Have you ever found yourself wondering what God truly considers a sin? It’s a question that can feel overwhelming. We live in a world with a million different opinions, and sometimes even within the church, the lines can seem blurry. We know the big ones, but what about the smaller things, the attitudes of our hearts, or the things we don’t do? It’s a journey I’ve been on myself, digging into Scripture to move past the noise and understand God’s heart on the matter.
If you’re looking for clarity, you’re in the right place. This isn’t about creating a checklist for salvation; it’s about understanding God’s design for a life of freedom and joy. So, let’s walk through this together and explore the core question: What are sins in the Bible? We’ll look directly at the lists, verses, and definitions God has given us in His Word.
More in Bible Category
Does the Bible Say All Sins Are Equal
What Is Condemnation in the Bible
Key Takeaways
- Sin’s Core Definition: The Bible defines sin as “lawlessness” or “missing the mark” of God’s perfect standard. It’s any action, thought, or attitude that goes against God’s character and commands.
- It’s Universal: According to Scripture, every single person has sinned (Romans 3:23). This shared condition isn’t meant to shame us but to show us our common need for a Savior.
- The Bible Provides Specific Lists: Passages in Galatians, Proverbs, and Revelation give us clear examples of sinful actions and attitudes that God warns us against.
- Sin Begins in the Heart: Jesus taught that sin isn’t just about outward actions. He connected anger with murder and lust with adultery, showing that God is concerned with our inner motivations.
- Hope and Forgiveness Are Central: The Bible’s story doesn’t end with a list of sins. Its primary message is about the solution to sin—the forgiveness and new life offered through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).
What Does the Bible Actually Define as Sin?
Before we can look at a list of sins, we have to understand what the word “sin” even means. It’s a word we hear a lot, but its biblical definition is incredibly precise.
The most common Greek word for sin in the New Testament is hamartia, which literally means “to miss the mark.” Imagine an archer aiming for the center of a target but his arrow falls short. That’s the essence of sin. God has a perfect standard—His own holy and righteous character—and whenever we fall short of that standard in our actions, thoughts, or words, we miss the mark.
The Apostle John gives us another crystal-clear definition.
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4, ESV)
This tells us that sin isn’t an arbitrary set of rules. It is a direct violation of God’s holy law and design for humanity. Because God is perfect, His law is perfect, and any deviation from it is, by definition, sin. It’s the reason we all feel that sense of brokenness in the world and in ourselves.
Where Does the Bible List Different Types of Sins?
While the Bible doesn’t have a single, consolidated “master list” of every possible sin, it gives us several powerful and detailed lists that paint a very clear picture of the behaviors and attitudes that displease God and harm ourselves and others. These lists are incredibly helpful for understanding the practical side of what it means to miss the mark.
What Are the Sins Paul Warned the Galatians About?
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the churches in Galatia, provides one of the most direct lists of sinful behaviors. He calls them the “works of the flesh” and contrasts them with the “fruit of the Spirit.” It’s a stark look at a life lived apart from God’s guidance.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21, ESV)
Let’s break that down. Paul lists:
- Sexual Sins: Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality.
- Spiritual Sins: Idolatry (worshipping anything other than God), sorcery.
- Relational Sins: Enmity (hatred), strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy.
- Sins of Excess: Drunkenness, orgies.
Paul’s warning here is serious. He isn’t just giving friendly advice; he’s making it clear that a life characterized by these things is a life moving away from God, not toward Him.
What Are the Seven Things God Hates in Proverbs?
The book of Proverbs is filled with practical wisdom for daily life, and a famous passage in chapter 6 gives us a glimpse into the specific attitudes of the heart that God finds abominable. This list is powerful because it focuses heavily on the character behind the actions.
“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19, ESV)
Here is that list again:
- Haughty eyes (pride)
- A lying tongue
- Hands that shed innocent blood
- A heart that devises wicked plans
- Feet that are quick to rush into evil
- A false witness who lies
- A person who stirs up conflict among family or friends
Notice how many of these are about more than just outward actions. They deal with pride, deception, and malicious intent—the very source of our sinful behaviors.
What Does Revelation Say About Sins That Exclude People from God’s Kingdom?
The final book of the Bible, Revelation, gives a sobering list of those who will be outside the Holy City in the new creation. This list describes the character of those who remain in a state of unrepentant rebellion against God.
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8, ESV)
This is a heavy verse to read. It’s a reminder of the ultimate seriousness of sin and the final separation it causes from a holy God. It’s not meant to make us live in fear, but to help us see the incredible grace of the salvation offered to us.
Are Some Sins Worse Than Others in God’s Eyes?
