
Sin is not first a list of things we do wrong; sin is a broken relationship. Scripture describes sin as missing the mark (Psalm 51:4), falling short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), stepping over a boundary God has set (1 John 3:4), and turning inward rather than toward God (Psalm 51:5). Sin is both what we do and the way our hearts can drift away from God. We act wrongly because our hearts are inclined toward ourselves instead of Him.
Sin shows up in different ways. There are sins we commit on purpose, fully aware of what we’re doing (James 4:17). There are sins we commit without realizing it (Psalm 19:12). There are sins of action—things we do that dishonor God—and sins of omission—things we fail to do when He calls us to act (Matthew 23:23). But in every case, the heart issue is the same: stepping out of fellowship with God. Anyone can understand this naturally—when trust is broken in a friendship, everything else begins to feel off. Sin works the same way. It disrupts peace with God, distorts how we see ourselves, and harms how we treat others.
The good news is that God has provided the solution. Sin is serious, but it is not unstoppable. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God. He didn’t just cover individual wrongs; He addressed the heart that produces them (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His death, resurrection, and ascension, He restores what sin has damaged: our fellowship with God, the renewal of our hearts, and the power to live differently (Romans 6:4). When we trust Him, sin loses its grip, and we are set free to love God and others fully.
So here is the doctrine of sin made simple: Sin is anything that breaks fellowship with God—whether in heart, thought, or action. It is serious, real, and affects our lives deeply. But God’s grace in Jesus is greater, reaching the heart and restoring our relationship with Him. When we turn to Christ, we begin to experience the freedom and renewal He provides, not as a distant theory but as a living reality for every day of life.
BDD
