When people think of sin, they often think of wrong actions. That is one aspect of sin, but there are other dimensions of sin that people fail to consider. John the Baptist made an amazing declaration to the early disciples:

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

This may seem like a strange statement to us, but his Jewish audience would have made the connection of a lamb being sacrificed to remove the guilt of sin. What is meant by the word sin in this verse? The Bible teaches us that one aspect of sin is doing what we should not do:

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4)

Lawlessness may be referred to as a sin of commission, when we are doing something we shouldn’t do. We may also commit a sin of omission, which is not doing that which we are supposed to do:

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

If we think of sin as merely wrong actions, experience teaches us that he did not take away our wrong actions (although we wish that He did). Another aspect of sin that we face is our inner defilement. The Apostle Paul lamented this fact:

So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (Romans 7:17)

If John 1:29 doesn’t refer to taking away our propensity to commit sin or our inner defilement, then what does it mean? John viewed sin not as we see it, but as God sees it. If we look at sin from God’s perspective, then we see that all are guilty:

as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; (Romans 3:10)

The word sin in this verse refers to our legal guilt and Jesus was the perfect sacrifice who paid the price for our sin. Theologians refer to propitiation in which the wrath of God has been appeased. God not only loves us, but He likes us – do you believe this truth? The Lamb of God has removed our legal guilt and God declares us righteous as we accept Him as our Savior:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1)

God frees us from not only the penalty of sin, but He also enables us to have victory over the power of sin in our lives. We will sin in this life, but God offers us His forgiveness:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Paul could not eradicate his sinful fleshly desires, but as he realized his new nature he was able to counter his fleshly desires by the power of the Holy Spirit:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:2)

Jesus gave His life not so that we would be in bondage to sin, but that we would walk in victory. That’s our birthright as a child of God:

Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)