Sin is the central issue that the Bible seeks to resolve, and is the only reason the Bible exists. If sin did not enter the world, the Bible and its contents would not be necessary. Sin describes any failure to conform to the moral law of God, either in act, speech or attitude. It is not just the committing of unrighteous deeds, but is fundamentally a state of rebellion against God and His authority. The most common biblical concept for sin means “to miss the mark,” as in falling short of God’s perfect standard of righteousness (Rom 3:23).

The failure to conform to God’s law can manifest in two ways; sins of commission and sins of omission. A sin of commission is the active breaking of God’s law, such as stealing or lying. A sin of omission is the passive failure to do what God’s law requires, such as failing to love one’s neighbour or neglecting to do good when one has the opportunity (Jas 4:17).

Furthermore, sin can be understood both as individual deeds and as a pervasive principle. As deeds, sins are the specific actions, thoughts, and words that “miss the mark.” As a principle, sin refers to the indwelling corrupt nature that orients the heart away from God and brings forth sinful deeds (Rom 7:17, 20).

The Bible also uses related words to give a fuller picture of sin, such as “transgression” and “iniquity.”

A “transgression” is a specific kind of sin that involves the willful violation of a known law. It means to step across a boundary that God has clearly established (Rom 4:15). While all transgression is sin, not all sin is transgression. For example, one can sin by failing to do good, even without a specific command.

“Iniquity” refers to the inward perversity or distortion of character that leads to sinful acts (Ps 51:2). It points to the corrupt nature and guilt behind the action, rather than just the action itself. It highlights that sin is not just what we do, but who we are apart from God’s grace.