Sin

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

What exactly is sin anyway. How can we best describe and charactorize it? Scripture, in places like Ezekiel 18 and Romans 6 tells us that it is the catalyst that leads to death. With that being the case, I see sin sort of like a cancer that has infected our world, our universe even, and death the our universe's response to that cancer. Too me, sin brings about entropy. Consider this theory that sin and evil create or should I say bring entropy into whatever system it (sin) is introduced. As long as the cancer of sin survives, the system will continue to drift further and further into disorder, pain, suffering, corruption, until finally, the system will cease to be able to live. So in this real applicable way we can see just how the wages of sin is death.

The above is what makes sense of the teaching in scripture that tells man not to love the world. The world is infected and dying and the only way to survive is to come out of it. The means by which we can be redeemed from the world is what I term as The Divine Gift.
I can see how sin is the sickness and death is the mechanism used to fight off the infection. Our universe combats sin by inflicting death so that sin cannot persist endlessly. Ultimately, death is intended to kill off the sin infection and once it has accomplished that task, it too will be done away with.
For those who survive this world, we will ever be mindful of two things. One being the Divine Gift that redeemed us from the curse of sin and secondly, the reprocussions of sin. With these things etched in mind, the survivors will not participate in or give sin a chance to be reborn in the new habitation because they know the consequences.

 

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

Sin seems to involve a couple things. One is knowing what is right and not doing it and the other appears to be acting beyond the scope one one's God-given authority. For example let's consider stealing and why it's wrong. It involves the unauthorized taking possession of something that is under the authority of another. We can even describe a sin like murder simularly in that when we murder someone, we have decided to take a live when God alone has the authority over life (remember, all souls are His). That is why authorized killing is not a sin because God, the one who has authority over the lives of men, has called for it in those instances.

 

[ivdavid]

I see sin sort of like a cancer that has infected our world

I agree wholeheartedly with both your posts. Just a word of caution - make it clear if you do believe that we are indeed responsible for this 'cancer' within us - because in the analogy of a person having cancer, it's only a health problem - not a problem of moral right and wrong / obedience to God and not etc..

He is sympathized with and not blamed for its effects. In the case of sin, we need to be sympathized with but we must not deny our accountability for its workings. I think you'd agree with me...

 

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

I agree wholeheartedly with both your posts. Just a word of caution - make it clear if you do believe that we are indeed responsible for this 'cancer' within us - because in the analogy of a person having cancer, it's only a health problem - not a problem of moral right and wrong / obedience to God and not etc..

He is sympathized with and not blamed for its effects. In the case of sin, we need to be sympathized with but we must not deny our accountability for its workings. I think you'd agree with me...

Totally agree that the sin "cancer" is a man-inflicted and self-inflicted malady. Thank God that we have Jesus making an intervention for us so that death will not be our final lot!

 

[Elijah674]

What exactly is sin anyway. How can we best describe and charactorize it? Scripture, in places like Ezekiel 18 and Romans 6 tells us that it is the catalyst that leads to death. With that being the case, I see sin sort of like a cancer that has infected our world, our universe even, and death the our universe's response to that cancer. Too me, sin brings about entropy. Consider this theory that sin and evil create or should I say bring entropy into whatever system it (sin) is introduced. As long as the cancer of sin survives, the system will continue to drift further and further into disorder, pain, suffering, corruption, until finally, the system will cease to be able to live. So in this real applicable way we can see just how the wages of sin is death.

The above is what makes sense of the teaching in scripture that tells man not to love the world. The world is infected and dying and the only way to survive is to come out of it. The means by which we can be redeemed from the world is what I term as The Divine Gift.
I can see how sin is the sickness and death is the mechanism used to fight off the infection. Our universe combats sin by inflicting death so that sin cannot persist endlessly. Ultimately, death is intended to kill off the sin infection and once it has accomplished that task, it too will be done away with.
For those who survive this world, we will ever be mindful of two things. One being the Divine Gift that redeemed us from the curse of sin and secondly, the reprocussions of sin. With these things etched in mind, the survivors will not participate in or give sin a chance to be reborn in the new habitation because they know the consequences.

