SIN

Understanding the concept of sin and the role it plays in alcohol and substance abuse issues is considered essential to achieving restoration and freedom from bondage. However, for any number of reasons, the discussion of sin, and the accompanying concepts of personal accountability and consequences for actions, is not particularly popular in today's society, especially when linked to some activity in which one is actively participating. For instance, sometimes it is said that sin is nothing more than "missing the mark" like an arrow not hitting the bull's eye or otherwise not fully realizing one's potential. Certainly, sin cannot be something for which one may be held eternally accountable by a loving and gracious God. Proponents of such views may then point to the Hebrew or Greek words translated* as sin as presented below:

H2403. chatta'ah; or chatta'th; from H2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concr.) an offender:--punishment (of sin), purifying (-fication for sin), sin (-ner, offering).

H2398. chata'; a prim. root; prop. to miss; hence (fig. and gen.) to sin; by infer. to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causat.) lead astray, condemn:--bear the blame, cleanse, commit [sin], by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend (-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin (-ful, -ness), trespass.

Sin certainly incorporates the concept of "missing the mark," but God's application does not stop there. It is because of sin in the garden that both physical and spiritual death was visited upon mankind (Romans 5:12-13). God most assuredly had something more expansive in mind when He said to Cain, "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin (chatta'ah) is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7)

There are also physical consequences of sin (see disease) as expressed by David in Psalm 38:3 "There is no health in my bones because of my sin (chatta'ah). This linkage has particular application in alcohol and substance abuse issues. (See also Romans 1:27 and Galatians 6:7-8).

The New Testament Greek uses a similar root concept of "missing the mark" as addressed below:

G266. hamartia; from G264; sin (prop. abstr.): -- offence, sin (-ful).

G264. hamartano; perh. from G1 (as a neg. particle) and the base of G3313; prop. to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. fig.) to err, esp. (mor.) to sin. -- for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.

However, Jesus left heaven and came to earth to do something more than just address an issue equivalent to hitting the nine ring instead of the ten ring on a target. "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins (hamartia)." (Matthew 1:21)

Sin involves life and death issues and we are talking eternal life and eternal death. Let there be no mistake, those who practice the sin of alcohol and substance abuse will not have a home in heaven (1 Corinthians 6:10; Galatians 5:21).

I know sin is both pleasurable (Hebrews 11:25) and deceitful (Hebrews 3:13). I know sin is enslaving (Romans 7:14; Hebrews 12:1) and leads to death (Romans 5:12-13; James 1:15). I also know that everyone sins (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8), sin can be forgiven (Matthew 26:28, Romans 4:7-8) and that God has provided a way to break free of sin's enslaving bonds (Romans 8:15). Consequently, when I apply God's word to my life I can gain victory and mastery over any sin, including the sin of alcohol and substance abuse (drunkenness). It is precisely because I understand that I am being challenged to overcome sin and sin alone that I am able to capitalize upon God's promise and achieve victory. I have no such assurance if I take any other viewpoint.

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*All definitions are from A Concise Dictionary of the words in The Hebrew Bible and the Dictionary of the Greek Testament by James Strong.