Sin is the Transgression of the Law
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The concept of sin as the transgression of the law is deeply rooted in biblical theology and is a fundamental aspect of understanding human nature and the need for redemption. The phrase itself is derived from 1 John 3:4, which states, "Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness" . This definition underscores the idea that sin is not merely a moral failing but a violation of God's divine law.

Biblical Context

The notion of law in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing the moral, ceremonial, and civil laws given to Israel. The moral law, epitomized by the Ten Commandments, serves as a universal standard of righteousness. In Romans 7:7, Paul writes, "What then shall we say? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been aware of sin if not for the law. For I would not have known coveting if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.'" Here, the law functions as a mirror, revealing human sinfulness.

Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, the law was given to Israel as a covenantal guide for living in relationship with God. Deuteronomy 30:15-16 emphasizes the choice between life and death, blessing and curse, contingent upon obedience to God's commandments. The transgression of these laws, as seen in the narratives of Israel's history, often led to divine judgment and exile, illustrating the serious nature of sin.

New Testament Understanding

The New Testament expands on the understanding of sin and law through the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, intensifies the moral demands of the law, teaching that sin is not only in actions but also in thoughts and intentions (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). This internalization of the law highlights the pervasive nature of sin and the need for a savior.

Pauline theology further elaborates on the relationship between sin and the law. In Romans 3:20, Paul asserts, "Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin." The law, while holy and good, cannot save; it can only convict and point to the necessity of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Role of Christ

Christ's role in addressing the transgression of the law is central to the gospel message. Jesus is portrayed as the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17), living a sinless life and offering Himself as a perfect sacrifice for sin. Through His death and resurrection, believers are freed from the penalty of the law and empowered to live in accordance with God's will through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-4).

Practical Implications

Understanding sin as the transgression of the law has practical implications for Christian living. Believers are called to uphold the moral law, not as a means of salvation, but as a response to God's grace. The Holy Spirit enables Christians to live righteously, producing the fruit of the Spirit as evidence of a transformed life (Galatians 5:22-23).

In summary, the biblical teaching that sin is the transgression of the law provides a framework for understanding the gravity of sin, the purpose of the law, and the necessity of Christ's redemptive work. It calls believers to a life of holiness, empowered by the Spirit, in gratitude for the grace received through Jesus Christ.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek
458. anomia -- lawlessness
... lawlessness, iniquity Definition: lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin. ... iniquity,
transgression, unrighteousness. ... ie Violation of law or (genitive case ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/458.htm - 7k
Library

Whether Transgression is a Special Sin?
... De Parad. viii) that sin is "a transgression of the Divine law." Therefore
transgression is not a species of sin. Objection 2: Further ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether transgression is a special.htm

On the First Sin of the First Man
... For since the form of sin is "the transgression of the law," (1 John 3:4,) it primarily
and immediately strikes against the legislator himself, (Genesis 3:11 ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 7 on the first.htm

Sin.
... John clearly and positively defines sin in these words: "Whosoever committeth sin
transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter iii sin.htm

"And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,",
... Therefore I desire you, whoever you are that are challenged for sin, and the
transgression of the law, if ye would have a solid way of satisfaction and peace ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxv and if any.htm

The Manner in which Man Conducted Himself for Fulfilling the First ...
... X. The serious enormity of that sin is principally manifest from the following
particulars: (1.) Because it was a transgression of such a law as had been ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xxx the manner in.htm

Sixteenth Proposition of Arminius
... he, who imposed such a law and did not give the means of its observance, or, to
speak more correctly, a transgression of a law cannot be called sin, when the ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 3/sixteenth proposition of arminius.htm

Whether a Religious Sins Mortally Whenever He Transgresses the ...
... just as in the civil law the transgression of a ... of bodily death, so neither in the
law of the ... does every ordinance or statute bind under mortal sin; and the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a religious sins mortally.htm

1 John iii. 4-7
... 4-7. This exhortation is continued in the following words. "Whosoever committeth
sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john iii 7-apr.htm

The Sin of Omission.
... The Westminster Catechism defines sin to be "any want of conformity unto, or any
transgression of, the law of God." Not to be conformed, in the heart, to the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/shedd/sermons to the natural man/the sin of omission.htm

A Letter on the Sin against the Holy Ghost to John Uytenbogard ...
... Sin, therefore, is the transgression of the divine law, of whatever description
that law may be; for we are treating upon a sin of this kind. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/a letter on the sin.htm

