What Does the Bible Say About Sin?

The word “sin” means “to miss the goal”, and describes both a state of man, and wrong deeds man does towards both God and other people. All human beings have sinned and are therefore separated from God. When Jesus came down to earth, he lived a thoroughly sinless life and sacrificed himself to take the punishment for the sins of all people by dying a substitutionary death on the cross. At the end of time, Jesus will judge and condemn the wicked, while all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven and eternal life with God.

Bible Verses

“¹²Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” (Ro 5:12)

“²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Ro 3:23)

“²but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Is 59:2)

“³⁴Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” (Jn 8:34)

“²³For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ro 6:23)

“¹⁶“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

“⁸but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ro 5:8)

“²⁸so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Heb 9:28)

Study Questions

1. Give some examples of different kinds of sins?
2. How did Jesus manage to not sin?
3. Are all sins equally bad?
4. Is there any sin that God cannot forgive?
5. What is the difference between sinning consciously and unconsciously?
6. How to avoid sinning?
7. What to do if you have sinned?
8. How can the church be a place of forgiveness and reconciliation?
9. What effect does sin have on our lives?

Additional Bible Verses

Rom 14:23, Mark 3:29, 1 Cor 15:56, Rom 8:5-8, Rom 7:14-25, Jas 1:14-15, Mark 9:42, Eph 2:1-3, 1 John 1:8, Heb 4:15, 2 Tim 2:22, Isa 26:21, 2 Thess 1:8-9, 2 Pet 3:7