Transgression of the Law

By Pamela Rose Williams

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Transgression…now that’s a big word. Ask a student to define it for you and what will you get? “I don’t know”. Okay then, let’s pick a simpler, smaller word. Ask a student to define the word “sin” for you. Nine times out of ten you will get exactly the same answer: “I don’t know”. Why? Because it is a word that most people just don’t use any more today.

Sin is a word that, just twenty years ago, was a regular part of our vocabulary. And a little more than fifty years ago the definition of sin was still taught in our schools, before we removed the Bible. It is a Biblical word and when you look it up in the Webster’s Dictionary from 1828 the definition includes words like “…sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God’s commands or law.”

Well there you go, that 1828 definition speaks of “God’s commands or law” and now we can unpack the meaning of “transgression of the law”. Simply put, “transgression” is a violation of a law. So then, “sin” and “transgression” are really the same thing.

The Key Bible Passage today was shared by the apostle John. John continues in this chapter to teach that the law helps us to know that we are sinful (Romans 3:20). And because of sin we all come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But the good news is that God gave us a remedy. His name is Jesus and He was given by God the Father to pay our sin debt. He willingly allowed Himself to be wrongfully crucified on the cross as our substitute. When we believe in what He did for us on that cross our sin debt is marked “paid in full”. And even better yet, when we believe this God also gives us His Holy Spirit to indwell us and lead us in the right way. He, the Holy Spirit, guides us along in life and gives us choices that help us to do what pleases the Lord. When we make the good choices, we do not sin, and we do not transgress the law. This is the only way to keep from committing sin because when our eyes are on Jesus instead of on the things of this world, we will do right. You see while we are on earth it is impossible to be sinless, but when we keep our eyes upon Jesus it is possible to sin less!

Lord we need your perfect Sinless Son Jesus to lead us in the right way. Help us to follow Him and the Holy Spirit so that we might not transgress. Inspire us to teach our children the meaning of these Biblical terms “sin” and “transgression”. Motivate us to help our children to fall in love with Jesus before they are old enough to make the choice to fall in love with the world. Urge us to make Bible reading and study an important part of our daily family time. Make us to remember You and think of You from the time we get out of bed until the time we lay back to sleep.