Be Forgiving

What is Sin?

• Sin is a violation of our relationships. • God wants and desires only the best

for us. • He gives us two important powers:

– Free will: we have a choice in everything– Intellect: knowing right from wrong

Two Kinds of Sin

1. Original Sin: Adam and Eve rejected goodness; this created broken relationships

2. Actual Sin: our actions that keep sin going in this world.

Actual Sin Includes:

1. Venial Sin• Sounds less serious• Drains the grace (power) from our souls

– like a punctured tire• Can be forgiven!• Examples include: lying, gossip,

cheating

2. Mortal Sin• Turns the heart of man away from God• Strangles the life of grace (power) out

of our soul using serious violence• Can be forgiven!• Examples include: murder, assault,

adultery

3. Sin Against the Holy Spirit• A person is consumed with hate and

regrets God• There is no forgiveness

Four Other Types of Sin:

1. Sins of Commission: doing an act of wrong2. Sins of Omission: not doing something that is

required; failing to speak up3. Personal Sin: knowingly doing something to hurt

one’s relationship with God, yourself, or your neighbour

4. Social Sin: an entire group or society participates in a process that harms relationships. For example – purchasing clothing produced in a sweat shop, where people are not treated fairly, or paid fairly.

Three Conditions for Sin

1. It must be a wrongful act

2. You must know it is wrong

3. You must freely choose to do wrong

Influences to Determine the Seriousness of the Sin

• The motive for the action

• The consequence of the action

• The nature of the act

Ways We Lead Others to Sin

• Agreeing to evil• Participating in the sin• Intentional bad advice• Concealing the truth• Defending evil as if it were RIGHT• Keeping silent when faced with evil

Sins Against Life

• These are sins that violate the Fifth Commandment studied in the Be Alive unit

• Human dignity is violated by these sins

Sins Against Life continued

• Homicide: murder of another• Abortion: killing an unborn child• Terrorism: killing in the name of

someone or something• Genocide: murder of an entire group• Infanticide: killing a baby• Suicide: killing of self• Euthanasia: mercy killing

Conversion

• Jesus calls us to conversion – to repent and believe in the Gospel.

• Reconciliation is a sacrament of conversion, because it allows us to return to God, whom we have strayed from through sin

Three C’s of Conversion

1. Contrition (Sorrow): the person who did wrong must see that it is wrong and be genuinely sorry. They must desire to avoid repeating the same action again.

Three C’s continued…

2. Confession: the sinner must be willing to admit their fault and take responsibility for their actions

3. Correction: the person must do what they can to repair the person(s) harmed by the action; for example, return stolen goods, pay for damages, etc.)