a good and through provoking post.
sin in the scripture is defined at least twice as, 'the transgression of the Law'.
and Paul clearly states that 'where no Law is there is no transgression'.
in order to 'sin', you have to transgress a Law' - Christ says of 'satan' that 'from the beginning he was a liar and a murderer',
so here are two specific transgressions mentioned in the Ten Commandments way before they were written in stone.
in Genesis 26, it says that Abraham has kept my Statutes, Laws and Commandments -
another interesting example is the incident with Joseph and Potiphar's wife - she is trying to lure him
into adultery and his response is something like this, 'how can I 'sin' against my God?
so, adultery was not only recognized as a 'transgression against Joseph's earthly master, but most importantly
a transgression against his Heavenly Master.
Genesis 50:17.
So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the 'trespass' of thy brethren, and their 'sin'; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
in this particular incidence you have the dis-honoring of Jacob, their father, one of the Commandments they broke was
that they 'stole' Jacob's beloved son and they clearly broke the Commandment of 'thou shalt not hate thy brother' -
and most importantly of all, 'they broke the Great Commandment upon which hang all the Law and Prophets'.
so in conclusion, the beautiful part and the all encompassing Biblical Principle is, that where there is NO SIN,
there is NO FORGIVNESS - and we can surely say that Joseph wept bitterly in much sorrow, but joyfully in
his bountiful forgiveness.
as it is written;
PSALM 30:5.
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.