What is sin?

[WIP]

I am sure you allow your flesh to sin, but it is no longer you, but sin that dwells in you!

Do you not understand what I am trying to show others? The issue is not if we sin? The issue is how God has given us power over sin. But that power comes as we understand where sin dwells? "in the flesh" How do we overcome?
Not by power, nor by might but by My Spirit saith the Lord.

So Im not interested in debate for debates sake, I am interested in helping others be free from sin.
I am not here to confess, I confess to God alone, everybody with a brain and an honest heart, knows that all men sin. But that is not why God has me on this forum, the victory is not in mans weakness but in walking in REAL GRACE!

but there is a sinless part of every born-again believer. I am trying to AWAKE them to this understanding.

Awake to righteousness and sin not. When believers understand who they are in Christ, sin is no issue, it has lost its power over them.

Because they are walking in the spirit, and the lust of the flesh are put to death. This is the ONLY WAY! so why do all the folks who are so worried about sin, not teach the way of the spirit? Why do so many focus on the problem and not the solution? This is insane to me!

Thank you for this post!

 

[Mitspa]

God has a different vantage point...

1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Amen John 8:32! now your using that scripture for its purpose, not against the righteous but those who think they have no sin, or that sin is not real. A gnostic teaching that John was confronting in this epistle.

See all scripture has is place and purpose, and true teacher of the Word has rightly divided its use.

 

[vocalyocal]

I am sure you allow your flesh to sin, but it is no longer you, but sin that dwells in you!

Do you not understand what I am trying to show others? The issue is not if we sin? The issue is how God has given us power over sin. But that power comes as we understand where sin dwells? "in the flesh" How do we overcome?
Not by power, nor by might but by My Spirit saith the Lord.

So Im not interested in debate for debates sake, I am interested in helping others be free from sin.
I am not here to confess, I confess to God alone, everybody with a brain and an honest heart, knows that all men sin. But that is not why God has me on this forum, the victory is not in mans weakness but in walking in REAL GRACE!

but there is a sinless part of every born-again believer. I am trying to AWAKE them to this understanding.

Awake to righteousness and sin not. When believers understand who they are in Christ, sin is no issue, it has lost its power over them.

Because they are walking in the spirit, and the lust of the flesh are put to death. This is the ONLY WAY! so why do all the folks who are so worried about sin, not teach the way of the spirit? Why do so many focus on the problem and not the solution? This is insane to me!

I also conclude that some from the old testiment were seen as righteous, even though they did not live in the time of victory as we do today, If folks like Job, and Daniel and Joseph live righteous lives back then, how much more possible is our attempts to live a holy and righteous life today, considering Jesus has won the victory over sin and the grave

 

[John 8:32]

What about Romans 14:23? "Whatever is not faith is sin".

Put another way, all one has to do is place their faith in God and instantly be on the right road just as the spy Rahab let the Israelites into Jericho. Her past life of prositution was not considered as she and her household were spared.

There is a little more to that verse, it must be read in conjunction with the entire chapter to be properly understood.

 

[Mitspa]

I also conclude that some from the old testiment were seen as righteous, even though they did not live in the time of victory as we do today, If folks like Job, and Daniel and Joseph live righteous lives back then, how much more possible is our attempts to live a holy and righteous life today, considering Jesus has won the victory over sin and the grave

You make a good point, and I know that God knows things about men, that men just dont understand? " As a man thinks in his heart, so is he" These men "BELIEVED" they really believed and walk before a holy God. Some where under law, many where not, but the righteousness they had, was in that they had "real" faith.
I am not sure exaclty how some , like Abraham knew so well what God desired of them? I know God spoke to him many times but maybe he spoke to him in the inward parts of Abrahams heart, most often? But Abraham lived before Him who is unseen and kept His ways by REAL FAITH.

 

[wonby1]

There is a little more to that verse, it must be read in conjunction with the entire chapter to be properly understood.

I don't think so. Abraham was said to be righteous BECAUSE of his faith.

It's pretty simply really. God is all knowing and all good, so the only way to do good is to get connected. If you do, you begin down the "good" path. Otherwise, you miss the mark.

 

[John 8:32]

I don't think so. Abraham was said to be righteous BECAUSE of his faith.

It's pretty simply really. God is all knowing and all good, so the only way to do good is to get connected. If you do, you begin down the "good" path. Otherwise, you miss the mark.

Doesn't much matter what any of us think...

All these wonderful blessings will occur...

Gen 26:2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
Gen 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
Gen 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Because...

Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

He did a little more than just think good thoughts, He obeyed God.

