Expert: Brenda Martin - 2/4/2005

Question
Did Jesus actually say that all men have sinned? If so how? How is a sin defined?  

Answer
"DID JESUS ACTUALLY SAY THAT ALL MEN HAVE SINNED? IF SO HOW?"

Jesus was there when man was created and later sinned, Jesus knew first hand what had happened to the human race hence why he came to earth to give up his life for ALL mankind.

The Bible states: “There is no man righteous in the earth that keeps doing good and does not sin.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

Though we are all sinners, we can approach God with freeness of speech through Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom for us. (Matthew 20:28)

We must not take the merit of Jesus' ransom sacrifice for granted and deliberately practice sin. (Hebrews 10:26) However, if we are doing our best to refrain from what is bad and yet err at times, we can repent and ask God for forgiveness. When we approach him with a humble heart, he will hear us.—Luke 11:4.

Sin occurred first in the spirit realm before its introduction on earth. Hence, the apostle John says: “He who CARRIES ON SIN originates with the Devil, because the Devil has been sinning from the beginning.”—1Jo 3:8.

John's words show that, once having introduced sin, Satan continued his sinful course. Hence, any person that “makes sin his business or practice” reveals himself to be a ‘child' of the Adversary, spiritual offspring reflecting the qualities of his “father.”—The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. R. Nicoll, 1967, Vol. V, p. 185; Joh 8:44; 1Jo 3:10-12.

Sin put man out of harmony with his Creator. It thereby damaged not only his relations with God but also his relations with the rest of God's creation, including damage to man's own self, to his mind, heart, and body. It brought consequences of enormous evil upon the human race.

Our first parents sinned "missed the mark" so could only now pass on to their offspring what they themselves had namely, "sin", if you like, Adam and Eve were like a cake tin with a dent in it, every cake produced after that would have a dent in it. Through no fault of our own, we as Adam's children are all born sinners. Which means we are all born with the inclination to do wrong BUT ,although we are all born sinners we can choose not to PRACTICE sin, we can choose to fight against our sinful tendencies and in so doing, expect God's forgiveness.

HOW IS A SIN DEFINED?

Definition: Literally, a missing of the mark, according to the Hebrew and Greek Bible texts. God himself sets the “mark” that his intelligent creatures are to reach. Missing that mark is sin, which is also unrighteousness, or lawlessness. (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 5:17; 3:4) Sin is anything not in harmony with God's personality, standards, ways, and will, all of which are holy. It may involve wrong conduct, failure to do what should be done, ungodly speech, unclean thoughts, or desires or motives that are selfish.

****The Bible differentiates between inherited sin and willful sin, between an act of sin over which a person is repentant and the practice of sin.

All the best
Brenda