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Defining Sin How does the Bible define sin? Here is what the Bible says about what sin is. Romans 14:23 “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”. James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” 1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 5:17 “All unrighteousness is sin…” Many years ago an English teacher taught me that when you read a word and that word is followed by the word “is” then the author or publication is defining the word. God defines sin as “whatsoever is not of faith is sin”; when one “knoweth to do good, and doeth it not to him it is sin”; “sin is the transgression of the law”; “all unrighteousness is sin”. For what it is worth Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines sin as, “The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity.” Some people believe there is no such thing as sin. Most often those who say that there is no such thing as sin say so because in reality they are rejecting the authority who is defining sin, which means in reality they are rejecting God. Is the real reason the atheist says there is no God because he or she wants to convince themself that there is no such thing as sin? Do they want to believe if there is no such thing as sin, then there is no such thing as God? In this way they are free to live without a conscience. But can a person truly live without a conscience? Who would desire to live without a conscience except the person who was deep in sin? How do you define sin?