Sin

Sin is a transgression of a religious or moral law, a deliberate disobedience to the known Will of God, a condition of estrangement from God resulting from such disobedience, or something regarded as shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong.—The Oxford English Dictionary

The original sin is believing that you are or even can be separated from God. The idea of separation is an illusion. When you sin, you deny reality. A sin is any word, emotion, thought or act that can separate divine Mind, Substance and Power, thus creating mental confusion, illusion or delusion, diseased substance and denatured Power, which is force. Thus, sin is an act of disobedience to a Law of Being and/or a Law of Doing. Sin is missing the mark, living by a negative, not a positive pattern. Sin and evil are born of choices made by personalities.

“Sin is the soul’s loss of honor.”—Edna Lister

The world defines a vice on a continuum ranging from a slight personal failing; a foible, a flaw, an imperfection or a defect, to a serious moral failing, to wicked or evil conduct or habits; corruption, or an evil, degrading, or immoral practice or habit. People often conflate sin with evil. Evil is a conscious choice against the Light, a deliberate perversion of reality. Evil cannot exist without a base of individual personality and mind. Iniquity is a choice or an action that is grossly immoral or unjust, wicked. Abomination is a choice of action that is disgusting and abhorrent.

The Most Common Sins

Edna Lister on Sins

Jesus forgives sins, and we must too. Forgive your special sinners; stop focusing on seeing their sins, and heal yourself of blaming.—Edna Lister, Command Ye Me, January 16, 1935.

One sin is thinking "I can’t." Perfection begins with thinking "I can."—Edna Lister, Resurrection, January 18, 1935.

The one sin we are all likely to commit is denial of our own Christed divinity.—Edna Lister, Resurrection, February 27, 1935.

A mediator must offer propitiation and sacrifice for sin, and as such must surrender all self to become the servant of all Power.—Edna Lister, Vicarious Atonement, March 20, 1935.

There is no devil, no sin, no punishment in God, only a just return of the law.—Edna Lister, Philosophy, December 9, 1935.

What good does it do you to declare another a "bad" sinner? Such unrighteous judgment brings God’s judgment on your head.—Edna Lister, July 24, 1938.

The wages of sin are death. Therefore, pay tribute to the One God of All Glory that your wages are life and Light only, and no tribute to darkness.—Edna Lister, December 26, 1938.

God sent us here to learn how to solve one problem for each expression of self. One experience of a kind on involution was permissible. Wallowing in many experiences of one kind is the "sin and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost," against the substance of all life.—Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941.

Only the joyous sinner can give up sin all at once. Greedy people give up self only an inch at a time because they love God only an inch at a time.—Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941.

God loves a joyous sinner. Joy can wipe out the debt, but a long face, guilt and self blame increase the weight and lengthen the penance.—Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941.

A joyous sinner at least gets credit for joy, and if the sinner causes laughter and makes folks feel happy, he gains more credits. This is not a brief for sinning, for all must pay the wages of sin, now or in another incarnation.—Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941.

The Master came to save the sinners and transgressors, not the righteous. Your worst favorites are your own "sinners" to save first. You cannot save the sinners you abandon in a dark alley. You need not love their sin, but must love them into Light. Put them on a cloud of Light and speak the word for their healing.—Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941.

When you work according to the principle of nonresistance, you do not use Power to overcome sin. You just know the truth that every appearance of evil is simply a form of mental malpractice.—Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941.

If you constantly see another in sin, you are keeping his sin and paying his debt as well as your own.—Edna Lister, February 13, 1941.

The miracle of love casts out all sin and evil of self.—Edna Lister, October 21, 1941.

No sin against God is greater than selfish indifference to the cry of your fellow man. The greatest sin is lukewarmness to God in prayer and faith, and indifference to the suffering of a brother.—Edna Lister, January 20, 1942.

"Go, and sin no more" in your mind or heart, thinking of your own perfection, lest you fail in your turn when temptation comes on you like a thief in the night.—Edna Lister, January 22, 1945.

Just say, "I have sinned, Father" when you are at fault. Follow up with, "Move in, Father, and cleanse all past sin," then go and sin no more.—Edna Lister, July 11, 1945.

I observe constantly that I may never miss an opportunity to lift any man’s darkness, cover the transgressions, the sins of another, be responsible for all that goes on about me that my place shall be Light now and forever.—Edna Lister, July 3, 1947.

Merely to pray for absolution of sin is self-indulgence. You do not pray to be made clean, but clean up your own mess. Pray to be cleansed, but do not spend all your time in heaven on this.—Edna Lister, January 8, 1948.

When one sins, the whole world sins and all pay.—Edna Lister, December 28, 1948.

You can be free of the ways of sin and death only in living by wisdom and intuition or love. Then you pay your debts by sending out Light, which returns as Light.—Edna Lister, Be-Attitudes, June 12, 1951.

