There are two representative biblical words associated with sin. One is the Hebrew word chata (חָטָא, ḥāṭāʾ), used in the Old Testament, and the other is the Greek word hamartia (ἁμαρτία), used in the New Testament. Both words can carry the idea of “missing the mark” or “failing to reach the goal.” Spiritually, this helps us understand sin as falling short of God’s standard and purpose.

If we think of sin as an arrow missing its target, we can understand the meaning of sin more clearly by considering what is placed at the center of the target. This is because the Bible speaks of sin from several different perspectives.

First, let us place the law of God at the center of the target. To transgress the law is to miss the mark and therefore to sin. Scripture says:

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)

Here, “transgression of the law” means going against God’s law and His will.

Now let us place Jesus Christ at the center of the target. God calls people to believe in Jesus Christ, and refusing to believe in Him is sin. Scripture says:

“Of sin, because they believe not on me.” (John 16:9)

If we place the Word of God at the center of the target, we can also see that whatever is not done in faith is sin. Scripture says:

“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

Thus, the Bible speaks of sin from several different perspectives. When we understand these distinctions, we can also understand more clearly the true repentance that pleases God. Repentance is like turning an arrow that has gone astray so that it is once again directed toward the proper target.

The sins that Jesus bore on the cross include the penalty for our transgressions against God’s law. Therefore, if we repeatedly repent of those sins as though Christ’s sacrifice has not fully dealt with their condemnation, we are failing to rest fully in the complete atonement accomplished on the cross.

There is, however, a repentance that every person must experience: turning from unbelief to faith in Jesus Christ. Without turning to Christ in faith, a person remains under condemnation and faces eternal destruction.

Even after a person has believed in Jesus and been saved, there are still things of which he must repent. Whenever a believer fails to walk by faith in God’s Word and instead follows his own thoughts or the desires of the flesh, he must turn back to God.

In summary, if we continue to condemn ourselves for transgressions of the law and repeatedly repent as though those sins still remain under eternal condemnation, we fail to trust Jesus Christ, who bore the curse of our transgressions in our place on the cross. The decisive issue in final judgment is unbelief—refusing to believe in Jesus Christ.

This is why even the most wicked sinner can enter the kingdom of heaven through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation does not rest upon how righteous a person has made himself, but upon Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished for the sinner.

This does not mean, however, that a person who has believed in Jesus and been saved never needs to repent again. A saved Christian must continually turn back to God whenever he fails to walk by faith in God’s Word. If a believer follows his own thoughts or the desires of the flesh rather than the Word of God, his salvation is not thereby canceled, nor does he return to eternal condemnation, but such a life brings painful consequences and the loving discipline of God.

For this reason, the apostle Paul wrote to the church:

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)