1John.3

[1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
[3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

The above Eternal Law of the Godhead tell's us what sin is. Heb. 13:20 And we find in James 2:8-10 that this will be our Standard of being Judged saved or Lost. (see Eccl. 12:13-14.

And the breaking of the Lord's Eternal Covenant even in one known Command finds us guilty of breaking the complet Covenant.

---Elijah

 

[Nathan]

To accurately define sin, we have to follow it's trail.

Sin is - 'missing the mark'

Therefore the next step is...what is the "mark"?

The mark is what we 'should' be aiming at.

What should we be aiming at?

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

From Pauls own admission, his "aim" is not what we might think it is. Not faith, love, teaching, patience, conduct, or steadfastness. So what is it?

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him...7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

 

[Elijah674]

Re: Sin

Originally Posted by TRUTH over TRADITION
What exactly is sin anyway. How can we best describe and charactorize it? Scripture, in places like Ezekiel 18 and Romans 6 tells us that it is the catalyst that leads to death. With that being the case, I see sin sort of like a cancer that has infected our world, our universe even, and death the our universe's response to that cancer. Too me, sin brings about entropy. Consider this theory that sin and evil create or should I say bring entropy into whatever system it (sin) is introduced. As long as the cancer of sin survives, the system will continue to drift further and further into disorder, pain, suffering, corruption, until finally, the system will cease to be able to live. So in this real applicable way we can see just how the wages of sin is death.

The above is what makes sense of the teaching in scripture that tells man not to love the world. The world is infected and dying and the only way to survive is to come out of it. The means by which we can be redeemed from the world is what I term as The Divine Gift.
I can see how sin is the sickness and death is the mechanism used to fight off the infection. Our universe combats sin by inflicting death so that sin cannot persist endlessly. Ultimately, death is intended to kill off the sin infection and once it has accomplished that task, it too will be done away with.
For those who survive this world, we will ever be mindful of two things. One being the Divine Gift that redeemed us from the curse of sin and secondly, the reprocussions of sin. With these things etched in mind, the survivors will not participate in or give sin a chance to be reborn in the new habitation because they know the consequences.
____________________





1John.3

[1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
[3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

The above Eternal Law of the Godhead tell's us what sin is. Heb. 13:20 And we find in James 2:8-10 that this will be our Standard of being Judged saved or Lost. (see Eccl. 12:13-14.

And the breaking of the Lord's Eternal Covenant even in one known Command finds us guilty of breaking the complet Covenant.

---Elijah

Truth over Tradition says:
For those who survive this world, we will ever be mindful of two things. One being the Divine Gift that redeemed us from the curse of sin and secondly, the reprocussions of sin. With these things etched in mind, the survivors will not participate in or give sin a chance to be reborn in the new habitation because they know the consequences.

Me again: I find this to be upfront & a excellent observation! Nahum 1:9 Mankind will still Eternally have freewill for making decisions. We see Isa. telling us that we will build houses & plant. And that we will come to the Lords Holy Hill for Sabbath Worship. We will have a new 'sineless' body as the first Adam & the resurected King of our Salvation Jesus. [ALMOST HUH, Truth over Tradition?]

For we know that Thomas needed Documented Truth that it was the same Christ who was resurected. He was NO spirit! He ate fish! + Thomas found nailprints & a hole in our Masters New Body. (flesh & blood? just not sinful flesh & blood as 'i' see it)

This will be the only reminder that the saved will ever again need of what 'any sin' could lead to. And we are told that the former things will not come into mind. Exactly what that means is not totally understood perhaps?? I say that.. because during the one thousand years of the fate of the wicked in judgement that we will have part of. And it is not until the New Jersulem returnes to earth that the Final fate of the wicked & the New Recreated Heaven & Earth take place that we are told that 'ALL TEARS ARE SEEN WIPED AWAY'.

I personally think that it will be because of our Pure Maturity and perfectly understanding that the Lord did EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD LOVINGLY DO (Isa. 5:4) and that we as well as the Universe will just accept that FACT and then this will all fade away. Hell is called God's strange act!

--Elijah

​

 

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

To accurately define sin, we have to follow it's trail.

Sin is - 'missing the mark'

Therefore the next step is...what is the "mark"?

The mark is what we 'should' be aiming at.

What should we be aiming at?