The Holy Spirit is the Mind, Substance and Power of God. Separating the Three-as-One is a sin against the Holy Spirit and you must lift a point of force through the body. Use it as an offering. If a cup breaks, offer it to God. Avoid an accumulation of darkness through such offerings.—Edna Lister, June 19, 1951.

The use of force in any way is a sin against the Holy Spirit.—Edna Lister, July 19, 1951.

The one unforgivable sin is to lose, or give up through selfishness, the point of Power’s release you have attained through sacrifice. Hold your point, for it is your way to save the world.—Edna Lister, November 19, 1951.

Our greatest sin has been our enjoyment of life so that we were lukewarm and indifferent to lifting spiritual debt when we were in high places.—Edna Lister, July 16, 1956.

No sin is greater than being sorry for what you have given, which shrinks the soul.—Edna Lister, September 2, 1956.

It is a sin to let anything conquer you.—Edna Lister, June 4, 1957.

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."—Genesis 4:7. Sin is crouching at the door if you do not live up to the law. If you do not agree and adjust to the law, the sin will be at your door.—Edna Lister, July 10, 1958.

The real "original sin" was Cain’s failure to reach up for the kingdom of heaven.—Edna Lister, July 10, 1958.

To involve an innocent, ignorant one by confessing something that will hurt or grieve them is an almost unforgivable sin.—Edna Lister, February 16, 1959.

Sin and evil are born of choices made by personalities. Sin is missing the mark, living by a negative, not a positive pattern. Evil is a conscious choice against the Light. Evil cannot exist without a base of individual personality and mind.—Edna Lister, The Pioneering Mystic, May 5, 1959.

Sin is missing the mark of holding to our high ideals.—Edna Lister, The Pioneering Mystic, May 5, 1959.

Mankind’s greatest psychological sin is repudiation of responsibility for a brother.—Edna Lister, What Is Symbolism? October 6, 1959.

Selfishness is the result of the sin of separateness (separation). Science and religion both teach selfishness as self-preservation being the first rule of life. The result of this is the "me first" creed of materialism. When you walk the Via Christa, Love cures this.—Edna Lister, The 33 Degrees of Soul Conquering, October 27, 1959.

We are so exquisitely balanced that every drop of sin is misery, a poison physically, emotionally and mentally. Sin is missing the high mark of your soul’s vision.—Edna Lister, The 33 Degrees of Soul Conquering, November 3, 1959.

It is a great sin against divine Mind not to practice multiple thinking, thinking on many levels.—Edna Lister, February 22, 1960.

When you notice another’s sin, Light is showing you his sin for lifting. Lift!—Edna Lister, April 3, 1960.

The fact that we are fully responsible for the subconscious and its actions, as well as for the conscious and super-conscious, is an instant offense to some because it interferes with their idea of riding into heaven on the coattails of Jesus. Sins are irresponsible choices made against the Light. Forgiveness of sin means that God gives you enough love substance on credit to pay your gravity debts to the Light.—Edna Lister, How Can I Apply Law to My Life? June 7, 1960.

Confession of sin is "forgetting those things which are behind" in the past and reaching forth to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).—Edna Lister, How Do I Wait Upon the Lord? June 28, 1960.

Avoidance of sin is to "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22), beginning with using idle words.—Edna Lister, How Do I Wait Upon the Lord? June 28, 1960.

You can’t return to God without contrition, repentance, and remission of sin.—Edna Lister, Do You Trust Your Own Decisions? June 20, 1961.

Where there is knowledge of sin, there are debts to be paid.—Edna Lister, December 18, 1961.

To put a burden on another greater than he can bear is a sin.—Edna Lister, How Did I Get Here? How Shall I Live Here? May 15, 1962.

It is a sin to indulge in grief.—Edna Lister, September 5, 1963.

The wages of sin open the road to the grave of all hope, all beauty, all joy, and absorb all delight.—Edna Lister, November 8, 1963.

You may not kill any desire, for to do so is a sin separating Mind, Substance and Power, creating force.—Edna Lister, The Ten Commandments, April 21, 1964.

Read and ponder I Corinthians 13. When you surrender and become possessed by love, you will be a harvester of sin for the Master.—Edna Lister, November 2, 1964.

The one real sin you commit against yourself is to forget who you are. All outer negativity comes from a lapse in consciousness that you come from the Source, and that its Power fills you with all its glory.—Edna Lister, December 4, 1966.

Separation of Mind, and Power is the original sin.—Edna Lister, Breathing: Transmutation and Sublimation, June 4, 1968.

Sin is deliberately disobeying law.—Edna Lister, The Mental Body and the Seven Lotus Centers, July 1, 1969.

Lukewarmness is a sin. "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."—Revelation 3:15-16.—Edna Lister, Seven Churches, Seven Cities of God, May 5, 1970.

