2023 #3
“C” in the United States asks,
“What is the difference between a sin and an abomination?”
Mark Riser – Apologist responds,
That is an interesting question, C. This is a question that many people have thought over. But, looking at the words and their meaning can give us insight both on how terrible sin is and how great God is at the same time.
Some definitions are helpful at this point. The word “sin” occurs 1,363 times in the NET Bible. The most common Hebrew word for sin is hattat. Missing the mark or missing a standard is the connotation of this word. In the Greek New Testament, a common term for sin is hamartia, from where we get the word hamartiology, the study of sin. This Greek word speaks to offenses against people, laws, or God.
The word “abomination” occurs 112 times in the New American Standard Version. In Biblical Hebrew, abomination is translated from toebah. The word occurs 116 times as a noun and 23 times as a verb, according to the Jewish Virtual Library. The Greek term is bdelygmos and is used to describe extreme hatred or abhorrence.
What makes something a sin or an abomination? Transgression of the law of God is called sin. It is most interesting that the Danish philosopher Soren Kirkegaard said, “Sin is building your identity on anything but God.” There is an element of rebellion in the idea of transgressing the laws of God and building one’s identity on something other than the One who created us, so sin comes down to seeing the decision between obedience to God and rebellion against Him and choosing rebellion. An abomination is something that is offensive to God and His character. Many remember Proverbs 6:16-19 and its list of attitudes and actions which constitute abominable behavior in God’s sight. Does this mean that there are degrees of sin, some of which rise to the level of abomination? While sin has some degree of consequences in the temporal realm, all sin is abhorrent to a holy God. Therefore, all sin is equal.
The key idea is that a sin or an abomination is a rebellion against God, His will, and His ways. From an eternal perspective, then, all sin is equal in the sight of God. However, we put categories on sins. At times, that is an attempt to make ourselves feel better while under conviction.
No matter what actions or attitudes are described as sins or abominations, they both separate people from God (Rom. 3:23). If we are all sinners, then we all deserve the penalty for our sins which is death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins on the cross as the once-for-all sacrifice, thus demonstrating God’s love for the rebellious sinner. The magnitude of sin, therefore, shows us the magnificence of the Savior.
The writer Horatio Spafford penned this lyric of his famous hymn “It Is Well with My Soul,”
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Mark Riser - Apologist 