What Sin Is

It appears numerous Christians do not know what sin is, under the new covenant. If you ask them what sin is they will say, "The only commandment is that we love one another." Or, "We are not under the law but under grace." It seems everyone in the world knows what sin is except Christians.

According to the New Testament, sin is the breaking of the moral law as expressed in the Ten Commandments. Yet it is clear from the Scripture that when we take our place with Christ on the cross the Law of Moses has no jurisdiction over us.

What is the answer to this seeming contradiction?

Table of Contents

Introduction (wis)
The Resolution of the Seeming Contradiction
The Ten Commandments (wis)
What Sin Is According to the New Testament
Conclusion (wis)

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. (I John 3:4—NIV)

So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. (Romans 7:4—NIV)

Now we know whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Romans 3:19,20—NIV)