Overview

To sin is to miss a mark, target, or goal.

In Judges 20:16, the narrator describes an army from the tribe of Benjamin among whom were 700 left-handed soldiers who could sling a stone at a target the size of a hair without missing (sin).

To sin is to miss the mark or goal.  But what goal?

Humanity was created in God’s image and likeness (Gen 1:26).  An image is a reproduction of something – as in an image in a mirror, or a statue of someone.  Seth is said to be Adam’s son after his image and likeness (Gen 5:3).

To bear God’s image includes more than sharing outward features, but also sharing God’s character.

The Bible describes God’s character as love (I Jn. 4:8), but not the overly emotional love that can sometimes be associated with that word.  God’s love is a profound interest and concern for others, even to the point of being willing to sacrifice for the wellbeing of others.

The Ten Commandments are illustrations of that love in practical terms. The first half speaks to how one shows love towards God, and the second half speaks to how one shows love towards other humans.  These “commands” are not all-inclusive but are a broad sample of behaviors that help one understand what it means to bear God’s image in practical terms.

So, to sin or to “miss the mark” is to live contrary to the manner God created humans to be – that of reflecting God’s own character.

Possible Scriptures for Illustration

Additional Information

Hebrew for sin: khata – to miss the mark, or to fail

Greek for sin: amartia – to miss the mark, to depart from standards

What the Bible Doesn’t Say

Some believe the Bible to say that since Christ died for our sins, any attempt at living according to a Biblical standard jeopardizes our status as forgiven.  This is sometimes referred to as “works righteousness.”

While the Bible teaches that Christ’s sacrifice cleanses us from our sin and we are forgiven, we are not to continue in sin (see Rom 6:11-13, 15-18; Col 3:5-16).

Cautions/Considerations

I’d recommend using biblical sounding terms sparingly (e.g., sin, iniquity, transgression, love, law, commands, etc.) since these terms often carry meanings beyond what we intend.