We all know that Jesus is the way to a better life. What is more important is that Jesus is the way to forgiveness of our sins. What is sin and how would you define sin? Webster defines sin as the transgression of God’s law. When God’s commands are not kept we are sinning.

Many today have the wrong idea about sin. Many think it is nothing more than a violation of human relationships. They believe that an action is sinful if it is frowned upon by our society, or it violates their conscience, or it is harmful to someone else. Many believe that correcting sin involves nothing more than making things right with other people. With this misunderstanding they believe they are forgiven of all past actions if they simply change their behavior.

What is the Bible definition of sin? The Bible defines different types of sin. There is the direct violation of God’s law. The apostle Paul describes sin in this way; whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, I John 3:4. When God’s law tells us not to steal we sin when we do so. This is the sin of commission, committing an act that displeases God.

In James 4:17 we read that if the one who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is a sin. This is called the sin of omission, where one fails or neglects to do that which he knows to do. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies and I do not display love toward them it is sin.

The apostle Paul tells us about another sin, Rom. 14:23, “But he that doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” This is the sin of violating your conscience. In a situation such as this you may be doing what is right but if you cannot do it with a clear conscience you are sinning. Romans 14 pertained to one who, because of earlier religious training before becoming a Christian, had difficulty eating meat without a guilty conscience. Paul is teaching that this brother whose faith is weak should abstain from eating of meat.

We can see through these three examples that sin is more than simply a violation of human relationship. Sin is a serious matter that involves God and His will. How serious is sin? Paul tells us in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. This is the second death which will lead us to eternal torment that is spoken of in Rev. 21:8.

Jesus is “The Way” to forgiveness, the only way, for no other way has been offered by God by which we can be reconciled to Him. As Jesus said: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.