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Author
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Topic: What is Sin
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Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929
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posted
I think you're right!!!
First Satan made Eve doubt God, "Did God really say...?" I can just hear that back-room gossipy tone in his voice.
Then Satan all but called God a liar, or a fool, "You will NOT die." Made Eve wonder about God's integrity.
Then Satan made Eve question God's motives, "God knows your eyes will be opened and you will know...".
Sly devil.
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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Brother Paul
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Member # 7959
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posted
Wow! Filled with great insight Carol, I got a lot out of this. Self-centeredness is A fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Here is what I mean.
The fruit of deciding for yourself what constitutes good or evil, rather then trusting God and His word for that standard, is that you become lord of your own life, as if you are a god (Genesis 3:5b)
This seed once planted and cultivated, which produces such fruit, is being persuaded to doubt God's word (Genesis 3:4).
One element which fertilizes this planting is being led to question God's motive for giving such a standard. In Genesis 3 the Serpent could be interpreted as suggesting that the Lord is allegedly holding out something good by restricting them from this line of thinking (a particular knowledge which bears a particular fruit) and the ability to discern good and evil for themselves which would make them like gods.
I know this is stretching the text a bit but I think there is something here...I need to pray and do more studying on this but I say this because it appears to bve the predominant problem with unbelievers (having been one) that we having no absolute standard believe we have the right to decide what is good or evil for ourselves. Am I making sense? Fell free to critique folks...this is something I believe the Spirit has been showing me lately but I do not want to be dogmatic at this point.
Love in Christ,
Brother Paul
Posts: 235 | From: Cambridge, MA | Registered: Dec 2009
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Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929
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posted
I thought this had some good insight...it did for me anyway.
 SELF-CENTEREDNESS
Why is being self-centered dangerous?
BIBLE READING: Psalm 100:1-5
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3, NIV)
Self-centeredness can easily lead to hopelessness. God is our Creator; we did not create ourselves. Many people live as though they are the creator and center of their own little world. This mind-set leads to greedy self-centeredness and, if everything should be taken away, a loss of hope itself. But when we realize that God created us and gives us all we have, we will want to give to others as God gave to us (2 Corinthians 9:8). Then if all is lost, we still have God and all he gives us.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 3:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:1, NIV)
Self-centeredness is a sin that requires repentance. Almost thirty years had passed since the events of Matthew 2. Here John the Baptist burst onto the scene. His theme was “Repent!” Repentance means doing an about-face—a 180-degree turn—from the kind of self-centeredness that leads to wrong actions such as lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, taking revenge, being abusive, and indulging in sexual immorality. A person who repents stops rebelling and begins following God’s way of living, prescribed in his Word. The first step in turning to God is admitting your sin, as John urged. Then God will receive you and help you to live the way he wants you to. Remember that only God can get rid of sin. He doesn’t expect us to clean up our life before we come to him.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 25:14-30
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Then the man with the $1,000 came and said, “Sir, I knew you were a hard man, and I was afraid you would rob me of what I earned, so I hid your money in the earth and here it is!” (Matthew 25:24-25, TLB)
Self-centeredness is a characteristic of sinful human nature. This man was thinking only of himself. He hoped to play it safe and protect himself from his hard master, but he was judged for his self-centeredness. We must not make excuses to avoid doing what God calls us to do. If God truly is our Master, we must obey willingly. Our time, abilities, and money aren’t ours in the first place—we are caretakers, not owners. When we ignore, squander, or abuse what we are given, we are rebellious and deserve to be punished.
BIBLE READING: Mark 8:31-38
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. (Mark 8:35, TLB)
Self-centeredness is not part of a Christlike character. We should be willing to lose our life for the sake of the gospel, not because our life is useless, but because nothing—not even life itself—can compare to what we gain with Christ. Jesus wants us to choose to follow him rather than to lead a life of sin and self-satisfaction. He wants us to stop trying to control our own destiny and to let him direct us. This makes good sense because, as the Creator, Christ knows better than we do what real life is about. He asks for submission, not self-hatred; he asks us only to lose our self-centered determination to be in charge.
BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 1:14-25
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts.(1 Peter 1:22, TLB)
Sincere love involves selfless giving; a self-centered person can’t truly love. God’s love and forgiveness free you to take your eyes off yourself and to meet others’ needs. By sacrificing his life, Christ showed that he truly loves you. Now you can love others by following his example and giving of yourself sacrificially.
