1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Sin throughout the Bible revolves around two concepts. To transgress means “to step across” or “to go beyond a set boundary or limit.” This concept can be compared to an athletic playing field with lines delineating the boundaries within which the game is played. When a player crosses over those boundary lines, he has committed a “transgression” and gone out of bounds. Limits are set that define the playing area, and the players are to stay within the limits of that area.
Most of the other words translated “sin” in the Bible involve a second concept, “to miss the mark.” Again, to use a sports analogy, if a player aims for the goal and misses, how many points does he get? None. He missed the goal, missed the mark at which he was aiming.
This view of sin includes the concept of our going in one direction but straying off course to the side and not continuing in the direction we intended to go, with the result that we don’t reach the goal we intended. We miss.
However, we should not define sin to the extent that we keep committing it again and again. Thereafter we become like the person who looks into the mirror and forgets how he looked in the first place; or a dog who goes back again and again to his own vomit. Sin is dangerous and hence the only thing we should do is flee from its venomous attack cause it will slowly but surely devour us.
We cannot repent for sin unless we are a servant of Christ, and we cannot serve Christ unless we repent of sin.