Resources
What does it mean to be a slave to sin? | GotQuestions.org

What is the sin nature? | GotQuestions.org

What is the worst sin? | GotQuestions.org

Sin: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Sin

Sin Against the Holy Spirit

Sin Being Equal

Sin in Believers is a Reproach to the Lord

Sin is of the Devil

Sin is the Transgression of the Law

Sin Money

Sin Money: General Scriptures Concerning

Sin of Eli's Household

Sin Offering

Sin: A City of Egypt

Sin: Against Knowledge

Sin: Against the Body

Sin: Aggravated by Neglecting Advantages

Sin: All Men are Conceived and Born In

Sin: All Men are Shapen In

Sin: All the Imaginations of the Unrenewed Heart Are

Sin: All Unrighteousness Is

Sin: Attempt to Cover, Vain

Sin: Babylon

Sin: Besetting

Sin: Blessings Withheld on Account of

Sin: Christ Alone Was Without

Sin: Christ Was Manifested to Take Away

Sin: Christ's Blood Cleanses From

Sin: Christ's Blood Redeems From

Sin: Coming from the Heart

Sin: Confession of

Sin: Confusion of Face Belongs to Those Guilty of

Sin: Consequences of, Entailed Upon Children

Sin: Conspiracy

Sin: Dead Works

Sin: Death, the Punishment of

Sin: Death, the Wages of

Sin: Deceitful

Sin: Defiles

Sin: Defiling

Sin: Degrees In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: Counted In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: Manna and Quail Given In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: The Complaint for Bread In

Sin: Desert of, a Wilderness Between Elim and Sinai: The People of Israel Journey Through