(The Handbook of Bible Application)
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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Brother Paul
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posted
Amen to all of this commentary, thanks Daniel...simple and yet profound wisdom is always good.
Brother Paul
Posts: 235 | From: Cambridge, MA | Registered: Dec 2009
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byfaith
Advanced Member
Member # 8061
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Betty Louise:
The very first sin committed was disobedience. God said do not eat the fruit of that tree and Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Today I too am guilty of sometimes disobeying God.
betty
Oh I know I am guilty every day.......I do that which I know not to do.....
Posts: 160 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2010
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Betty Louise
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Member # 7175
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posted
The very first sin committed was disobedience. God said do not eat the fruit of that tree and Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Today I too am guilty of sometimes disobeying God.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
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byfaith
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Member # 8061
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by oneinchrist:
Hello Brother Paul,
Its nice to meet you.
I would have to say that the most comprehensive(in my opinion) definition of sin that I have ever seen is...........
"Anything that is contrary to the character or the will of God.
With love in Christ, Daniel
Yes! that is it! I need to apply this to each area of my life.
Posts: 160 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2010
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oneinchrist
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Member # 6532
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posted
Hello Brother Paul,
Its nice to meet you.
I would have to say that the most comprehensive(in my opinion) definition of sin that I have ever seen is...........
"Anything that is contrary to the character or the will of God.
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
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posted
Brother Paul ![[clap2]](graemlins/clap2.gif)
quote:
Now that we are saved should we obey God? Yes, by all means abd with all our hearts, minds, and strength, obey all that the Lord has commanded us through Christ. It is our duty to obey God now that we are able to learn to do this, but is our salvation merited by doing this? No! Sonship is the gift of God provided to us by grace through His own Blood (Galatians). Thus the Lord says 'When you have done all that is commanded you, say: "We are useless servants: we have only done what was our duty"' (Luke 17:10).
You see doing our duty is commendable, but being what God wants us to be because His Spirit makes us into such a person, then our heart is right with God and right before Him because this demonstrates His law is written within.
And because of this wonderful undeserved Grace, if I fall (not on purpose or habitually) do I then lose my salvation? No! The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable…He who promised will also do it…of them that are given Him He shall lose none…He will NEVER leave you or forsake you…now only faithe…do not just believe IN God but rather believe God. The peace of the Lord be with you. We must remain faithful to Him who is faithful. Obey God and let the Spirit of God work through you to this lost and dying world, and may the Lord bless!
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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MentorsRiddle
Advanced Member
Member # 2108
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posted
Hey there!
Thanks for the post and your time in posting it.
Indeed, our Lord Jesus Christ is completely responsible for the payment of sin.
Because of him we may attain eternal life and happiness!
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With you I rise,
In you I sleep,
kneeling down I kiss your feet,
Grace abounds upon me now,
I once was lost
but now I'm found.
The gift of God dwells within,
To this love I now give in.
Posts: 1337 | From: Arkansas | Registered: Sep 2003
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Brother Paul
Advanced Member
Member # 7959
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posted
Sin is transgressing the Law…1 John 3:4
Salvation has always been by grace through faith, even from the beginning. As you may be aware, the Bible also teaches us that “the soul the sins it must die.” That beloved is the immutable Law; the curse of the Law. We first hear of it even before the old covenant with Israel, long before the 10 commandments are given. It was first given to Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17). James makes it even more plain that if we break as much as a jot or a tittle (a mere punctuation mark) that is written in the Law, we are guilty of breaking the entire Law (the commandments of God). In Deuteronomy 27:26 it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything that is written in the Law."
Now since “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), then according to the Law we are all worthy of and headed for judgment and condemnation. There is no going back and making up for it by being good. Salvation is not the doctrine of Karma which determines your eternal future by having your good works outweigh your bad. This effort at repentance of course would please the Lord, but alone, it cannot justify us before Him, nor can it remiss our sins (remove them). There is a price is due for sin (the shedding of blood) and somehow it must be paid.
