What is sin? It is very important we understand sin, because the opposite of sin is God. If our idea of sin is wrong, then our idea of God is going to be wrong as well.
So what is sin? The great breakthrough of the gospel is, in a sense, an understanding of the nature of sin and of the nature of God. Our conventional idea of sin is the breaking of a divinely made rule – it’s going against God’s will, it’s doing something that God says we shouldn’t do, even though most rules that we apply to God are socially conditioned morality. And if we break these rules we should expect to be punished, just as if you break the speed limit you expect to be fined or lose your points on your license. But that’s a legalisation of sin.
