How do we sin? What is sin? Why do we sin? These are good questions that all serious Christians should know the answer to. When dealing with the question of sin we must understand the matter of authority. God has revealed Himself in Holy Scripture. The character and attributes of God are given to us in the Bible. We know what God is like by reading His Word. Throughout the Bible we experience the true nature of God. We read that God created mankind and all things that are good. When God created mankind He created him with a sense of morality. The law that God has placed on every human heart is something called the moral law of God.

The morality of God is for all people, of all ages, for all times, and for all cultures. We know that lying, stealing, and murder are wrong not because society has taught us but because our hearts bears witness to our creator’s law. In fact, society teaches the opposite of God’s law. The ungodly practice a lifestyle of sin. They believe if one tells a so-called little “white lie” or steals something small it is no big deal. Most people in society are comfortable committing a sin if there is a chance they will get away with it. You see, sin to the ungodly is only a problem if they get caught or found out.

There are two ways we sin. Firstly, a lack of conformity, which is not doing what is required. Secondly, by transgression, which is by doing what is forbidden. There is only one person to walk this earth who never broke the law of God, not even once. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. All mankind on the other hand breaks God’s law every day. This is why Jesus Christ is the one who could be our sin-bearer. 1 John 3:5 says, “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.”

Our Lord and Saviour said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” It is a deep expression of love for God when we walk in obedience. We obey God because as Christians we love Him and desire to give Him honour and glory. In Psalm 119:11 the Bible says, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”

It is important to point out that the Christian is not under the moral law of the Old Testament that was given to Moses for Israel. So, then does this mean that Christians are permitted to break the 10 Commandments and do that which the moral law forbids. Absolutely not, when a Christian does that which is right and just he is obeying the law of Christ, who was and is the perfect embodiment of the moral law of God in the Old Testament.

The concept of being “not under the law” for Christians can be a complex issue. It is important to remember that the law of the Old Testament was a sacrificial system which revealed sin and exposed a system of achieving righteousness through works. The 10 Commandments teach us the character of God. Christians are not under the covenant of works (law), where obedience is required for salvation, but under a covenant of grace (Christ), where salvation is freely offered through faith in Jesus Christ.