“Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.” – 1 John 3:4 (BSB)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23 (BSB)
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19–21 (BSB)
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28 (BSB)
Actual sin includes not only outward actions but inward attitudes—lust, envy, hatred, pride. Jesus teaches that sin begins in the heart. Bishop Keith Ackerman (Forward in Faith, Diocese of Quincy) writes, “Many believe they are upright because they have not murdered or stolen. But Christ looks deeper—to the anger, lust, and deceit that lie beneath.” (Lectures on the Sermon on the Mount, 2006)
There are two types of actual sin: sins of commission and sins of omission. Fr. James Kellett (Anglican Union, St. Michael’s Anglican Church, PA) explains, “It is sin not only to do what is wrong but also to neglect what is right—whether that’s prayer, justice, mercy, or faithfulness.” (Teaching the Law of Love, 2022)
The seriousness of actual sin is not merely in the act, but in the fact that it offends a holy God and wounds our relationship with Him and others. Bishop Steven Tighe (ACNA, Diocese of the Southwest) teaches, “Sin is not just moral failure—it is spiritual rebellion. Every lie, every lustful look, every selfish deed is a declaration of independence from God.” (Youth and Holiness Conference, 2021)
Yet actual sin also reveals our need for daily grace. Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) reminds us, “We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. But the gospel addresses both the root and the fruit. In Christ, our guilt is removed, and our habits are changed.” (Recovering Anglican Piety, 2019)
“No sin is small before God. Each is a wound, whether shallow or deep, and each needs the healing grace of Christ.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews, c. 390 AD
“To sin is to misuse the gifts of God. We were made to glorify Him, but actual sin turns His blessings into idols.” – Basil the Great, On the Human Condition, c. 370 AD
“The hands act, but the heart sins first. Let us repent not only of what we’ve done, but of what we have loved wrongly.” – Cyprian of Carthage, On the Lapsed, c. 250 AD
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