 

[vocalyocal]

You make a good point, and I know that God knows things about men, that men just dont understand? " As a man thinks in his heart, so is he" These men "BELIEVED" they really believed and walk before a holy God. Some where under law, many where not, but the righteousness they had, was in that they had "real" faith.
I am not sure exaclty how some , like Abraham knew so well what God desired of them? I know God spoke to him many times but maybe he spoke to him in the inward parts of Abrahams heart, most often? But Abraham lived before Him who is unseen and kept His ways by REAL FAITH.

I think of Enoch who walked with God, he lived after the fall of man but was able to overcome sinfulness to such a high degree that he never died and God took Him up to heaven.

so sin and sinning has always been a choice, as God has said from the foundation of the world men are without an excuse

 

[Mitspa]

I think of Enoch who walked with God, he lived after the fall of man but was able to overcome sinfulness to such a high degree that he never died and God took Him up to heaven.

so sin and sinning has always been a choice, as God has said from the foundation of the world men are without an excuse

Of course we have all the sciptures for counsel on this issue.
The most important of these being Romans 7 In, by which we understand that "sin" itself is an element that dwells in man, from the fall.
That which we desire to do, we cannot do, so God has made a way for those who desire a way over sin? This is called "walking in the spirit" For if we if we walk in the spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

No man, no matter how religious has power of the sin that dwells in him, apart from the Spirit of Grace. This is the message of the gospel, by which all truth must be judged.

To say enoch had somehow overcome sin , by his own efforts? Is just not biblical. Enoch was righteous by faith, this is made clear throughtout scripture.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

No one has ever lived in righteousness. All men sin. Righteousness must be accounted to a man/woman for he/she to be in fellowship with God. That is done through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Not by works, not by the Law, not by any other method. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Not because of his upright living, and he certainly didn't have the Law by which to live. He believed God. That's all there was to it. I'm sure it was the same with Enoch.

 

[John 8:32]

No one has ever lived in righteousness. All men sin. Righteousness must be accounted to a man/woman for he/she to be in fellowship with God. That is done through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Not by works, not by the Law, not by any other method. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Not because of his upright living, and he certainly didn't have the Law by which to live. He believed God. That's all there was to it. I'm sure it was the same with Enoch.

Perhaps your opinion and God's truth differ slightly...

Gen 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

 

[Mitspa]

Perhaps your opinion and God's truth differ slightly...

Gen 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Now John 8:32 , you know as well as any other that Noah was righteous by faith. Real faith that builds an Ark. A living faith.. which is what number was speaking about.

"As a man thinks in his heart so is he"
I think right, therefore I believe right, therefore I act right.

This is why Paul spends so much time in teaching us to "think" and set our minds etc.... Because holiness begins in our thoughts.
Remember the High Priest of Israel wore a golden plate across their forehead? saying HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

sin came by knowledge, righteousness comes by knowledge of Christ. Grow in grace and knowledge of Him. By knowledge we understand Gods righteousness, by grace we are empowered to walk that righteousness out.

 

[childeye]

I believe sin is a direction away from God, as in separation from Him. God is the Spirit of Eternal Love and the Spirit of Truth. He is the Light therefore and all who are estranged from Him are oblivious to what they are missing due to the blindness of ignorance. Paul teaches that men have false images of God that they worship even though they are created by men... "For men thinking they were wise, became fools and their foolish hearts were darkened". Consequently, no one can define sin without knowing Truth.

 

[stovebolts]

Well?

From my vantage point, sin does not really exist. Notice how the scriptures describe sin as "darkness". Darkness does not exist. In fact, all darkness is, is a word to describe a lack of light.

Sin is simply the rejection of the love of God, nothing more. It does not exist. God did not create it.

Sin does exist, just as darkness exsists.

To that point, darkness was not created. It simply is. Light on the other hand is created, and we know that darkness does not overcome the light. On the contrary, light disperses darkness.

So we see that sin is the absence of good much in the same way darkness is the absence of light. Sin is not created, it is simply the absence of good, and good is that which is created.

I like to use leviticus 23 as an example where they were commanded to leave the corners of their fields un harvested. This was a provision of God to feed the widow and the poor. We often think of sin as a negative commandment, ie though shall not. But more often it comes by way of positive commandment, ie thou shalt. In this case, thou shalt leave the corners of your field. In this way a good deed is created to fill the darkness.. ie widows and the poor. Without that provision, the destitute are left in the darkness.

Often we point fingers at the darkness and accuse it for being dark. What a waste of time. Instead, we should be asking how we can shine our lights brighter.

 

[childeye]

Sin does exist, just as darkness exsists.

To that point, darkness was not created. It simply is. Light on the other hand is created, and we know that darkness does not overcome the light. On the contrary, light disperses darkness.

So we see that sin is the absence of good much in the same way darkness is the absence of light. Sin is not created, it is simply the absence of good, and good is that which is created.

