The basic Greek word translated sin is <’amartia> pronounced hamartia in English. Strong’s concordance tells us the word is made up of the Greek negative particle <a> and from the base of <meros> which basically means to get an allotment. And so the Greek word <`amartia> translated sin, basically refers to rejecting God’s allotment for one’s life.

And so putting the meaning of the Greek and Hebrew words translated sin together, we can basically define sin, as the rejecting God’s allotment for one’s life, and thereby missing the road or way that God has marked out for us.

Now Romans 3:23 states the fact…

23.  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 tells us…

12.  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Now what does it mean to commit sin?

1 John 3:4 actually defines what it means to commit sin by telling us…

4.   Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

In other words the resultant action of our sin nature, the resultant action of one’s rejection of God’s allotment for their life, is to willingly and purposefully commit sins which is the transgression, or violation of God’s laws.

What does the law of God refer to?

Strong’s Dictionary defines the basic meaning of the word law, 3551 <nomos> from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):

Thayer’s Dictionary defines the Greek word law,3551 nomos- as to it’s usage, anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command:

a) used of any law whatsoever

1) a law or rule producing a state approved of God, by the observance of which is approved of God
2) a precept or injunction
3) the rule of action prescribed by reason

b) used of the Mosaic law, and referring (according to the context) either to the volume of the law or to its contents
c) the Christian religion: the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, especially the precept concerning love
d) the name of the more important part (the Pentateuch), is put for the entire collection of the sacred books of the Old Testament

By these definitions and the applied meaning given here of the word law, one can readily see that in regards to the law of God, it is virtually impossible to differentiate between the law of God, and the word of God, because the law of God includes the entire content of the word of God. And so the law of God is literally synonymous with the word of God.

An example of this can be found in Genesis 1:1ff where we are told…

1.   In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2.   And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3.   And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

The whole point is, "God said", God actually spoke the Universe into existence with His word! And everything in the Universe obeyed! Because God’s word is the law. And absolutely everything in the entire Universe is established by the word of God and the word of God is the law of God.

And that’s exactly why the Lord Jesus Christ stated in Matthew 4:4b…

4.   …It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

In Malachi 3:6 Jehovah God stated through the Prophet…

6.   For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Jehovah God does not change, He remains the same!

And in Matthew 5:17-18 the Lord Jesus Christ said…

17.  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

35.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

And then there is another important fact we need to understand, and that is that God is no respector of person’s.

Romans 2:11-13 tells us;

11.  For there is no respect of persons with God.
12.  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13.  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Now the word of God further tells us that there is a payment for our sin.

Romans 6:23 declares…

23.  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through <en> (in) Jesus Christ our Lord.

This too is the law of God. It’s absolute, and it’s unchangeable!

And in Romans 7:1 the Apostle Paul asks…

1.   Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion (rule) over a man as long as he liveth?

But Romans 6:23 also told us that the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord! So how can we as desperate hopeless and helpless sinners obtain God’s gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord?

First we have to recognize our hopelessness. Romans 3:19-20 tells us…

19.  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20.  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

24.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

And so it is through God’s law that we are given the full knowledge of our sinfulness. And because all human beings are sinners and have violated God’s laws, there is no human being that can be justified through the law. And, it is God’s law that acts as a schoolmaster, a tutor, to bring us to the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to be made just by faith and not the works of the law.

But we need help from God to bring us to the Lord Jesus Christ…

In John 6:44 the Lord Jesus Christ stated…

44.  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

By His grace. And that is why Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us…

8.   For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9.   Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Thayer’s Dictionary defines the Greek word translated grace #5485 <charis> in part as…good will, loving-kindness, favor; used of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

So in the simplest of terms God’s grace can be defined as the power and influence of God exerted on the human heart and soul in unmerited favor. Now, how does the grace of God work to bring us to salvation?

Titus 2:11ff states the initial action of God’s grace upon the heart and soul of all of mankind.

11.  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12.  Teaching <paideuo> (chastening) us that (to), denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13.  Looking for <prosdechomai> that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14.  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

a) to admit one, to receive one into intercourse and companionship
b) to receive one (coming from some place)
c) to accept (not to reject) a thing offered

In James 4:6ff we are given God’s requirements to receive more of His grace;

6.   But he (God) giveth more grace. Wherefore he (*the Scripture) saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
(*James is actually quoting Proverbs 3:34, from the Septuigent Version)

But James goes on to tell us that the Scripture saith that God will give His grace to the humble. So exactly how do we humble ourselves in order to receive more of God’s grace? James tells us in verse 7.

7.   Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The Greek word translated submit is <hupotasso> made up of the primary preposition <hupo> under and the primary verb <tasso> which means to arrange in an orderly manner. The word was used exclusively in the passive tense, in the New Testament, and it referred to one being totally subordinate and obedient.

In other words to receive more of God’s grace that brings salvation, we must humble ourselves, and the only way we can humble ourselves is to passively submit to God’s orderly arrangement for our lives, in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the absolute authority of His word, the word of God.

Then in verses 8ff James continues defining the humbling process by telling us;

8.   Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded <dipsuchos> (two souled).

How do we cleanse our hands of sin?

1 John 1:9-10 tells us;

9.   If we confess <homologeo> our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1. homologeo ^3670^, lit., "to speak the same thing" (homos, "same," lego, "to speak"), "to assent, accord, agree with," denotes, (a) "to confess, declare, admit," (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

This is further verified for us in 1 John 1:10 where it goes on to tell us if we don’t acknowledge our sin in this manner we make God a liar, and His word is not in us. This is more than just a superficial acknowledgment and confession of sin.

James actually tells us in verse 9;

9.   Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

If one is truly repentant when they confess their sins, they will recognize their own wretchedness before God. As humans we tend to want to hide the fact, so others will not see how wretched we are, and that’s why James tells us to recognize your wretchedness and weep and mourn over it. Why is this so necessary? In order that we have no confidence in our flesh, and will fully submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and to the authority of the word of God.

Then secondly, we are told that we are to purify our hearts, of being double minded. The Greek word translated minded is <psuche> and refers to the soul. The first step in purifying our hearts is to have our hearts cleansed of sin which we accomplish through the confession of our sin. The second step is to have our hearts purified by faith.

In Acts 15:9, Peter speaking of Gentiles said that God had;

9.   …put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Now keep in mind…Ephesians 2:8 told us…

8.   For by grace are ye saved through <dia> faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Romans 10:17 tells us…

17.  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

22.  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23.  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the <logos> word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

10.  Humble yourselves (in this manner) in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Remember what the Apostle Paul asked in Rom 7:1 ?

1.   Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

4.   Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5.   For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6.   But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

In Romans 3:31 Paul asks a question and then answers it…

31.  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

1.   What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2.   God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

1.   Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2.   Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3.   And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4.   Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5.   And ye know that he (the Lord Jesus Christ) was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6.   Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Continuing on in verse 7ff…

7.   Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8.   He that (continuously) committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9.   Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1.   There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2.   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3.   For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through <dia> (because of) the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4.   That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5.   For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6.   For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7.   Because the carnal (fleshly) mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8.   So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

In Matthew 7:21-23 The Lord Jesus Christ said…

21.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity <anomia> (lawlessness).

That’s why the Lord Jesus Christ went on to say in verses 24ff…

24.  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28.  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29.  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.