Shall we consider our sin?

I have discovered that many Christians still struggle with the issue of sin.

The problem is that we have been brainwashed through the years by the institutional church to believe that sin is a verb and only a verb, speaking to our actions or lack thereof.

In contrast the Greek word used in the New Testament is much more explicit, using it as a noun. Sin is a condition rather than an action.

The problem is our understanding of sin

Sin is a condition, a sickness, a state … (see this post)

The Greek word for sin is hamartia. It is a noun used more than 200 times in the New Testament. The word denotes a condition whereby the person is in error, misses the mark, is without a share, takes the wrong path … It is used mainly in singular form referring to that specific condition of mankind. Even the Hebrew word ḥaṭṭā'āṯ, talks about a condition of missing the mark.

Hamartia comes from a Greek root word hamartanō, which is a verb, with the same meaning but only used 48 times throughout the New Testament where people referred to their own sinning and trespassing (also Romans 6:15).  

Again, we should be looking at the context from which Paul is encouraging believers

Note that Romans 6 starts with the words What shall we say then? … The operative word here is then, just like the word therefore in the beginning of chapter five. It tells you that the conclusion made, is derived from what had been discussed beforehand.

So, we need to know what was said beforehand.

Paul was explaining how that believers are justified and in peace with God through Jesus. He was explaining that following the Law could not achieve this. And, most importantly, that we have been made the righteousness of God … imputed upon the believer (Romans 4:24 and preceding verses).

So, then what about sin?

Because we have obtained this condition (position) of righteousness and having been justified before God forever, our condition of sin is no longer valid. It had been taken away by the Blood of the Lamb.

What shall we say then about sin - Romans 6

With this background (and having read this post), let us now read what Paul is saying.

Shall we continue (epimenō - stay, or abide, or preserve …) in sin, that grace may abound?

No. Our condition has changed. Because our previous condition has been completely taken away, we shall no longer live (stay and reason) from a position of constantly missing the mark. Hamartia is buried and we walk in newness (verse 4) because of the resurrection of Jesus and live in newness of life (Jesus). (note the words translated here as should walk can be much more accurately translated just as walk or even live).

The point is that our condition has not been treated. It has been taken away completely!

The old man (hamartia) is crucified and that body of sin was destroyed, that now we are no longer a slave (serve) to hamartia (verse 6). We are dikaioō-ed (freed) from that very condition. Dikaioō also means to be rendered righteous, to declare, exhibit, and be pronounced as such before God. (verse 7)

Rather than sin, the issue here is righteousness and Life. Yah'shua dealt with hamartia once and for all, and in that makes provision for life before God. (verse 10)

We should no longer be sin-conscious, but Son-conscious instead

Just like this, we should reckon ourselves dead to hamartia and alive unto God. (verse11).

So, Paul says in verse 12, that we should not consider ourselves sinners (people with the hamartia condition), giving it a grip on your life. Rather, we should yield (paristēmi) - place yourself beside or close (agree with God) to our position as righteous children of God and consider ourselves a weapon (or instrument) of righteousness. Remember that Jesus said before ascending how we should go into the world and heal the sick, cast out the demons …?

Because we are under Grace, hamartia does not reign in our thinking and actions (verse 14). Verse 15 plainly says that because we are not under the law, but in Grace hamartia is of no consequence.

Verse 16 again underlines that we should place ourselves (yield) to our positions as righteous children of God rather than yielding to a false notion of being imprisoned by sin.

In the verses that follow, Paul keeps emphasizing this point again and a gain. He takes a lot of effort to also heighten the fact that our liberty should result in exercising our dominion authority and how Jesus is the Gift-of-Life that makes all of this possible.

Our thinking can be so corrupted at times.

Thankfully, His Grace abounds much more ...