Sin: Disgraceful

Sin: Entered Into the World by Adam

Sin: Excludes from Heaven

Sin: Fools Mock At

Sin: Forgiveness of

Sin: Fruits of

Sin: God Has Opened a Fountain For

Sin: God is Provoked to Anger By

Sin: God is Provoked to Jealousy By

Sin: God: Abominates

Sin: God: Alone Can Forgive

Sin: God: Marks

Sin: God: Punishes

Sin: God: Recompenses

Sin: God: Remembers

Sin: Guilt of Concerning

Sin: If we Say That we Have No, we Make God a Liar

Sin: Ignorant

Sin: Israel's

Sin: Jealousy

Sin: Known to God

Sin: Leads to Disease

Sin: Leads to Disquiet

Sin: Leads to Shame

Sin: Like Scarlet and Crimson

Sin: Little Sins

Sin: Love of

Sin: Ministers should Warn the Wicked to Forsake

Sin: Murder

Sin: National, Punishment of

Sin: No Escape from the Consequences of

Sin: No Man Can Atone For

Sin: No Man Can Cleanse Himself From

Sin: No Man is Without

Sin: None in Heaven

Sin: Not Counted Against Righteous People

Sin: Often Manifold

Sin: Often Mighty

Sin: Often Presumptuous

Sin: Often Very Great

Sin: Omission of What we Know to be Good Is

Sin: Paul's Discussion of the Responsibility For

Sin: Pleasures of

Sin: Prayer Hindered By

Sin: Progressive

Sin: Punishment of

Sin: Reaching to Heaven

Sin: Rebellion Against God

Sin: Redeemed

Sin: Reproaching the Lord

Sin: Repugnant to God

Sin: Repugnant to Righteous People

Sin: Saints: Abhor Themselves on Account of

Sin: Saints: Ashamed of Having Committed

Sin: Saints: Cannot Live In

Sin: Saints: Dead To

Sin: Saints: Have Yet the Remains of, in Them

Sin: Saints: Made Free From

Sin: Saints: Profess to Have Ceased From

Sin: Saints: Resolve Against

Sin: Scripture Concludes all Under

Sin: Secret Sins

Sin: Separates from God

Sin: Shall Find out the Wicked

Sin: should be Abhorred

Sin: should be Avoided Even in Appearance

Sin: should be Confessed

Sin: should be Departed From

Sin: should be Guarded Against

Sin: should be Hated

Sin: should be Mortified

Sin: should be Mourned Over

Sin: should be Put Away

Sin: should be Striven Against

Sin: should be Wholly Destroyed

Sin: Sinfulness of

Sin: Sometimes Open and Manifest

Sin: Sometimes Secret

Sin: Specially Strive Against Besetting

Sin: The Abominable Thing That God Hates

Sin: The Egyptians

Sin: The Entangling

Sin: The Fear of God Restrains

Sin: The Fruit of Lust

Sin: The Ground Was Cursed on Account of

Sin: The Holy Spirit Convinces of

Sin: The Israelites

Sin: The Law by Its Strictness Stirs Up

Sin: The Law is the Strength of

Sin: The Law is Transgressed by Every

Sin: The Law: Curses Those Guilty of

Sin: The Law: Gives Knowledge of

Sin: The Law: Made to Restrain

Sin: The Law: Shows Exceeding Sinfulness of

Sin: The Sodomites

Sin: The Sting of Death

Sin: The Thought of Foolishness Is

Sin: The Unpardonable

Sin: The Wicked: Boast of

Sin: The Wicked: Cannot Cease From

Sin: The Wicked: Dead In

Sin: The Wicked: Defy God in Committing

Sin: The Wicked: Delight in Those Who Commit

Sin: The Wicked: Encourage Themselves In

Sin: The Wicked: Encouraged In, by Prosperity

Sin: The Wicked: Excuse

Sin: The Wicked: Expect Impunity In

Sin: The Wicked: Guilty of, in Everything They Do

Sin: The Wicked: Heap Up

Sin: The Wicked: Led by Despair to Continue In

Sin: The Wicked: Make a Mock At

Sin: The Wicked: Plead Necessity For

Sin: The Wicked: Servants To

Sin: The Wicked: Shall Bear the Shame of

Sin: The Wicked: Tempt Others To

Sin: The Wicked: Throw the Blame of, on God

Sin: The Wicked: Throw the Blame of, on Others

Sin: The Wicked: Try to Conceal, from God

Sin: The Word of God Keeps From

Sin: To be Hated

Sin: Toil and Sorrow Originated In

Sin: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To, Defining and Illustrating

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Cleanse Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Deliver Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Forgive Our

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Keep Us From

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Make Us Know Our

Sin: we should Pray to God: To Search For, in Our Hearts

Sin: Whatever is not of Faith Is

Sin: when Finished Brings Forth Death

Sin: Works of Darkness

Related Terms

Sin-offerings (8 Occurrences)

Sin's (3 Occurrences)

Sin-money (1 Occurrence)

Sin-offering (115 Occurrences)

Sinlessness

Committing (30 Occurrences)

Kid (42 Occurrences)

Sinoffering

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Confessed (19 Occurrences)

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Committeth (22 Occurrences)

Sinneth (25 Occurrences)

Afford (12 Occurrences)

Suffice (22 Occurrences)

Sinning (59 Occurrences)

Acknowledge (61 Occurrences)

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)

Continual (55 Occurrences)

Sinful (61 Occurrences)

Blot (23 Occurrences)

Convict (12 Occurrences)

Atone (8 Occurrences)

Sting (5 Occurrences)

Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)

Confession (22 Occurrences)

Azazel (3 Occurrences)

Slaves (119 Occurrences)

Conception (6 Occurrences)

Year-old (6 Occurrences)

Contrite (5 Occurrences)

Contrition (1 Occurrence)

Covet (14 Occurrences)

Coveting (3 Occurrences)

Advocate (7 Occurrences)

Atoned (8 Occurrences)

Sinfulness (3 Occurrences)

Slaughtered (72 Occurrences)

Apostate (5 Occurrences)

Sinner (88 Occurrences)

Yearling (48 Occurrences)

Commit (142 Occurrences)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

Salvation (386 Occurrences)

Agony (20 Occurrences)

Burnt-offering (205 Occurrences)

Slaughter (121 Occurrences)

Committed (201 Occurrences)

Bullock (95 Occurrences)

Confess (65 Occurrences)

Conscious (93 Occurrences)

Shown (131 Occurrences)

Community (77 Occurrences)

Blemish (71 Occurrences)

Covetous (11 Occurrences)

Convicted (4 Occurrences)

Carnal (11 Occurrences)

Charging (27 Occurrences)

Cloke (7 Occurrences)

Concupiscence (3 Occurrences)

Afforded (2 Occurrences)

Acquittal (7 Occurrences)

Abound (36 Occurrences)

Advantage (44 Occurrences)

Abides (37 Occurrences)

Sennacherib (13 Occurrences)

Serving (85 Occurrences)

Sincere (18 Occurrences)

Stands (111 Occurrences)

Seizing (7 Occurrences)

Can't (180 Occurrences)

Sentence (53 Occurrences)

Claim (30 Occurrences)

Attack (221 Occurrences)

Sincerity (17 Occurrences)

Sacrificed (112 Occurrences)

Kinds (110 Occurrences)

Astray (116 Occurrences)

Sin is of the Devil
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