"SIN"... What is it ?
Who-on-earth decides what is "sinful"?
 

A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
( http://www.terrific-tabs.com )
by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)


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This tablet interrelates with: God -- the source of good and evil (link)
AND: The Sovereignty of God (link)

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1 John 3: 9 (NRSV) Those who have been born of God, do not sin, because God's seed abides in them. They cannot sin -- because they have been born of God.

2 Corinthians 5: 16-19 (NEB) From first to last, this has been the work of God. He has reconciled us men to Himself, through Christ; and He has enlisted us in the service of reconciliation. What I mean is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself -- no longer holding men's misdeeds (NIV "sins"; KJV and RSV "trespasses") against them.... and that He has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation.
Same (NRSV) 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away. See.... everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ.... and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is -- in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses (sins) against them -- and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

1 John 5: 18 (NRSV) We know that those who are born of God do NOT sin; for the One who was born of God protects them -- and the evil one does NOT touch them.

Luke 1: 76 (NRSV) And you, child ("John-the-Baptist"), will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 to give knowledge of SALVATION to His people by the FORGIVENESS of their SINS. 78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79 to give LIGHT to those who sit in DARKNESS, and in the shadow of death....

Romans 6: 13-14 (NRSV) No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness; but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present 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.

Isaiah 43: 25 (NIV) I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake.... and remembers your sins no more.

Same (NRSV) I, I am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

Ephesians 1: 7 (NIV) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that He lavished on us, with all wisdom and understanding.



"Sin". What is "sin"? The dictionary definitions of the word "sin" are as follows: "a transgression of religious law"; "an offense against God"; "a transgression of divine law"; "a willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle". The Bible uses the words "trespasses", "transgressions", and "misdeeds" interchangeably with the term "sin" (in the various translations of the Bible).

In many denominational "religions", the term "sin" is used to describe those humanly deeds or misdeeds which certain "religious" humans have decided are "wrong", in their opinion -- and hence "sinful" (they conclude) in the eyes of God.

"Sin": a word derived from Old English, Old High German, Old Saxon words meaning "guilty"; and derived in some way from the Latin verb "to be" (Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, 1971).

So, what is "sin"? What is your definition? Is the definition of "sin" a matter of opinion? If so, whose "opinion"? Who decides whether or not someone has committed an act of "sin"? Does "sin" manifest itself in varying degrees of severity? Are there minor sins, moderate sins, and severe sins? Who determines this "severity"? Can an individual overcome a sin, or many sins, or daily sins, by begging forgiveness; or by praying six times a day in a certain position, or by praying at a special location; or by attending church every Sunday; or by reciting a certain creed, or by "tithing"? Are "works", or "good deeds", or "penances", a satisfactory means of negating a certain number of sins? If so, how many "good deeds" are enough to overcome "sin"? Your answer?

There may be a difference in what I consider to be a sin, and what you consider to be a "sin" -- and what "the church" (this "church" or that "church") considers to be "sin"..... and what one family, or one group of people, considers to be "sin". Who is correct?

The questions continue. Is there now, or has there ever been, a human-being who is qualified, and authorized by God, to answer these questions about "sin"? Is there a certain doctrine, or "church" -- a local church, or a denominational organization, or an inter-denominational group -- that has been assigned the right and the power to declare which daily acts of each individual human are "sinful"; or which members in a group are "sinners"; or which church-goers are (or are not) "sinners"? If so, what "church" has been given that authority, and by whom? Are there certain "ordained ministers" or priests or rabbis who are appointed by Almighty God to make decisions about an individual's humanly flaws, and thereby to categorize certain ignorant "misdeeds" of behavior as "sin"? What earthly minister or priest or rabbi is so holy and righteous, that he can call another human's error a "sin", in the eyes of God? What is your answer?

If ministers and churches, and priests and popes, are qualified to determine a sinner's "sin", on behalf of God, can those same pastors and churches also forgive sins -- for God? What do you say ?

The obvious answer to all of these questions is that God, alone, is able to determine what is a "sin", and what is "sinful".... and what is not "sinful" -- in God's own sight. Human-beings, in or out of "the church", are not qualified or authorized to "diagnose", or condemn, or forgive "sin" -- on behalf of God. My understanding is that human-beings have no part in the spiritual judgment of the actions and thoughts and "beliefs" of other humans.


Psalm 51: 2 (NIV) Wash away all my iniquity; and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions -- and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight -- so that you are proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.


"Sin". Here is my definition of "sin"...... In a "human" sense, "sin" is the term that certain religions -- and some "churchy" individuals -- use to categorize the worldly and "animal-ly" misdeeds of human-beings; and "sin" is a doctrinal "label" for certain designated ignorant errors of human behavior, and thought, and actions, and plans. In a "spiritual" sense (I believe) "sin" is a condition, or a "state", that can be determined, or imputed, by God ONLY -- uninfluenced by the thoughts and allegations and decisions of any human-being.... or by any group of human-beings.

So, again -- what is your definition of "SIN"?

Note the following additional Biblical references concerning "sin":
Romans 8: 1-2 (NRSV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, has set you free from the Law of sin, and death.

Colossians 2:13 (NRSV) And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him, when He forgave us all our trespasses, 14 erasing the record that stood against us, with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.... 18 Do not let anyone disqualify you.... insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause -- by a HUMAN way of thinking.

(Same) Colossians 2: 13 (KJV) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.... 16 Let no man, therefore, judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.... 20 Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances.... after the COMMANDMENTS and DOCTRINES of MEN?

