Yfaith - What is Sin?

What is Sin?

Sin is basically when we do stuff that ‘isn’t cool’ with God

What is sin?
My best friends’ secret
But what if…
no-one knows?

Sin is when we do things our way instead of God’s. It gets in the way of relationships, and means our friendship with others and our friendship with God, suffers.

For example…I tell my best friends secret to someone else, and lots of people find out. My best friends really upset, and our relationship is a bit broken by that. I’ve let God down too as I’ve done something that he wouldn’t like.

But, what if my Mum asks me to visit my Gran, or an elderly family friend on the way home from school, and I go shopping instead? My mum doesn’t know I didn’t go, and my Gran wasn’t expecting me anyway. They may never find out what happened.

Yep, because even if neither of them find out, I still know that I’ve ignored my Mum and so our relationship now has a lie involved, and won’t be as good because of it. Gran also missed out on an opportunity I had to love her. As for me and God… it effects us too, because again, I’m doing things my way, not his.

How can you help your best friend not to commit a ‘sin’? Send us some suggestions of things to say or do, so that we can share them with others.

Visit the Sin bin to see ideas of what people would say or do.

How will you know you what you are doing is a sin?

If you’re unsure use your conscience. This is a gift from God which comes as a little feeling or thought that tells us the right thing to do…and what not to do too! Have you ever felt it?

What could it feel like if it’s telling you what not to do?

If you’re ever really unsure about whether you should do something, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, check things with an adult you trust, and then follow the guidance you’ve been given.

Talking to God

Is there anything you know you need to be forgiven for?

It’s a really good idea to talk to a priest who will help you confess your sins to God and let you know God’s forgiveness (this is what we call ‘reconciliation’ or ‘confession’).

But you can also talk to God right now – he is always ready to forgive us. You can use this prayer if it’s helpful:

"Loving God, I’m sorry for… (tell God what you’re sorry for). Please forgive me, and help me not to do it again."

It may not be for you to correct or to prevent something from happening that is a sin.

You cannot punish someone else for committing a sin. God will deal with the sin and with that person on a personal basis.
It is their lesson. You can’t be responsible.

'Will God forgive me?'

boy looking up

God will always forgive the sin as long as you truly are sorry in your heart and you tell him so.

God expects you to choose to not make the same mistake again though.

In the story of Adam and Eve, when they disobeyed God they wanted to hide because they felt guilty.

What do you do when you know you’ve done something wrong?

What do you do when you know you’ve done something wrong?

Do you ever want to hide it?

Can we be like God?
Can we forgive people even when we can see that what they’ve done is wrong?

Jesus loved us so much he was prepared to pay the price for our sin, and show us his love by dying on the cross for us.