Three Definitions of Sin

Many Christians don't recognise that the Bible has three eras in it. The read and try to practice everything they read believing it's all for them. Paul admonished Timothy:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15HCSB. 

Showing us, a Christian can WRONGLY teach the Word(as many are doing today). The three eras have different definitions of sins as follows;

1. Before the Law:

"Sin was defined as knowing to do good but refusing to do it."

Therefore, to the one who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17 LEB)

There was no law given; men had to be a law to themselves. In that period people did what was right in their eyes. People lived based on their morality.

2. Under the Law: 

You shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatever is right in his own eyes (Deuteronomy 12:8 WEB).

Moses told the Israelites; the days of living based on morality was over; that it was time to live by the Law. Under the Law Sin was defined as 

"The breaking of the law"

Captured in "Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law." (1John 3:4 HCSB).

3. Under Grace:

"Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17

Isaiah 55:11 explains what it means for God's Word to be fulfilled:

The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do. (NCV).

Notice that God's Word always returns to God after it is fulfilled.

Glory to God!

When Jesus died the Power behind the law returned to God;

"Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom." Luke 15:37-38 (WEB).

The law was fulfilled and the power behind the law returned to God.

"Christ ended the law so that everyone who believes in him may be right with God." Romans 10:4(NCV). 

Christ has made us(who believe in Him) righteous. Therefore, we are called to live by faith(Galatians 3:11). 

The new definition of sin for us is:

"Anything not done by faith"

"But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23 LEB).

In Galatians 5:6 we are informed our faith must work by love.

Therefore; "Anything not done by faith which works by love is a sin".

 Don't do something because the law says to do so. Do it because it's a manifestation of faith which works by love.

1Timothy 1:9 "knowing this, that the law is not given for a righteous person but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners,"

You are the just; live by faith!

God Bless You