This death He speaks of is the payment due. But the animal sacrifices were only temporary sacrifices. The Law demands a sinless sacrifice, a lamb without blemish (and bulls and goats and turtledoves, etc.,), yet all this does is to temporarily atone, until the next time it is required under the law, but none serves to totally remove the curse of the Law (the death penalty). In the very beginning the Lord spoke of how this total remission was going to be accomplished (Genesis 3:15) and He continues to define the Redemptive plan more clearly throughout the Scriptures, and it has to do with a coming Redeemer (Messiah/Christ) who elsewhere is referred to as our l’Shelem, or He who completes the transaction (Genesis 3:15). We see indications of this one foreshadowed in Scriptures like Isaiah 53; Daniel 9; Zechariah 12:10, etc.
Were there ever those who at some point in their lives made such effort that they really kept the whole law (all 613 commandments)? Well there may have been, only they had already sinned at some point, so without the shedding of blood there still was no remission.
This is why St Paul tells us in Galatians 2:16-21, “…know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
To explore this further in the words of Jesus let us look at Matthew 19. In Matthew 19 we hear the story (not a parable) of a rich young ruler who sought understanding of how one obtains eternal life. The scriptures tell us, “Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? According to this story, because the young man was still under the Law, Jesus tells him to obey the commandments. We soon are told that this young man had done so successfully since his youth (at least he believes he has)…but yet he is still thinking that there is something more that he must do in order to get into heaven (the error of man…salvation comes by works). So Jesus gives him a task He knows will be impossible to this young man. The disciples, knowing this young man obeyed all the commandments, are confused by this and we read, “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, Who then can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Why?
The answer comes in Titus 3:4-7 where we read, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Thus, “Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:21, 22)
The truth is that no one ever has kept the whole law and thus all are under condemnation unless they take advantage of the Lord's offer of redemption…only by His redemption can we be bought back...the penalty due for their sin being paid. Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight
Where then is the error for “good people” that will not be saved? Why won’t they be saved? Romans 9:32 tells us, “Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works and so, They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
They repented unto good works, but failed to pay the wages already due for their previous imperfect lifestyle before God. Remember, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." And who has not sinned at least once? Only Christ our Savior our Redeemer who Himself is the propitiation for our sins….
So Romans 6:23 reminds us that “The payment due for sin is death (ultimately, that is the second death in gehenna) but the gift of God is eternal life in Messiah Y’shua" (Y’shua means “the LORDs salvation”). And once given it will never be revoked (Romans 11:29). Now then how does one attain this blessed position where the Lord Himself commutes our just sentence? By being born of His Spirit we become a new spirit man (John 3:3-8), the old soulish man being reckoned as dead (Romans 6), so that now we have two natures one still lingering though we reckon it as dead, which still pulls us toward our flesh (of the first Adam), and another pulling us toward higher things of the Spirit (of the second Adam who is Christ). When the Lord draws us and we change our mind from unbelief to belief (trusting in, relying on, and cleaving to Him knowing without His sacrifice we face hell and incomprehensibly being thankful for this amazing grace) and are immersed by the Spirit into the Lord Jesus Christ, then the Spirit comes and takes up residence within us. By this gift of the Holy Spirit (the promise of the Father – Luke 44) we are sealed until the day of redemption of our bodies (Acts 3:38). We ARE seated with Him (Ephesians 1) and we are already translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His Son (Colossians 1, 2).
So Jesus is saying it IS better to enter heaven maimed than to enter hell, but salvation is still by grace through faith not by obeying the commandments. If it were then even unbelievers who hate God could simply obey and get in…this would make no sense at all.
Now that we are saved should we obey God? Yes, by all means abd with all our hearts, minds, and strength, obey all that the Lord has commanded us through Christ. It is our duty to obey God now that we are able to learn to do this, but is our salvation merited by doing this? No! Sonship is the gift of God provided to us by grace through His own Blood (Galatians). Thus the Lord says 'When you have done all that is commanded you, say: "We are useless servants: we have only done what was our duty"' (Luke 17:10).
You see doing our duty is commendable, but being what God wants us to be because His Spirit makes us into such a person, then our heart is right with God and right before Him because this demonstrates His law is written within.
And because of this wonderful undeserved Grace, if I fall (not on purpose or habitually) do I then lose my salvation? No! The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable…He who promised will also do it…of them that are given Him He shall lose none…He will NEVER leave you or forsake you…now only faithe…do not just believe IN God but rather believe God. The peace of the Lord be with you. We must remain faithful to Him who is faithful. Obey God and let the Spirit of God work through you to this lost and dying world, and may the Lord bless!
Posts: 235 | From: Cambridge, MA | Registered: Dec 2009
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