SIN - The Reality

 WHAT IS SIN? 

Truth, Law, and the Catholic Understanding Beyond the Letter

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🧭 INTRODUCTION: 

IS SIN MERELY BREAKING THE LAW?

You rightly quote powerful Scripture—Romans, 1 John, Exodus—and they all uphold a vital truth: Sin is serious, deadly, and real. 

However, sin is not merely the breaking of a written law, as if law itself is salvation. In the Catholic understanding, sin is deeper: 

It is a rupture in our relationship with God, a willful turning away from the One who is Love and Truth.

Let’s go step-by-step and explore:

1. 📜 What sin is in Scripture and Catholic teaching

2. ⚖️ The true purpose of the Law

3. 💔 The Catholic distinction: Mortal vs. Venial Sin

4. 🌿 The deeper call to grace and love, not just external obedience

5. 📖 Answering the objections and the Sabbath question

6. ✝️ The way to freedom through Christ and the Church

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📜 I. WHAT IS SIN?

> “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.”

— 1 John 3:4

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) echoes this:

> “Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor...”

— CCC 1849

So, sin is not just violating commandments—it is wounding our communion with God. It's like cheating on a spouse: the betrayal is deeper than just "breaking a rule."

🔻 Two Dimensions of Sin:

Vertical: Rebellion against God

Horizontal: Harm to our neighbor or self

Sin begins in the heart—in pride, lust, envy, greed—even before any external act is committed. Jesus said:

> “You have heard… ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

— Matthew 5:27–28

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⚖️ II. THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW

> “The law is holy… but I am carnal, sold under sin.”

— Romans 7:14

St. Paul agrees with your reference: the Law is good. But its purpose is not to save—it is to reveal sin.

> “Through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

— Romans 3:20

The Law, including the Ten Commandments, is like a mirror: it shows us the dirt on our face—but cannot wash us clean. That’s why Paul says:

> “If a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.”

— Galatians 3:21

So while the Law exposes sin, only grace through Christ saves. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

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💔 III. MORTAL VS. VENIAL SIN: THE CATHOLIC DEPTH

> “All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal.”

— 1 John 5:17

Catholic theology distinguishes:

Mortal Sin: Grave matter + full knowledge + full consent → separates us from God (CCC 1855)

Venial Sin: Lesser sin or done without full awareness → wounds but doesn’t break communion with God

💀 Mortal Sin kills the life of grace in the soul

🌱 Venial Sin weakens our love but does not destroy it

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💡 IV. JESUS FULFILLS THE LAW — IN LOVE

> “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law… but to fulfill.”

— Matthew 5:17

Jesus did not cancel the commandments—He intensified them, fulfilling their purpose.

> “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets:

‘Love the Lord your God... and love your neighbor as yourself.’”

— Matthew 22:37–40

The Ten Commandments are thus a starting point, not the goal. The goal is perfect love, which cannot be achieved by legalism alone, but through grace.

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🕊️ V. WHAT ABOUT THE SABBATH?

❓ Does Catholic Sunday worship break the 4th Commandment?

➡️ No. The command to “keep holy the Sabbath” is fulfilled—not erased—by worshipping on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, when Jesus rose from the dead.

> “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

— Mark 2:27

As discussed previously, the apostles themselves gathered on Sunday (Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10). The Catholic Church, following their tradition and Christ's Resurrection, rightly calls Sunday the fulfillment of the Sabbath.

🟣 Therefore, not honoring Saturday is not transgression—it is participation in the new covenant rhythm of grace.

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❗ VI. COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS ADDRESSED

🚫 Misconception #1: “Obeying the Law justifies us.”

➡️ False. The Bible teaches clearly:

> “By works of the law no one will be justified.” — Galatians 2:16

Catholics believe we are justified by grace, received in faith and sacraments, and lived out in good works prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).

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🚫 Misconception #2: “Catholics removed the second commandment on idolatry.”

➡️ False. The full moral content of the Decalogue is preserved. Catholic teaching combines verses 3–6 of Exodus 20 with verse 2, keeping the prohibition against idolatry explicit.

In teaching format, the Commandments are grouped differently, but nothing is omitted. See the Catechism §§2084–2141.

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🚫 Misconception #3: “Confession to a priest is unbiblical.”

➡️ False. Jesus gave the Apostles authority to forgive sins:

> “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them…” — John 20:23

That is the biblical root of sacramental confession.

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✝️ VII. THE PATH TO FREEDOM: GRACE OVER SIN

> “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

— Romans 6:23

🌈 Freedom doesn’t come from knowing the law—it comes from knowing Christ.

🩸 Jesus died not to give us a new list of rules, but a new heart.

🔥 The Holy Spirit writes the law of love on our hearts (Jer. 31:33)

> “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…”

— 1 John 1:9

Sacramental confession, contrition, penance, and the Eucharist restore us to grace.

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🌟 CONCLUSION: 

SIN IS DEADLY—BUT GRACE IS STRONGER

✔️ Sin is real

✔️ The Law is good

✔️ Jesus fulfilled the Law

✔️ The Church carries on His mission of mercy

> “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”

— Romans 5:20

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🎯 SUMMARY 

🔵 Sin is not just law-breaking—it is love-breaking

🟢 The Law is a mirror, not a savior

🟡 Jesus fulfilled and deepened the Law, not erased it

🟣 Catholics honor the Commandments, including the Sabbath—fulfilled in Sunday worship

🔴 Confession, repentance, and grace restore us from sin’s slavery