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Physics and Definition of Sin, Repentance and Forgiveness – Part 1: The Types of Sin and their Definitions

Sin is a broad subject with a lot to talk about.  I don’t want to talk about sin without talking about repentance.  I don’t want to talk about repentance without talking about forgiveness.  The few things I want to cover are:

If you do not understand something I’m saying, please ask.  The concept may be hard to grasp at first but it will change how you see yourself and your life when you do.

The Types of Sin and their Definitions

The three types of sin are chatah (חטאה, חטא, חטאת), avan (עון), and p’sha (פשע).

Chatah – חטאתה

Chatah literally means ‘to miss the mark’ or goal.  Let’s say you just bought a shiny new pistol and want to become proficient at shooting it.  You’ve never handled one, it doesn’t feel right in your hand and it scares you a little.  If you want to change that, you need to go to the range and practice.  So you go to the range and set up your target 10 yards out.  Pistol in hand, you aim, squeeze the trigger and, to your disappointment, miss the bull’s-eye.  You’re new at this and it doesn’t bother you too bad.  The more you practice, the better you get.  The better you get, the more frustrated you will be when you miss.  Missing is not usually intentional.  You might chalk it up to not trying hard enough, or being out of practice, or your sites being off.

This is the concept of chatah sin.  New believers tend to miss the mark more than experienced believers.  Experience believers tend to be harder on themselves when they sin.  They tend to get frustrated and say things like, “If only I try harder”, “I haven’t been spending enough time in the Word lately”, and “I’ve lost my focus”.  It’s unreasonable to shoot yourselves in the foot every time you miss the bull’s-eye, it would make you lame.  In like manner we shouldn’t beat ourselves up when we accidently sin.  Repent and move on; keep practicing.

Who is the goal?

Rom 10:4
4 For Christ is the end (goal) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

And what is the Messiah?

John 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Messiah is the Word of God in the flesh.  We are to strive to be like Jesus who is without sin.  When we chatah sin, we are striving to be like the Messiah but have fallen short.  If we dwell on these sins, we are making them our focus.  When they become our focus, we are no longer focused on our Messiah, the goal.  When we are no longer focused on the Messiah, our sin has become a stumbling block and we are more likely to miss the mark next time or in other areas.

This type of sin is generally translated as ‘sin’ and is the most common form of sin in the Body of Messiah.

Avan – עון

No, we are no talking about the Avon Company although some may consider it sinful.  Literally it means ‘twisted’ or ‘crooked’.  This type of sin is done with prior knowledge or is what chatah sin becomes when it is made known and not followed by repentance (Lev 5:1).  Conceptually, it is justification of wrongdoing by twisting.  It is the opposite of righteousness which means to ‘walk a straight path’.  It’s like stealing from the rich to give to the poor.  It may be slander, but it’s not murder.  ‘I did not have sex with that women,’ according to ol’ Bill.  Typically this is done for conscious sake or for the public eye.

This type of sin is mostly translated as fault, iniquity, mischief, pervert and sin.

P’sha – פשע

This type of sin is rebellion against God or your neighbor.  Pictographically it means to ‘consume and destroy what is seen’.  As an expression, it would be to ‘break the yoke’ of rulership or authority.  Remember when Jesus said, ‘Take my yoke upon you and learn for me for I am gentle and humble in spirit and in my you will find rest for your soul.’  (Matt 11:29)?  This yoke is the teachings and doctrines of mankind or God.  Just as an ox can only wear one yoke, we can only embrace the instruction of God or the instruction of man (Matt 6:24).  Jesus is telling us to embrace his instruction, that it is the only place where rest for your soul can be found.  In other words, ‘the instruction of men will enslave you but my instruction will make you free because they are for your good’.

When p’sha sin is committed, it is rebellion against God.  “I don’t have to obey you God, I know better.”  It is the younger brother demanding his inheritance and going out into the world to do things his way in the story of the Prodigal Son.  It is the weightiest form of sin in that the offender wants people to see and know his offence.

Τhis type of sin is typically translated as rebellion, sin, transgress, trespass, offend, rebel and revolt.