{"id":37921,"date":"2016-09-24T13:54:39","date_gmt":"2016-09-24T11:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/sin-is-missing-the-mark\/"},"modified":"2024-11-18T20:12:53","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T18:12:53","slug":"sin-is-missing-the-mark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/sin-is-missing-the-mark\/","title":{"rendered":"Sin is missing the mark"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”671071″]What is sin? In the Bible, the term sin is used to describe the opposite of “reaching the goal.” This can be in moral terms. The concept becomes clear above all in very everyday situations.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”159151″]<\/p>\n

Sin is a concept<\/h3>\n

In the book of Joshua we read about his army, in which there was a special unit:<\/p>\n

“Among all this warfare were 700 select men who were left-handed. These all hurled the stone to within an inch of its life and never missed their target<\/strong>.”<\/em>
\nRi 20,16<\/p>\n

These men “never missed their target.” The Hebrew word (hb. chatah<\/em>), which is rendered here as missing the mark, is read elsewhere as “to sin.” They did not sin. You did not miss your target. Jeff Benner, in the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible<\/em>, refers to the related root word for “cord” ( hb. chuth<\/em>). A cord is used not only for lacing, but also for measuring. Thus, a string can be used to measure the distance or even the deviation. This is how we know the German term “Richtschnur”, a guideline towards a goal. Now, to sin is to fall short of this goal.<\/p>\n

In Proverbs we read the following:<\/p>\n

“And he who is hasty with his feet missteps.”<\/strong><\/em>
\nProv 19:2<\/p>\n

At this point one could write “he who is hasty with his feet sins”<\/strong>. The same Hebrew word chatah<\/em> is also used here. If you’re too fast, you miss. If you are too fast, you will stumble. Here, too, the goal is missed (to place the foot correctly).<\/p>\n

This basic meaning is used in many situations in a figurative sense. Missing the target is a basic problem. The effect, however, can be quite different. So sin is not something specific (eating chocolate, sexuality, etc.), but it is a concept.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”348457″]<\/p>\n

Sin is a deficiency<\/h3>\n

Sin is a concept, but it is also a deficiency. This becomes especially clear when we compare ourselves with God, for example. Paul describes it as follows:<\/p>\n

“All sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”<\/em>
\nRom 3:23<\/p>\n

Here the connection is made between “sin” and “deficiency”. We are not like God. There is a noticeable difference. We lack His glory. He is not like us and we are not on His level. If we want to come to Him, we miss the target. We lack everything it takes to do this. We cannot bridge this difference ourselves. Even though we may do a lot of good, that can never hide the fact that we have no life in ourselves. In this we differ from God. We are mortal and remain so. This is a “slavery to corruption” as Paul describes it (Rom 8:20-21). It is a very sober reflection on our experience in this world.<\/p>\n

We are not like God, and that has consequences.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”138422″]<\/p>\n

Two basic problems of the people<\/h3>\n

Sin brings death. This was so for Adam and Eve, who became mortal through transgression – and died. Since then, humanity has been dying – we are all mortal. Generally speaking, sin pays nothing better than “death”.<\/strong> But the gift of God’s grace is life<\/strong> eonian in Christ Jesus our Lord(Rom 6:23). Life is God’s answer to death. And justice is what cancels out the missing of the goal. These two opposites belong together.<\/p>\n

The Bible describes two basic problems for human beings: sin and death. Both are answered by the gospel of God’s grace. The Gospel describes His righteousness given to us (Rom 1:16-17). This includes the prospect that He Himself will one day make all alive, namely the same ones who died as a result of Adam’s transgression (1 Cor. 15:22).<\/p>\n

These are the core problems of human beings and God’s response to them:<\/p>\n