SIN

Part 1 - Really, what is it?

One of the most difficult aspects for Christianity is the problem of sin. We are aware that Christ died to relieve us of the penalty for our sins but it is important to know what we have been doing in the first place. The professional churches have made a meal of making us feel guilty for every thing from breaking the speed limit to admiring a beautiful member of the opposite sex but are these really biblical sins?
What has to be understood is what exactly the Bible defines as the sins that are going to get us into trouble on judgement day. So let us see what got Adam and Eve into trouble in the first place.
(Genesis 3. 11)' And He said "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree that I commanded you that you should not eat?" '
It is not that Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree that opened their eyes to good and evil, although that was the result of the eating. No, it was that they disobeyed the Creator Lord God who commanded them not to eat of the fruit of the tree in the first place. Thus the origination of sin was the denial the wishes of the Lord God that was their sin, which is this knowledge that the commands of the Lord God can be denied or disobeyed, and this is the source of the original sin that all subsequent generations knew about that is the curse of the original sin for all of us.
(Romans 5, 12)' Therefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.'
(Romans 5, 19) ' For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.'
So did the Lord God set the speed limit? No! It was man in the hope of saving other motorists on the road from death and destruction, perhaps.
Does this mean that we have to keep the whole of the ten commandments cast in stone for Moses? After all, these were the commandments of the Lord God. The answer for all Christians must be no as the biggest breaker of one of the ten commandments was Jesus himself and He was sinless or we are all dead in our sins.
(Mark 2, 27,28) And He said to them,' "The sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath. Therefore the Son of man is also lord of the sabbath." '
(John 5.16-18) ' And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them. "My Father works still and so do I". This is why the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He had not only broken the sabbath but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. '
(Luke 10, 25 - 28) ' And behold a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying "Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said unto him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" And he answering said. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself." And He said to him," You have answered right; do this and you shall live." '
Now the lawyer goes on to ask "who is my neighbour?" to justify himself. Jesus, answering in His usual way, told a parable of a Jewish man beaten by robbers and left for dead at the road side. Of the three people who passed by, the only person who helped him was a non Jew. (Luke 10, 36-37) ' "Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said unto him" Go and do thou likewise." '
Thus Jesus defined a neighbour as one who helps in time of need and not the one who needs it as has been the definition of so many in positions of responsibility, both within the church and outside. Note that the word 'good' is never used in the original, just be a neighbour.
(Romans 13, 8 - 10) ' Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet" and any other commandments are summed up in this sentence "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." Love does not wrong to a neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. '
Thus there are 2 aspects of the commandments of the Lord God. One is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind (for in doing so you will obey His commandments) and the second is to be a neighbour. Here Jesus turns the concept of neighbour on its head from the passive of being helped by another to the active of being a neighbour. Jesus defined the commandments of God as above and covering all and not in the Law of Moses. This is because with the coming of Jesus Himself, the rules of the Lord God were changed and the Jews lost their preferred place as the leaders of the rest of the world to the Lord God as this responsibility had passed to the disciples of Jesus who, of course, by not fully following the commandments of Jesus also failed in this responsibility, well some of them were true did but not enough of us, otherwise all the world would by now be Christian, even though Satan and his followers are so active, even in the church.
(Matthew 28, 18 - 20) ' And Jesus came and said to them, "All power is given to me in heaven and on earth. Go you therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world." '
So the disciples of Jesus keep and command His commands, not the Law of the Jews because the disciples were to be from all nations and not one specific nation.
(Galatians 4, 9 - 11) ' But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how can you turn back to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months, and seasons and years! I am afraid I have laboured over you in vain. '
Yes, the Jewish sabbath day is Saturday but Christians can meet unrestricted by this day.