Sin is taking time out to exalt little self.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

The sin is to know better and still not conquer.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

Sin cuts you off from the Source. The difficulty is that you often do not know when you sin.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

Conflicts are a sin against the Holy Spirit, and your own identity.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

Jesus conquered some common sin for everyone, and gave enough love to cover the cost of sins.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

You are your brother’s keeper, but not the record-keeper of his sins.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

Stories That Illustrate Sin

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed: And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; and he said, Behold now, my Lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.—Genesis 19:1-25.

His Integrity Saved Abimelech: Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.—Genesis 20:3-6. [When you act with integrity of heart and innocence, God will save you from sinning.]

The Adulterous Concubine: And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months. And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days.

And they [the Levite and his concubine] passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin. And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging. And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I AM now going to the house of the Lord; and there is no man that receiveth me to house. Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing. And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink. Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her Lord was, till it was light. And her Lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place. And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.—Judges 19:1-30.

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the Lord in Mizpeh. And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead. And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel. Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house. But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it; and we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel. So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.—Judges 20:1-11.

The Sinful Woman Who Anointed Jesus: And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.—Luke 7:36-48.

New Testament on Sin

A law of intention: Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.—Matthew 5:28-29.

Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.—Matthew 5:32.

The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.—Matthew 9:6, Luke 5:21. [The Christos has power on earth to forgive sins.]

I AM not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.—Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32. [Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.]

All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.—Matthew 12:31-32.

Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.—Matthew 18:6.

A law of measured response: If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.—Matthew 18:15-17.

All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.—Mark 3:28-29.

Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.—Mark 9:42.

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.—Luke 13:1-5. [Because bad things happen to some people does not mean that they are worse sinners than others.]

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.—Luke 15:7.

I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.—Luke 15:10.

If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.—Luke 17:3-4.

The paralytic at Bethesda: Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.—John 5:14. [When you have been healed, sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.]

He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.—John 8:7.

Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.—John 8:34.

Jesus said, For judgment I AM come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.—John 9:39-41.

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.—John 15:22-24.

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.—John 20:23.

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.—Romans 8:2.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—1 Timothy 1:15.

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.—1 Timothy 5:22,24-25.

Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God.—Hebrews 5:1-4.

Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.—Hebrews 9:28.

Vicarious Atonement: is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.—Hebrews 10:4.

We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.—Hebrews 10:10-13.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.—James 1:15.

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.—James 2:8-10.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.—James 4:7-8.

To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.—James 4:17.

The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.—James 5:15.

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.—James 5:20.

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.—1 Peter 4:1-2.

Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.—1 Peter 4:8.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.—1 Peter 5:8.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.—2 Peter 1:5-9.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.—1 John 3:4-9.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.—1 John 5:16-18.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.—3 John 1:11.

Old Testament on Sin

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.—Genesis 4:7.

A Beatitude: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.—Psalm 32:1-2.

If sinners entice you, do not consent.—Proverbs 1:10.

His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.—Proverbs 5:22.

You are snared and taken by the words of your mouth.—Proverbs 6:1.

A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth; he sows discord.—Proverbs 6:12,15.

He who sins against wisdom wrongs his own soul.—Proverbs 8:36.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.—Proverbs 10:12.

The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.—Proverbs 10:16.

Do not let your heart envy sinners.—Proverbs 23:17.

A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.—Proverbs 24:16.

He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses [to God] and forsakes them will have mercy.—Proverbs 28:13.

Sin in Other Sacred Writings

Wisdom shall not enter into a malicious soul; nor dwell in the body that is subject to sin.—Wisdom of Solomon 1:4.

The holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide unrighteousness.—Wisdom of Solomon 1:5.

Observe opportunity, and beware of evil; be not ashamed when it concerns your soul, for there is a shame that brings sin, and a shame which is glory and grace.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 4:20-21.

Do not reproach a man who turns from sin, but remember that we are all worthy of punishment.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 8:5.

The beginning of pride is when one departs from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 10:12.

Pride is the beginning of sin.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 10:13.

They who fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they who love Him an honorable plant: they who regard not the law are a dishonorable seed; they who transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 10:19.

It is not meet to despise the poor man who has understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 10:23.

Strive not in a matter that does not concern you; and sit not in judgment with sinners.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 11:9.

Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in your labor: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 11:21.

Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 12:4.

Give unto the good, and help not the sinner.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 12:7.

A wicked man hangs down his head sadly; but inwardly is full of deceit, casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before you be aware. If for want of power he is hindered from sinning, yet when he finds opportunity he will do evil.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 19:26-28.

How good is it, when you are reproved, to repent, for so shall you escape wilful sin.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 20:3.

There is a sinner that has good success in evil things; and there is a gain that turns to loss.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 20:9.

Use not your mouth to intemperate swearing, for therein is the word of sin.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 23:13.

Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done you, so shall your sins also be forgiven when you pray.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 28:2.

A sinful man will refuses to be reproved, but finds an excuse according to his will.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 32:17.