Hello, and God bless you. Is your heart asking, what are the 12 sins in the bible? If so, you are on a path to learn a deeper truth. This question leads us right into God’s Holy Word. It helps us see ourselves more clearly. It also helps us see our great need for the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Now, it is good to know that the Bible does not give us one single list called “The 12 Sins.” But, by looking at all of God’s Word, we can find the sins that God warns us about.
This journey is not about making a list to feel bad about. Instead, it is about seeing how holy God is. It is about the wonderful freedom He offers us from sin. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This truth is the starting point for everyone. It is where we stop trying to be good on our own and start trusting in Jesus. So, let’s look at God’s Word together. We are not looking for rules to weigh us down. We are looking for the truth of His love that sets us free.
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What Is the True Meaning of Sin in the Bible?
Before we look at a list, we need to know what sin is. The simplest meaning of sin is “missing the mark.” Think of an archer with a bow and arrow. He is aiming for the center of a target. That center is God’s perfect goodness. Any shot that is not in the center is a miss. It does not matter if you miss by a little or a lot. It is still a miss.
Sin is also a problem in our hearts. It is not just the wrong things we do. It is the broken part of us that makes us do wrong things. The prophet Jeremiah said what God knows is true: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This shows us why we cannot fix ourselves. We need a new heart. Only God can give us one.
In the end, all sin is saying “no” to God. It is choosing our way instead of God’s way. This began in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve did not obey God’s command. They thought they knew better than God. So, our sins are like that first choice. We put what we want above the perfect and loving will of our Father. This rebellion is the root of every action we might list when we ask what are the 12 sins in the bible.
What Are the 12 Sins in the Bible According to Scripture?
The Bible does not give us one single list of twelve sins. But we can look at God’s Word with a prayerful heart. We can see the kinds of sins God warns us about again and again. By putting together key ideas from the Bible, we can make a list. This list helps us see the sins that break God’s heart. It also helps us answer the question of what are the 12 sins in the bible in a true and honest way.
Here is a list of twelve key sins that the Bible speaks against.
A Deeper Look at What Are the 12 Sins in the Bible
- Pride: This is often called the first sin. It is putting yourself in God’s place. It is an attitude that says, “I can do it myself. I don’t need God.” Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
- Idolatry: This is worshiping anything that is not the one true God. An idol can be a statue. But it can also be money, power, fame, or even yourself. The first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
- Blasphemy: This is speaking evil of God. It is treating His holy name with disrespect. It is taking what is holy and treating it like it is worthless.
- Murder: This is taking a human life. Every person is made in the image of God. Jesus said that hating someone in your heart is like murder (Matthew 5:21-22).
- Adultery & Sexual Sin: This is any sexual act outside of marriage between one man and one woman. Jesus also taught that to lust in your heart is to commit adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:28).
- Theft: This is taking something that is not yours. It breaks the trust God wants us to have. It shows you do not trust God to give you what you need.
- Lying & Deceit: This is not telling the truth. God is truth, so lying is against who He is. This also includes gossip and slander, which use words to hurt people.
- Coveting & Envy: This is a strong, angry want for what someone else has. It makes you unhappy with what God has given you. It can lead to many other sins.
- Witchcraft & Sorcery: This is looking for spiritual power from a source other than God’s Holy Spirit. It is a turning away from God to dark spiritual powers.
- Drunkenness & Gluttony: This is the sin of too much. It is letting your body’s wants control you. We should live with self-control, which is a gift of the Spirit.
- Strife & Division: This is causing fights, arguments, and splits between people. This is especially bad in the church. God wants His people to live in peace and unity.
- Unbelief: This may be the most basic sin of all. It is a choice not to believe God’s Word. It is refusing to trust in His Son, Jesus, to save you. Hebrews 3:12 warns us about having a “sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
How Do the Ten Commandments Relate to What Are the 12 Sins in the Bible?
The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 are a great place to start to understand sin. They are God’s moral law for all people for all time. We can split them into two parts: our duty to God and our duty to others.
Our Duty to God (Commandments 1-4)
The first four commands show us how to love and honor God. They tell us not to:
- Worship other gods (Idolatry).
- Make idols to worship.
- Misuse God’s name (Blasphemy).
- Forget to keep the Sabbath day of rest holy.
These rules protect our walk with God. When we break them, we hurt the most important relationship we have.
Our Duty to Others (Commandments 5-10)
The last six commands show us how to love other people. They tell us not to:
- Dishonor our parents.
- Murder.
- Commit adultery.
- Steal.
- Lie.
- Covet.
These rules are the base for a good and loving world. Jesus put all ten laws into two simple ones. He said the greatest command is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” And the second is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
How Do the “Works of the Flesh” Relate to What Are the 12 Sins in the Bible?
