What is Sin?
What does the Bible teach about Sin?
The Bible teaches that all sin is against God and that any sin is equal in its power to separate humans from God.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight
Psalm 51:4
Christianity teaches that humans sin in thought, word, and deed. And that there are sins of commission, or sins we actively do, and sins of omission, things we fail to do that by that failure result in sin.
What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3:9-18
The Bible defines sin as lawlessness and rebellion against God. King David confessed to God, “Against you, you only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4), showing that even when our sins hurt others or ourselves, they are first and foremost offenses against the holy God.
Sin isn’t just a “mistake” or a “temporary slip”; instead, it’s a violation of God’s will, whether done in ignorance or deliberately.
What does Mormonism teach about Sin?
Mormonism teaches that sin is against self. In Mormonism, mistakes, slip-ups, oversights, and indiscretions are not really sin, as sin requires forethought, intent, and deliberate action.
Sin is knowingly choosing to do wrong or not to do right.
Plan of Salvation, p.9
Why this Matters
Since sin is such a serious offense to God, no one with sin can enter his presence. This guilt brings condemnation for all people. The punishment is eternal death. Thankfully, because Jesus’ atonement has covered sin, Christians are confident they have forgiveness right now.
Mormon doctrine often distinguishes between serious sins and lesser “mistakes” or accidents. But the Bible doesn’t make such fine distinctions. Any failure to fully conform to God’s perfect standard—whether in thought, word, or deed is sin. Even unintentional or ignorant actions still deserve condemnation before God. James 4:17 says that failing to do what we know is right is also sin. These verses demonstrate that sin extends beyond deliberate wrongdoing; it encompasses every form of falling short.
The Bible reveals that sin is not just something we do; it’s something that’s wrong with us. It’s not merely a set of bad choices we can clean up with enough effort but a condition of the heart that only God can fix. As Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” Mormonism tends to view sin as a series of stains that can be scrubbed away through repentance and obedience. But the Bible says the solution isn’t scrubbing; it’s transformation. God must give us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), and he does this by his grace, not by our striving.
Because LDS theology narrows the definition of sin, many Latter-day Saints pursue an almost perfectionistic lifestyle, believing they can and must eventually overcome all sin. However, the Bible is honest about human weakness: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8). Even mature Christians continue to struggle. Yet our hope is not in our moral progress; it’s in Jesus. He lived perfectly in our place and died to remove our guilt entirely. His righteousness now covers those who trust in him.
Because they trust in Jesus, Christians can face sin honestly, without denial, fear, or despair. We don’t hide it. We confess it. We rejoice that “the blood of Jesus… purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). The more deeply we understand the problem of sin, the more completely we cling to the solution found in Christ. We don’t wait and hope for forgiveness at the end of a long process – we have it now, fully and freely, through faith. That’s not a presumption. It’s trusting God’s promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us” (1 John 1:9).
Scripture References
Romans 5:18
Romans 6:23
Ephesians 1:7
Psalm 51:4
James 4:17
Romans 3:23
Leviticus 5
Summary
Christianity
All sin is against God.
Mormonism
Sin is against self, and it requires deliberate action.