(John 20, 19.) ' Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut when the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the middle of them, and said to them, "Peace be with you." '
(Acts 20, 7)' And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, ready to depart from them on the next day; and continued his speech until midnight.'
The early church met together to remember the resurrection of Jesus by the breaking of bread, therefore to remember Jesus until He returns, and did so on the first day of the week, the day of which He rose from the dead, not the Sabbath. If you keep the day you go to church as the Sabbath, then you must keep all the rules of the Sabbath and not just another day at church where songs of praise to Jesus should be heard.
(James 4, 17) ' Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is a sin.'
Now we are coming to the hub of the matter regarding this neighbourly stuff.
One should be very, very slow to attribute sin to another person for Jesus said.
(Matthew 7, 1-2) ' "Judge not, that you will not be judged. For the judgement you pronounce you will be judged and the measure that you give will be the measure you get." '
(Romans 14, 20 - 23) ' Do not, for the sake of feed, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make others fall by what he eats; it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God; happy is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned, if he eats, because he does not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.' Now in considering sin, we must also consider just what is temptation to sin.
(Hebrews 4, 15) ' For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses , but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are , yet without sin.'
(John 8, 28 - 29)' "So Jesus said "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father has taught Me. For He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone for I always do what is pleasing to Him." '
Thus to be tempted is not to sin. No, it is the entering into temptation that counts as sin and this is not necessarily that one follows the other, otherwise Jesus would not have been sinless and we would all be dead in our sins.
(1 Corinthians 10, 13) ' No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be temped beyond your strength, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.'
Therefore you must not enter into the temptation but resist it. Let us consider the aspect of Lot.
(Genesis 13,8 - 13) ' Then Abraham said to Lot "Let there be no strife between you and me and between your herdsman and my herdsmen for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will take the left." And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar: this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan valley, and Lot journeyed east: thus they separated from each other. Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan, while Lot dwelt among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord. '
The point here is to follow Lot's movements. He looked at the valley which was to be desired. He moved into the valley. He dwelt next to Sodom. The next time we see Lot he meets the angels, no doubt in very human form,(without wings please) and he is now living in Sodom itself.
So we see the three moves of Lot into sin. He saw and desired, he moved next to and then he entered into the temptation that was Sodom. Had Lot not moved next to Sodom, then he would never have moved into Sodom.
Thus the escape from the power of temptation is to never take the second step, the move near to, and then you will be sinless, although you will have been tempted. I managed to give up smoking by not having a cigarette within reach and therefore I could not smoke, no matter how much I wanted to do it. So it is when you are temped to do something that you know will be a problem, do not take the second step and you will not do it, no matter how hard the problem seeks you.
(Matthew 5, 27-28) ' "You have heard that it was said 'You shall not commit adultery'. But I say that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." '
The key word here is 'lustfully' which means that the mind behind the eyes that looked have gone through the act of sex itself, not just seen an attractive member of the opposite sex. If it were not so one would go around with one's eyes shut all the time. No. For a man it is the going through the sex act, in the mind with the woman, that means that adultery has already been committed. This is the second stage and even a blind person could do that, for its all in the mind.
(Matthew 26, 41) '" Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak." '
(Philippians 4, 8) ' Finally brethren whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honourable, whatsoever is just, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, whatsoever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. '
The key to not entering the second stage is when the mind is determined to go there, deliberately fill it with something good, pure etc or, in desperation stakes, fill the mind with the name of Jesus.
So, to sum up part 1 we have Jesus telling us that-
1. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, strength, mind and soul and thereby you will be obedient to His commands, which obviously Adam and Eve were not, and
2. Be a neighbour and thereby you will love your neighbour as yourself and thereby you will full fill all the other commandments of the Lord God.
However, the worst is yet come in part 2.