Hebrews 10: 11 (NRSV) But every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "He sat down at the right hand of God."..... 14 For by a single offering He has perfected for ALL TIME those who are sanctified (NIV says, "He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy"). 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16 (Quoting Jeremiah 31: 33-34) "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds," 17 He also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds -- NO MORE." 18 Where there is forgiveness of these.... there is no longer any offering for SIN. 
 
Only God knows what burdens and problems each individual must bear in his earthly existence; and what physical and psychological variations each person has received from God -- for the purpose of molding and building that individual -- for God's own plans. Only God knows what God has given to each of His people.... so how can fallible churchy humans arrogate to themselves the right to judge the "sin" and error of other human-beings -- on behalf of God? Does anyone really believe that God has declared a certain rigid set of inviolable edicts and regulations -- to be monitored and enforced by a few church-appointed, frail human-beings, wearing ecclesiastical garb? Does anyone truly believe that God intended for every single one of His people to be molded, by laws and rules, into the exact same shape as every other one of His people? I don't believe that; do you? 

It is a simple truth that no two humans are alike, either intellectually, emotionally, or physically. (See link Individuation by God.) Each of God's people sees God; and hears God; and learns about God; and understands God and His language -- in certain ways, and by various means, and in varying degrees, and at different times in their lives.... all according to what God has intended, and ordained -- for each of His people. God's people cannot be individually grouped together into one earthly "institutional church".... in spite of what many denominational "churches" attempt to do. God's own chosen (accepted) individuals cannot be molded into a solitary condition of "rightness", or "obedience", or "goodness" -- according to some man-made mold, designed by an earthly church, or by a group of very-fallible humans -- including ministers, priests, rabbis, mullahs, and imams. Only God can decide how each individual is to satisfy God. 

God alone decides about "sin", and human error. No "church of human-beings", or its leaders, has a legitimate, God-given function in condemning, or blaming, or imputing spiritual guilt to an individual's actions. No human-being, or group of humans, is spiritually qualified, or designated, to make a determination of a another human's "sin" -- or to declare a person's behavior as "sinful". 

That is -- who are you, or we, or other human-beings.... to "judge" who has sinned -- and who has not sinned? 

Note the following scriptural quotations on this subject: 

1 Corinthians 2: 15 (NIV) The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgement. 16 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him?' 

James 4: 12 (NRSV) There is one Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save -- and to destroy. So, then, who are you to judge your neighbor? 

Luke 5: 20 (KJV) When Jesus saw their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" 

1 Corinthians 10: 29 (NRSV) For why should my LIBERTY be subject to the JUDGMENT of someone else's conscience?
 
It is my personal opinion -- based on what I "see" and "hear" in the Bible -- that God's people (linked) do not have to trudge along, each day, worrying and wondering, as follows:
"Have I done something wrong;
Did I 'sin' today;
Is God angry with me;
What can I do to get back in God's good graces;
When will God retaliate;
Have I done something unpardonable;
Am I going to Hell;
Will I ever know, in this life, whether or not I am acceptable to God;
Can I suddenly lose favor in God's sight, if I make some humanly error;
Am I 'obeying' God;
Who can tell me if I am 'doing right', and pleasing God?"

And, on and on. 

Here is my "answer": God's people do indeed "satisfy" God, all along.... with what each one does in his individual ministry (linked).... the "ministry" that has been assigned by God. It is obvious that all of us cannot be priests, and preachers.... or missionaries to Africa. Each "Godsperson" is led by God to "do", and to "be", whatever God has determined, in advance, for that person. When you or I deviate from our course, we and our course will be "corrected", by God, in an on-going fashion, day-by-day. We do not have to wait for, and fear, some arbitrary judgement (link), later.... never knowing, until after death, whether or not we have satisfied God. Note these scriptural references, about "judgement": 

John 5: 24 (NRSV) Jesus speaking: "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life; and does NOT come under judgment, but has passed from death to life."

John 3: 18 (NASV) Jesus speaking: "He who believes in Him (God) is not judged; but he who does not believe has been judged already -- because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Romans 8: 1-2 (NRSV) There is therefore now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, has set you free from the law of sin, and death.

Ephesians 1: 4 (NRSV) He CHOSE us in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless, before Him in love.... 7 In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (NIV and KJV: "the forgiveness of our sins"), according to the riches of His grace, that He lavished on us.
That's the way it still is, regardless of what some denominational churches would seem to like for us to believe. Some "churches" still want its members to accept a "religion of men", "learned by rote", with hand-me-down rules, restrictions, rites, regulations, ceremonies, laws, do's and don'ts.... rather than admitting, truthfully, that no man, no preacher, no church, no tradition, or anything else man-made.... can take precedence over God's own decisions, for God's own individuals -- whom God Himself created, for God's own purposes and plans and pleasure. Whatever some earthly church may dream and hope, and whatever else a denominational group may try to convince its members, for whatever reason.... God manages His own "children", in the way He sees fit.... without advice or "judgements" from humans -- or from human-groups. 

To reiterate what was said above: we do not have to spend our lives in limbo and puzzlement, wondering.... "Have I done enough for God? Did I do something I shouldn't have done, something evil? Is God getting tired of me, and my faults? Do I need to crawl back, every day, before God, and beg forgiveness for my humanly errors? If I pray enough, and plead enough, and bow enough.... will God relent.... and take me back? Or, is it too late? How can I ever know -- in this life?"

Nothing more needs to be said, or added, on this subject. All the scriptures quoted above tell it -- just the way it is -- according to God !

12/18/06