Obvious sins are those listed in the Bible, starting with the breaking of any one of God’s Ten Commandments: false worship, idolatry, using God’s name in vain, not observing the seventh-day Sabbath, dishonoring parents, murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting. keep in mind that breaking God’s Law isn’t only a physical manifestation. Relishing and holding onto these activities in the heart and mind is breaking the law too.
Some other examples cited as sinning are sexual immorality (fornicators, adulterers, homosexuality), impurity, debauchery, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. God says that living in these ways will prevent entry into heaven (1 Corinthians 6: 9; Galatians 5: 19-21).
Though not explicitly listed, the following sins are also obvious. That would be any actions that we know are wrong, but we do them anyway (1 John 5: 17). We are also told that not doing the good that we know we should do is counted as sinful (James 4: 17).
The problem we oftentimes have is when sin is not so obvious; when sin clothes itself as normal. These are areas in which it’s difficult to know if something is a sin when the Bible doesn’t directly address it. However, that doesn’t mean the Bible is of no use. On the contrary, the Bible contains many general principles that are helpful identifiers.
For instance, here are a couple of principles that cover quite a bit of territory. 1 Corinthians 10: 31 says “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” In other words, when uncertainty arises, think, “Is this something that would please God?” “Is it something He can bless?” If you can’t hear the mind of Jesus answer from within, and there is doubt about doing the activity, then don’t do it; for “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).
The other biblical principle to remember is “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not just please ourselves.” Romans 14:21; 15:1.
That biblical reference is to the horizontal relations we have; that being with our physical and spiritual family; with friends, and others. Though what we do may not hurt us, we want to be careful that it doesn’t psychically, emotionally, or physically hurt someone else. Otherwise, that too is a sin.
The bottom line is that it is God’s Law and His Word that helps us recognize sin. However, though it’s a good first step, such recognition is not enough. Wisdom tells us that we must be not just hearers (and viewers) of sin, but doers that avoid it.