The Bible clearly teaches us that there is this problem called sin. Sin is detrimental and causes brokenness and destruction. However, the Bible teaches and even assumes a truth which is quite surprising to modern readers: when we sin, we are sinning against God. Even in situations, where God seems not to be involved, when one person sins against another person, they are also declared to be sinning against God.
Notable Examples
- Genesis 39.9 No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
- Exodus 10.16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste, and he said, “I have sinned against Yahweh your God, and against you.
- Joshua 7.20 Achan answered Joshua, and said, “I have truly sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and this is what I have done.
- Judges 10.10 The children of Israel cried to Yahweh, saying, “We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals.”
- 2 Samuel 12.13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.
The Bible ASSUMES that people sin against God
It is worth noting that in the Bible, it is simply taken for granted that when someone sins, they are sinning against God. There are so many examples of people explicitly declaring that they sinned against God. But it should also be noted what is not said. No one questions whether they sinned against God. No one disputes it. No one seems surprised by that conclusion. There are many examples of this, but let’s look at David and Bathsheba.
In 2 Samuel 12 and 13, King David covets Uriah’s wife Bathsheba. He has a sexual affair with her, and effectively assassinates Uriah. The prophet Nathan then confronts David and accuses David of sin. Interestingly, David states “I have sinned against Yahweh.” (2 Samuel 2.13) And notice how Nathan, a prophet of God, does not correct David. Nathan agrees with David.
But aren’t we sinning against people?
We must not forget that sin is also against people. David’s sin against Uriah and Bathsheba is clear, obvious, and heinous. Such sin demands justice, and it would be wrong for us to ignore or diminish it (Genesis 4.10 “Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.”). This is why it feels so wrong when David says he has “sinned against Yahweh” and yet doesn’t mention sinning against Uriah and Bathsheba.
So we must take great care that we do not ignore or diminish sins against God, and yet we also must not ignore or diminish sins against other people. To do either of these things would not be right. Furthermore we must recognize this principle: just because something is a sin against God, does not mean that it is not also a sin against another person.
Notable Examples of Sinning Against Another Person
- Matthew 18.15 “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
- 1 Samuel 2.25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who will intercede for him?” Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh intended to kill them.
Sinning Against People IS Sinning Against God
- Psalm 51.4 Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.
We just finished talking about how we must not diminish the sins against others. And yet here, Psalm 51 feels like it’s directly throwing a wrench into that conclusion. David is explicitly excluding anyone except God from the list of people he has sinned against. Furthermore, Psalm 51 is explicitly stated to be a direct response to David’s adultery and murder recorded in 2 Samuel 12 and 13. How is this not diminishing David’s sins against Uriah and Bathsheba?
1 Corinthians 8:12 brings some clarity to this subject:
- 1 Corinthians 8.12 Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
When we sin against people, we are also sinning against God . That seems to be what this verse is clearly teaching.
Now to be clear, when Paul refers to brothers, I do not think he is talking about every human. He is talking specifically about brothers (i.e. people) in the Church. Nevertheless, we see this principle at work. Sinning against your brother, is not only against your brother. It is also against God.
Now does this principle also have application outside of the Church? It sure seems to. Pharaoh, and King Abimelech were not in the Church (or in God’s people) and yet they sinned against God. So this principle seems to have relevance inside and outside God’s people (the Church).
Back to Psalm 51, how is this not diminishing David’s sins against Uriah and Bathsheba? To be sure, there is not an easy answer to this question. But we must remember that Psalm 51 is a poem. There must be room for not every bit to be taken in the most literal way possible. Also, we must recognize that God’s relationship is unique. We’ll explore this further below.
Nevertheless, what is clear, is that David’s actions towards other people, was indeed sin against God.
Why Is Sinning Against People, Sinning Against God?
Because People Are Made in the Image of God
We are made in the image of God. In the ancient world, many images were made of rulers and gods. These could be coins, statues, murals etc. To worship the image was to worship them, and to attack the image was to attack them. So it would follow, then, that if we attack, defame, dishonor, or otherwise sin against God’s image bearer (every other human), then we are also sinning against God (whom they image).
Sinning Against God Means Breaking His Commandments
- 1 John 3.4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness (i.e. breaking The Law). Sin is lawlessness.
Breaking One Commandment Means Breaking Them All
- James 2.10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
The Greatest Commandment
Jesus was asked “What is the Greatest Commandment?” and He answered with not one but two commandments:
- “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
- A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Leviticus 19.18) Then he says “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” I’m convinced that Jesus answered the question with two commandments because these two commandments are inseparable.
If you don’t love God, then you are breaking His greatest commandment and are certainly sinning against Him. If you don’t love your neighbor, then you don’t love God.
- 1 John 4:20-21 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother. [[1 John-04#v21|]]
Furthermore, Luke’s Account makes it very clear that Jesus’ definition of neighbor is much broader than ours, and even includes our enemies. There is simply no way around it. Sinning against other people IS sinning against God.
What Must We Do?
Are you sobered by this? You should be. Try to consider every single time that you sinned against another person. Now remember that when you sinned against them, you were also sinning against God. You were sinning against your Creator, your King and your Judge. I struggle under the weight of my sins and perhaps for a moment, I begin to understand why Isaiah said “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6.5) Do I love God? It doesn’t seem so. Instead, it seems like I’m His enemy.
Now consider this. When someone sins against you, they are also sinning against God. What does that say about you? Does it say that you are special? In one sense, no. It doesn’t make you unique. This is the same for any human being. But in another sense, absolutely yes! You are special. You are precious to God. When someone sins against you, they are sinning against Him! This is similar to a parent child relationship. If you hurt a child, you are not only wronging the child, you are also wronging their parent, and you will have to answer to them. When someone sins against you, God takes offense at this, and He holds your trespassers accountable.
- Romans 12.19 Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."
Now consider this. The same God who commands us to love your enemies, also loved us when we were His enemies.
- Romans 5.8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
How special are you to God? So special that He was willing to die for you. It’s hard to get any more special than that.
- Romans 8.32 He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
Do not forget your sins against God. They are great, weighty, and too vast to number. But do not forget God’s love and mercy towards you. It is greater, weightier, and still more vast. Go to Him.