Part 2.

Not A. Can a Christian be sinless? But also B. Should a Christian be sinless?

So

A,

Really can a Christian be sinless after that person has committed their life to being a disciple of Jesus and therefore to follow His commandments? the Biblical answer is obviously YES. So what did Jesus Himself have to say on the subject?
(John 5 14) ' Afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple, and said to him. "See, you are well. Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." '
(John 8, 10) ' Jesus looked up and said to her.' "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said," No one Lord." And Jesus said," Neither do I condemn you. Go and do not sin again." '
Jesus knew that it was possible not to sin, as he was sinless also, but He taught that it was possible not to sin. As we have see in Part 1 there are techniques to avoid sinning if you so desire, as against the desire to sin of course. How is this possible when the curse of Adam is on all people? By being born again of course and this concept is as follows.
(John 3, 3) ' Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say unto you. Unless one is born anew, , he cannot see the kingdom of God." ' The whole point of baptism by immersion is the concept of dying in Christ and being born again, thus being free from the curse of Adam. However, just as Jesus had to continue sinless, so are Christians supposed to be after baptism.
(Acts 8, 36 - 38) ' And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said , "See here is water. What hinders me from being baptised? (37) "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (38) And he commanded the chariot to stop. And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptised him. '
In passing, it is important to note that the RSV, Good News and other so called modern translations which are based on a revised Greek text, which was done by those who were agnostic in theology, leaves out verse 37 and other verses that glorify the name of Jesus. They claim that they left out verses that were added later than the original text but how do they know when all the other translations in other languages written before the 1700 are the same as that used by the King James translators?
To continue.
(Romans 6, 3 - 6) ' Know you not, that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. '
(Galatians 5, 16- 21) ' But I say, walk by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain; adultery, fornication, impurity, licentious, idolatry, sorcery, strife, jealousy, selfishness, dissention, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.'
(Galatians 5, 22 - 24) ' But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.'
So we have the things that cannot and should not be done, the works of the flesh and those that can and should be done, the fruits of the Spirit, for the sinless life in this present world. It's not that hard really, is it? Not for those who desire to be a true Christian, it is not that hard. Satan will seek to make you think that it is hard to avoid the desires of the flesh but with a little thought and perseverance, it can be done.
Of course if you go around telling every one that you are living the sinless life in the Spirit, you will be mocked, so keep it to yourself in secret and the God who sees in secret will certainly know and that is all that matters in the long run.
. (1 Timothy 5 - 22) ' Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor participate in another man's sins: keep yourself pure. '
How do we participate in another man's or woman's sins you ask? By association, by saying that their works of the flesh are okay, by being "loving" and "forgiving" when to do such things is not helping the other to reform. Remember to repent is to turn away from and not do again. Go and sin no more. If you are being sympathetic with another Christian who continues doing the works of the flesh, as above, not only are you not really helping him but you are participating in another person's sins, as if you are doing them yourself.
(2 John 1 - 8 - 11) ' Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward. Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work. '
(1 Corinthians 5, 9 - 10) ' I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would have to go out of this world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or who is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber - even not to eat with such a one. '

B. Should a Christian be sinless?


(2 Thessalonians 2 9) ' The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and pretended signs and wonders and all wicked deception for those who are to perish. '
(1 John 2, 18 - 20) ' Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that this is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been they would have continued with us; but they went out that it might be clearly seen that they are not of us. '
(Romans 8, 12 - 14) ' Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not yield your members as instruments of wickedness, but yield yourselves to God as people who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law but under grace. '
Once you have freed you mind from the restraints of the professional Christians who want to keep you in the bondage of thinking that you cannot live the sinless Christian life, remembering that sin is judged by Jesus alone and not other Christians who are just judging themselves by the level that they apply to you, then you will be free to live your life as a Christian should live it. Keep your way of living to yourself and God and then let others see your Christian life, not have it rammed down their throat.
(1John 1, 8 - 10) ' If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just , and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. '
Let us get rid of this thorny passage which John should have written more clearly. After saying that Jesus died for our sins, he then infers that we are still sinners. How can this be? As we have already seen above, Jesus cleanses us from all sins, of the past. If we deny that we have sinned, in the past, then the passage above applies. But Jesus blotted out those sins, leaving us to live the sinless Christian life. If the world sees Christians being as Christ wanted us to be, then perhaps some of them will want to follow our example. So for all who have previously committed your lives to Jesus the Christ, been baptised by immersion (or not as this factor was not available to all who became Christian), and now want to be the Christian that Jesus wants us to be, take a deep breath, talk to Jesus and then start as a Christian should be.
However, we now come to -

part 3

The mortal sin that is unforgivable


(Matthew 12, 31 - 32) ' "Therefore I tell you, every sins and blasphemy will be forgiven men (and women as well) but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." '
The enemies of Jesus had just said that He cast out demons by the power of the devil when it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that the casting had been done. Therefore the unforgivable sin is to say that the works of the Holy Spirit are the works of the devil. So when you see what you think are the works of the devil, especially in a charismatic movement (you may not personally like what is going on, at the speaking of tongue for example), be very, very careful before speaking that thought, that this is the work of the devil, as if you are wrong, the result is very, very bad for you.
Beloved in Christ, be deep rooted in your faith in Jesus the Christ for this coming time will not be one of joy until Jesus Himself comes to take us home.
Now there is a further aspect of the unforgivable sin that must be seen. It is this -
(Hebrews 6, 4 - 6) 'For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and were made partakers with the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing that they crucify the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame.'
What does this mean? That those through whom the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit have been worked (prophecy, tongue, interpretation etc) if they deny Jesus as their Lord and Saviour since they are now denying that it was the Holy Spirit that inspired these movements and then infer that it was the devil instead. This does not apply to all Christians, hopefully, but to only those who have seen the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 7, 21 - 23) ' "Not every one who says to me ,"Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, " Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and did we not cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you. Depart from Me you evildoers." '
It is said that many of those who worship the devil as god are former Christians.
Remember
(Matthew 7, 13 - 16) 'Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, those who come to you is sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.'

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