Is it better to explain sin as a concept rather than action (oh you hit that guy, let's tally another sin 'type of idea')
Sin, as a noun, is the idea of a sin or immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. Sin, as a verb, is the action itself. So, really, you can't explain sin without acknowledging the fact that it is an action that would take place, committed by someone. The "concept" you're talking about explaining is evil. Sin is really not a concept at all. The noun, sin, is a word that refers to the verb, sin. The verb, sin, is a word that, you could say, refers to evil in the sense of an action. The word, evil, is a concept that, on it's own, has nothing to do with action. So, in order for somebody to understand what sin is, they would first have to understand what the
concept of evil is (according to their religion/beliefs). Then, to explain sin, you
must refer to it as an
action inevitably, because that's what sin is.
So the answer to that question is: Both are completely necessary.
