“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).
While most people likely associate the word “sin” with something bad or wrong, there are those who may find it difficult to define “sin” with any degree of precision. Nevertheless, a good understanding of this word from Hebrews 8:12 can help us grow in respect and appreciation for what God has done for us in Christ.
You see, the Biblical concept of sin doesn’t simply refer to the act of doing wrong. Instead, this word conveys the idea of “missing the mark.” One way to illustrate the meaning of this word is to consider the image of an archer as he or she prepares to fire an arrow.
In this illustration, the archer releases the arrow and sends it on the way towards its intended destination. However, the arrow falls short in this instance and lands on the ground in front of the target. Thus, we can say that our archer has missed the mark. In other words, he or she has “sinned” by failing to hit the target that was set for him or her.
Much like the archer in our illustration, the Biblical definition of sin also involves “missing the mark.” It means failing to live up to everything that God created us to be. As the New Testament book of James tells us, “…the person who keeps every law of God but makes one little slip is just as guilty as the person who has broken every law there is” (James 2:10 TLB).
We should also note that sin is coupled with a reference to “lawless deeds” here in Hebrews 8:12. This conveys more than just a failure to live up to God’s standards; it also implies a willing disregard for God’s intent, purpose, and/or design for the human family. Thus, we can be encouraged by the fact that God works within us to make us what we should be (Hebrews 8:10) and no longer remembers our “sins and lawless deeds” through Christ’s sacrificial work on our behalf.
The following chapter will further underscore the importance of Jesus’ atoning death in regard to sin: “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). This is why 2 Corinthians 5:21 can say, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us…” and also explains the Biblical references to Jesus’ death as both a “ransom” (Mark 10:25)” and a “redemption” (Ephesians 1:7).