This is a question many of us have wrestled with. Is a small white lie the same as a murder? From a human perspective, of course not. The consequences are vastly different.
From a biblical perspective, it’s a bit more nuanced. On one hand, any sin, no matter how “small,” is an act of rebellion against a perfect God and is enough to separate us from Him. James puts it this way: “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10). This shows us how high God’s standard of holiness is.
However, the Bible also suggests that some sins carry greater weight or consequence. Jesus Himself told Pontius Pilate that the one who handed Him over had “the greater sin” (John 19:11). This implies a degree of severity. Sins that do more damage to others, that are committed with more knowledge and intent, or that lead others astray seem to be treated with a particular gravity in Scripture.
So while any sin makes us guilty before God, it’s also clear that not all sins have the same impact on our world or our relationship with God.
What Is the Unforgivable Sin the Bible Talks About?
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood and feared topics in all of Scripture is the “unpardonable sin.” Jesus speaks about it in the Gospels.
“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Matthew 12:31, ESV)
This has caused a lot of anxiety for believers over the centuries. What does it mean? In the context of the passage, the religious leaders were witnessing Jesus perform miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, but they were attributing that power to Satan.
Most theologians understand this sin not as a single accidental curse word, but as a final, determined, and willful rejection of the Holy Spirit’s testimony about Jesus. It is seeing the clear truth of who Jesus is and what He has done and consciously hardening your heart to the point where you call good evil and evil good.
A simple rule of thumb I’ve heard that brings a lot of peace is this: If you are worried that you have committed the unforgivable sin, you almost certainly have not. The very fact that you care and are concerned about your relationship with God is a sign that the Holy Spirit is still at work in your heart.
If Everyone Sins, What Hope Does the Bible Offer?
After reading through lists of sins and warnings about judgment, it would be easy to feel completely hopeless. And if that’s where the story ended, we would have every reason to despair. But that is not where the story ends.
The central message of the Bible is not about our sin; it’s about God’s amazing solution to our sin.
The Bible makes two things incredibly clear:
- The consequence of sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). This means spiritual separation from God.
- God has provided a free gift to rescue us from that consequence. “…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).
God did not leave us in our brokenness. Out of his immense love for us, He sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect, sinless life and to die on the cross in our place. He took the punishment that we deserved. This act of substitutionary atonement is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. For anyone wanting to explore this profound theological concept further, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy offers an in-depth academic look at its history and meaning.
How Does Faith in Jesus Christ Change Our Relationship with Sin?
Forgiveness isn’t something we earn; it’s something we receive by faith. When we turn away from our sin and trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our relationship with sin is fundamentally changed forever.
The Bible promises us:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV)
This doesn’t mean we will never struggle with sin again. That struggle is a part of the Christian life as we are being sanctified and made more like Christ. But it does mean that the penalty of our sin has been paid. We are no longer defined by our failures but by His forgiveness. We move from being slaves to sin to being children of God.
A Final Thought on Grace
Understanding what the Bible calls sin is profoundly important. It shows us God’s holiness, reveals our own need for help, and makes us incredibly grateful for the cross. It is not a list meant to condemn us, but a diagnosis meant to lead us to the cure.
The truth is, we will all miss the mark. But the beauty of the Gospel is that when we do, we can turn to a Savior whose arms are always open, ready to forgive, cleanse, and set us back on the path of life.
Frequently Asked Questions – What Are Sins in the Bible
What is the ultimate solution to sin according to the Bible?
The Bible reveals that Jesus Christ is the ultimate solution to sin. Through His death and resurrection, He offers forgiveness and eternal life to those who confess their sins and trust in Him, overcoming the penalty and power of sin.
Does the Bible list specific sins, and what can we learn from these lists?
The Bible does not give a single comprehensive list but provides various examples and principles through passages like Galatians 5, Romans 1, and Proverbs 6, which show behaviors and attitudes that oppose God’s will.
What are sins of the heart according to Jesus’ teachings?
Sins of the heart include wrongful feelings and thoughts like anger, lust, and coveting. Jesus emphasized that these internal attitudes are equally serious as external actions, highlighting the importance of purity in heart and mind.
Are there different types or categories of sins in the Bible?
Yes, sins are generally categorized into sins of commission, which are active wrong actions like stealing, and sins of omission, which are failing to do what is right, such as not helping someone in need, as exemplified in Matthew 25.
What is the meaning of sin in the Bible?
In the Bible, sin means ‘missing the mark,’ referring to falling short of God’s perfect goodness, much like an archer missing the target. It encompasses actions, feelings, or thoughts that go against God’s law and holy nature.