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

From Pauls own admission, his "aim" is not what we might think it is. Not faith, love, teaching, patience, conduct, or steadfastness. So what is it?

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him...7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

It seems that the aim was what we would call perfection, sinlessness, or the "glory of God" that we fall short of because of our sin. What we must remember is that sin is not something we are forced to do, there is always an out. Just as Jesus walked this world being tempted in all ways as we are, yet was without sin, we too have such a capability and living up to that God given potential is what we as mankind and ESPECIALLY christians who have been called out are expected to do!

 

[Nathan]

I guess I see it this way. Sin is not something we do, or don't do. What we do, or don't do is a result of our sin.

Sin is the direction in which we 'face'. Before being born again, we sinned constantly. Why? Because we were 'headed' in the wrong direction. Our 'life' was going one particular way. Our 'dead' spirit was not aiming at anything.

But then God, 'raised' us from the dead. He gave life to our spirit. At that moment in time we had the capacity to 'aim' the right direction.

This is precisely why John states that those who are in Christ sin no more. Why? Because their 'aim' is toward Christ. Their aim is Him, and in that aim, we are aiming for His righteousness that He provides. When we aim in another direction, we 'miss the mark'(sin).

See, its not about what we do or do not do. Its about where our aim is at. The moment we set our aim away from Him, we will inevitably sin. Jesus said it this way.

Mat 7:16-20 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Its not that the fruit makes us sinful. The fruit, or what WE call sin, is simply the evidence of that which is already taken place in our spirit and soul. We consider the outworking of our desire to be sin in its form.

Jam 1:15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

See, a wrong aim(bad desire) when "mated" with temptation, gives birth to sin. It is a 'reproduction'(fruit) of what the real thing is. Think about it this way. Is an apple tree an apple tree because there are apples on it? No. There are apples on the apple tree because it is an apple tree; even when there are no apples on it.

That is why sin can be so deceiving, and sometimes look "good". Sin is all about the aim. When our aim is on, we WILL NOT SIN. When our aim is off....we WILL sin. Our focus should always be Christ and His righteousness. Plain and simple.

2Ti 2:10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

This was Pauls 'aim'. Christ. And it was manifested in his desire for other to 'aim' the same direction. Simplicity. If you want to get to the 'root' of sin, and quit wondering why you cannot change the fruit, find out which way your looking.

Here is an analogy I have used before on here, but it serves as a visual for this.

I am an archer, not a very good one, but its because of my "aim". lol.

But experience archers, ones who can stick an arrow through a wedding ring at 50 yards, will tell you something interesting. They will tell you that it does you absolutely no good to look at where you hit when you miss the target. Oh yea, really good archers miss the target too from time to time. But the very last thing you want to do is focus on the spot you hit. The saying is "aim small, miss small". In other words, the target may be 8" in diameter. But you want to pick a spot the size of a pea right in the middle.

When ever you miss, you do not judge how far you need to aim based on where you hit last. You just simply focus on the target even harder. What happens, is that 'amateur' archers will try to adjust their aim based on where they missed. Sometimes they get closer, sometimes even further away. What happens is there is no consistency to their shooting. But the seasoned veterans will tell you all they look at is the small spot they picked out. Sometimes they miss, but more and more their shots get consistent, and more and more they start hitting the target.

Paul was given a 'target'. Christ. We are all given a target. Christ. Paul was given a 'spot' on that target. The gospel ministry to the Gentiles. What 'spot' have you been given? Aim at that spot.

 

[elijah23]

Sin is a selfish act that, in the end, causes harm to the person who committed the sin.

 

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

What truly is sin? I believe the best and most complete definition is not lawlessness, but rather NOT practicing or choosing righteousness. Upright men are a 'law' unto themselves and are not in need of any written code. Laws are not for the righteous, but rather are implemented to protect the righteous and unrighteous from unrighteousness.

The ways of righteousness, in my opinion are written into the hearts of man. Children, adults, and even the mentally handicaped can all understand that it is good and right to treat people with love, respect, and to obey those who have been given the right to exercise authority like parents, teachers, and governors.

Man has the capacity to know right from wrong and because we have that capacity we are expected to choose right. That is why if someone knows what’s right and doesn’t do it, that’s a sin for him!