The Apostle Paul gives us a very clear list of sins in his letter to the Galatians. He calls them the “acts of the flesh.” This means they are the things our sinful selves do when we do not follow the Holy Spirit. This list helps us a lot as we think about what are the 12 sins in the bible.
Galatians 5:19-21 says: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”
Sins of Immorality
Paul starts with sexual sins. This shows how much God cares about the gift of sex. He wants it to be safe inside of marriage.
Sins of Worship
Next, Paul lists sins about wrong worship. These are “idolatry and witchcraft.” These are sins where we turn from God to find power somewhere else.
Sins of Relationships
Then, Paul lists sins that hurt how we treat each other. These are “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,” and more. These sins tear apart families and churches. They are the opposite of the love God wants for us.
Sins of Excess
Last, he talks about sins of having too much. These are “drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” These are sins where we lose control of our bodies. Paul gives a strong warning: “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
What Is the True Danger of What Are the 12 Sins in the Bible?
The real danger of sin is not just that it makes us feel bad. The Bible is clear about the final danger of sin. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death.”
This “death” means two things. First, it means our bodies will die. This came into the world with Adam’s sin. Second, it means spiritual death. This is being apart from God forever. God is the source of all life and joy. This is the worst result of our sin. It is a price we all owe but can never pay. This is why knowing what are the 12 sins in the bible is key. It shows us what Jesus saves us from.
But, that verse ends with great news. It ends with the best news in the world: “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
What Is God’s Beautiful Solution to Sin?
After we see how holy God is and how bad our sin is, we can feel lost. But praise God, He did not leave us that way! He made a way out for us. He gave us the answer.
Jesus: The Answer to What Are the 12 Sins in the Bible
God’s answer was not a list of rules. It was a Person. His name is Jesus. God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus lived a perfect life with no sin. He never “missed the mark.” He followed God’s law all the time.
Then, Jesus willingly died on a cross, even though He was not guilty. On that cross, He took the punishment we should have received. He paid the price for our sin. The Bible says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He took our sin, and He gives us His perfect goodness. This is the amazing grace of God!
How Can We Receive This Gift?
We cannot earn this wonderful gift of new life. It is free. We receive it by faith. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Faith is trusting only in what Jesus did for you. It is turning from your sin to God. This is called repentance. It is saying you cannot save yourself. It is trusting only in Jesus to save you.
What Are the 12 Sins in the Bible and The Promise of Forgiveness
God gives a sweet promise to every person who trusts in Jesus. We find it in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” When we come to Him with a humble heart, He washes us clean.
This is the main message of our Christian faith. Our sin does not define who we are. Our Savior does. For those who want to study this topic more, Christian schools like Liberty University have great resources that honor God’s Word.
In the end, the Bible shows us God’s heart. It shows us what pleases Him and what hurts Him. Most of all, it shows us that we need a Savior. I pray this look at what are the 12 sins in the bible does not make you feel sad. I pray it leads you to the cross of Jesus. There you will find more love and forgiveness than you can ever imagine.
FAQ – What Are the 12 Sins in the Bible
What is the danger of sin in the Bible, and how are we saved from it?
The ultimate danger of sin is spiritual death and separation from God, as Romans 6:23 states, ‘the wages of sin is death.’ However, God provides a solution through Jesus Christ, who lived a sinless life and paid the penalty for our sins through His death on the cross. Salvation is received by faith in Jesus, not by works, offering forgiveness and eternal life.
What is the relationship between the ‘works of the flesh’ and the 12 sins in the Bible?
The ‘works of the flesh,’ as listed by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:19-21, include sins such as sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, discord, drunkenness, and orgies. These acts reflect sinful tendencies that lead us away from living according to the Holy Spirit and are closely related to the list of 12 sins, emphasizing the dangers of uncontrolled passions and behaviors.
How do the Ten Commandments relate to the 12 sins in the Bible?
The Ten Commandments serve as a moral foundation for understanding sin, divided into duties to God (commands 1-4) and duties to others (commands 5-10). Violating these commandments involves sins like idolatry, blasphemy, dishonoring parents, murder, adultery, theft, lying, and coveting, which align with the list of 12 sins.
What are the 12 sins in the Bible according to scripture?
The 12 key sins in the Bible include Pride, Idolatry, Blasphemy, Murder, Adultery and Sexual Sin, Theft, Lying and Deceit, Coveting and Envy, Witchcraft and Sorcery, Drunkenness and Gluttony, Strife and Division, and Unbelief. These sins are repeatedly warned against in Scripture and break God’s heart.
What is the true meaning of sin in the Bible?
Sin in the Bible is best understood as ‘missing the mark,’ which means falling short of God’s perfect goodness. It also involves the brokenness of our hearts that leads us to do wrong, stemming from a deceitful heart that only God can change with a new one. Ultimately, sin is choosing our way over God’s way, beginning with the first rebellion of Adam and Eve.
