2. What Is Sin?
What is sin and why is sin so serious that the Second Person of God had to come down to earth to redeem it?
In the common sense
Sin is a violation of the law.
What is not written in the law is allowed to be done even if it is against morality.
We have the right to interpret the law to avoid committing a sin, so the role of lawyers is very important: they can turn white into black, or from heavy to light: to be reduced. Sometimes a deed may turn into a crime and vice versa.
Life has many areas; each area has its own structure; many laws are issued to make it easier to manage, such as civil law, traffic law, family law, commercial law, labor law, etc. Laws are constantly changing to suit the needs of the times; the old land law may be replaced by the new one. Laws are localized: federal law, state law, the law of this country, the law of that country. It may be illegal in one country, but not in another. So before going to any country, we must find out in advance to avoid breaking the law.
Because there are so many laws, people with transcendent minds cannot remember them all. Many law schools should be opened to train a lot of specialized lawyers.
It is common that the law may not be enforced or is neglected. The law may be strict or loose; There may be at all times corruption, unjust verdicts or bribery.
Sin in the usual sense is very relative: sin can be changed from nothing to something, heavy to light, avoidable or manipulated. Sin always comes with punishment and changes according to people’s preferences and needs.
According to religions
Sin is something that religions try to get rid of because it drags people down to animals. The upward direction always requires people to know how to do good things.
In Buddhist concept, sins are bad things that we say, think and do, incite others to do evil or enjoy things that hurt them.
The Christian Bible talks about sin and its consequences in society. God specifically gives humans the right to manage all things He created, giving them rational awareness and freedom.
Man used that privilege against God, who is righteous and upright. He does not accept sin that goes against His nature.
For Christianity, sin is “an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law” (CCC 1871). This law is written by God as a straight conscience in each person’s heart.
St. Paul said, “For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God” (Rm 8, 7) He also said: “As it is written, there is no one just, not one” (Rm 3, 10).
Everyone has sins and everyone needs God’s saving grace.
Consequences of sin
Many people today believe that sin is only created by the old concept of society, and this sense of guilt needs to be eliminated because it causes many disasters to the happiness and healthy life of people.
They are wrong, because people are not machines or animals that only know how to eat and sleep. God has given them a mind that can distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, and a free will to choose. People are responsible for what they have done and suffer the consequences of those actions. Sin is a reality in social life.
Sin causes consequences that, according to justice, must be compensated accordingly.
Who can compensate in a proportionate way?