Overcoming Sin through Christ

A Comprehensive List of Sins

(Alphabetically Arranged)

Richard Hollerman

The plan of this study is simple.  We will look at a large number of sins, one by one, alphabetically.  We will define the sin, describe it, and comment on it, along with noticing Scripture references on the particular entry.  Some illustrations will be offered along with the description.

Rebelliousness

Rebellion means “an act or a show of defiance toward an authority or a convention.”  And rebel denotes “to refuse allegiance to and oppose by force an established government or ruling authority. . . . to resist or defy an authority or a generally accepted convention.”[1]  Rebellion can mean “resistance to or defiance of any authority, control, or tradition.”[2]

Sometimes we think of very young children being disobedient and rebellious.  We also are very aware of young people in their teens and twenties having a reputation for rebellion.  However, rebellion isn’t limited to the young.  Those who are older may likewise rebel against authority, tradition, and established practice.

We know that a rejection of prevailing culture, customs, and traditions can sometimes be good.  Jesus reacted against the wrongful traditions of men promulgated by the religious authorities of His day (cf. Mark 7:1-13; Matthew 15:1-14), but He was not against rightful authority itself (cf. Matthew 22:21).  In fact, he strongly supported the authority of God and the Word of God.

The rebellion to which we refer has to do with rebelling against God, His Word, His truth, His morality, and rightful authority.  Samuel spoke words of judgment against Saul who had been disobedient to God’s command.  Samuel said, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:22b-23a).  Rebellion is a grievous sin, as sinful as divination.  An insubordinate spirit is sinful as is iniquity and idolatry. God looks on this as very serious.

We are to be submissive rather than rebellious.  We are to be obedient to parents (Ephesians 6:1-3), to managers (6:5ff), and to others in authority.  Paul wrote, “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed” (Titus 3:1).  The 1960s has been called the decade of rebellion.  Children who had been raised with the laxness and permissiveness of child psychologists and humanistic educators chose to rebel against everything decent, including moral standards.

But there is a more subtle form of rebellion of which the suit and the tie crowd are also guilty.  They are just as likely to rebel against God, against moral standards, against the pure Word of God, and against government laws.  All such rebellion is evil and calls for our repentance!

 

[1] The American Heritage College Dictionary.

[2] Random House Webster’s College Dictionary.