Sin is an archery word. It means to miss the mark.
Missing the bullseye
We've made sin this heavy, condemning word, when it simply means to miss the bullseye, to miss the mark you were aiming for. The New Testament word for sin, hamartia, was used for an arrow that fell short of the target.
So what's the target? Jesus. He's the bullseye of a life that pleases God: how He loved people, how He forgave people, how He surrendered His will to the Father. Every time we miss that mark, we do what the Bible calls sin. And God's standard is perfection, which means all of us have missed. "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard" (Romans 3:23 NLT).
There are two ways to miss. It's sin to do what's wrong, and it's sin to not do what's right. "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it" (James 4:17 NLT).
Where sin comes from
Sin started in the Garden with a question: "Did God really say...?" (Genesis 3:1 NLT). The beginning of sin comes from questioning God's Word and God's character. When we think we know more than God, we rebel against His Word and His commands.
And sin still works the same way. "Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death" (James 1:14–15 NLT). John sums up just about every sin in three categories: "the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life" (1 John 2:16 ESV). Wanting what we see, wanting to satisfy every bodily desire, and thinking we know better than God.
You might be thinking, "Isn't 'sin' just a churchy word to make people feel bad?" No. But here's what our culture does with it: instead of admitting we've missed the mark, we've moved the target. Just because I don't like the standard doesn't mean I get to change it.
Why it matters
Sin separates us from God. After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God among the trees (Genesis 3:8). Sin makes us lost. But when man was lost, God came looking for him. "For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost" (Luke 19:10 NLT).
Sin must be punished. God is just, and without punishment there can be no justice. All sin is first and foremost rebellion against God Himself. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23 NLT).
Sin has consequences now and forever. There are natural consequences, like broken relationships, addiction or losing a job. And there are eternal consequences. Sin is never as small as it looks.
Sin keeps you trapped. Every sin promises freedom and delivers chains. "Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin" (John 8:34 ESV).
God's cure vs. ours
After they sinned, Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Then God made them clothing from animal skins (Genesis 3:7, 21). Fig leaves are our attempts to deal with sin. Animal skins are God's way. Something had to die to cover them, a picture of what Jesus would do for us. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22 NLT).
Jesus never missed the mark. "He faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15 NLT). Because He had no sin of His own, He could be punished for ours, in our place. "He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole" (Isaiah 53:5 NLT). You and I are so sinful that Jesus had to die. And we are so loved by Jesus that He was glad to die!
When you miss
Picture a dad teaching his son to shoot a bow. The first arrow sails into the weeds. The dad doesn't take the bow away or walk off the range. He hands him another arrow and says, "Again." That's what God is like with us.
God is not expecting us to never miss. But He does expect us to get back up and keep fighting sin after we miss. "For the righteous falls seven times and rises again" (Proverbs 24:16 ESV). You don't have to stay trapped in the pattern of sin you're in. God's grace isn't just for Him to forgive your sin; it's also for you to walk free from sin. "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
So when you miss, don't hide it like Adam did, and don't blame someone else. You can't make excuses for sin and repent of it at the same time. Own it, confess it and pick up the next arrow. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 ESV). For practical help, read How Do I Fight Temptation?
Scripture: Genesis 3:1–21; Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14–15; 4:17; 1 John 1:9; 2:16; Luke 19:10; John 8:34; Hebrews 4:15; 9:22; Isaiah 53:5; Proverbs 24:16; Philippians 2:13