I like to use leviticus 23 as an example where they were commanded to leave the corners of their fields un harvested. This was a provision of God to feed the widow and the poor. We often think of sin as a negative commandment, ie though shall not. But more often it comes by way of positive commandment, ie thou shalt. In this case, thou shalt leave the corners of your field. In this way a good deed is created to fill the darkness.. ie widows and the poor. Without that provision, the destitute are left in the darkness.

Often we point fingers at the darkness and accuse it for being dark. What a waste of time. Instead, we should be asking how we can shine our lights brighter.

I would not consider Light as "created" since God is Light. Whether darkness is created or not is an excercise in futility since a negative cannot be proven. It's like trying to describe the beginning of the void. It's always a matter of degrees relative to God, as is sin. Therefore, sin is a direction away from the Light and there are degrees.

 

[Deborah13]

Sin does exist, just as darkness exsists.

To that point, darkness was not created. It simply is. Light on the other hand is created, and we know that darkness does not overcome the light. On the contrary, light disperses darkness.

So we see that sin is the absence of good much in the same way darkness is the absence of light. Sin is not created, it is simply the absence of good, and good is that which is created.

I like to use leviticus 23 as an example where they were commanded to leave the corners of their fields un harvested. This was a provision of God to feed the widow and the poor. We often think of sin as a negative commandment, ie though shall not. But more often it comes by way of positive commandment, ie thou shalt. In this case, thou shalt leave the corners of your field. In this way a good deed is created to fill the darkness.. ie widows and the poor. Without that provision, the destitute are left in the darkness.

Often we point fingers at the darkness and accuse it for being dark. What a waste of time. Instead, we should be asking how we can shine our lights brighter.

Thank you for this teaching given in a time when you are struggling. Your faith in the Light is shinning.

 

[stovebolts]

I would not consider Light as "created" since God is Light. Whether darkness is created or not is an excercise in futility since a negative cannot be proven. It's like trying to describe the beginning of the void. It's always a matter of degrees relative to God, as is sin. Therefore, sin is a direction away from the Light and there are degrees.

Genesis1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,†and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

We see that God created the heavens and the earth. In it's unfinished state, we see that it was "formless and empty" and "Darkness was over the surface of the deep".

God created light, and God saw that it was Good. Everything God created during creation is good, and when he was finished, he said that everything he created was "Very Good".

It's a different way of thinking... But as Christians we are called to think differently.

 

[stovebolts]

Thank you for this teaching given in a time when you are struggling. Your faith in the Light is shinning.

It's a good reminder of how I need to live. We all have struggles... but very few would admit it. We need each other and we are called to live in community. We are called to build each other up in time of need and support one another. Talking to other Brothers and Sisters help to keep me grounded when I'm struggling... and I do have my struggles.
thank you.

 

[wonby1]

Sin does exist, just as darkness exsists.

To that point, darkness was not created. It simply is. Light on the other hand is created, and we know that darkness does not overcome the light. On the contrary, light disperses darkness.

So we see that sin is the absence of good much in the same way darkness is the absence of light. Sin is not created, it is simply the absence of good, and good is that which is created.

I like to use leviticus 23 as an example where they were commanded to leave the corners of their fields un harvested. This was a provision of God to feed the widow and the poor. We often think of sin as a negative commandment, ie though shall not. But more often it comes by way of positive commandment, ie thou shalt. In this case, thou shalt leave the corners of your field. In this way a good deed is created to fill the darkness.. ie widows and the poor. Without that provision, the destitute are left in the darkness.

Often we point fingers at the darkness and accuse it for being dark. What a waste of time. Instead, we should be asking how we can shine our lights brighter.

No, darkness does not exist. Scientifically speaking, there is nothing to measure darkness. However, light has particles to measure and does exist. Darkness, therefore, is merely a term used to define an absense of light to varying degrees. God did not make darkness just like he did not make sin.

 

[stovebolts]

No, darkness does not exist. Scientifically speaking, there is nothing to measure darkness. However, light has particles to measure and does exist. Darkness, therefore, is merely a term used to define an absense of light to varying degrees. God did not make darkness just like he did not make sin.

Funny, when I lock myself in a room with all the windows and doors shut and turn off the light, all I see is..... Nothing! That "Nothing" we call darkness and darkness can be experienced in ones life just as easily as light can be experienced.

When I don't eat for a day, I have nothing in my stomach.... I also experience this "nothingness" and generally it is not a friendly experience. So we see that nothing really is something and what can be measured is the effects of nothing when nothing exists. here is the conumdrum, if nothing exists, then nothing really is something...

How does this relate to sin?
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
What we do or fail to do matters to God and we can be assured that when we do good deeds, it always brings relief through the darkness. Jesus even said,
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.