SIN
Scripture Reading - Romans 7:7-9 KJV
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Although many don’t like to mention the word “sin” in today’s society it is used around 389 times in the King James Version of the Holy Bible. We (ihlcc) will attempt to provide you with a very brief description of what “sin” is and also what it is not. Generally speaking “sin” is when you break the Law of God. Yes, it reaches farther than just breaking God’s Law because “sin” can also be classified as breaking God’s Commandment. The reason breaking God’s Commandment is more inclusive is because that includes both the Old and New Testament of God’s Word. Yes, if we looked at God’s Commandment in an even brighter light we would agree that God’s Commandment is God’s Word spoken to you. So we can easily see that anything that the Lord tells you to do as an individual or a people group (husband, wife, children, employer, servant, church member, men, women, Christian, etc…) should be considered God’s Commandment for you. Yes, God’s Commandments (His Word) are not options (or suggestions) but they are the Lord’s personal instructions for your life. “Sin” is when you have accurate knowledge of what God said to you and you chose to violate that word from God. “Sin” is to know the truth (or at least a truth) of God and decide to do contrary to that commandment. “Sin” is not just doing wrong deeds because James 4:17 KJV tells us, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”. So if someone has no understanding of God’s Law or no knowledge of God’s Word and they violate God’s Word it is not “sin” to them simply because they did not know they were doing wrong. We all know mankind has many different rules (laws, guidelines, statures, etc…) because each nation evolves from their historic culture. So it is not wise to judge others by your standards of “sin”. Some would boldly say, “I only judge others by the Word of God”. However, we (ihlcc) would still say, “Why judge anyone?” Is it not better to leave all judgment about people up to God while we concentrate on sharing the Love of God with people? Yes, although “sin’ causes death it is very clear from the verse above that without the proper knowledge of God’s Word (revelation, understanding, illumination, insight) the person might not be “sinning” in God’s Eyes. “Sin” at its core is an issue of the heart and soul not the external actions of men. Since only the Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father completely understand (know) the heart of each person they are probably the only ones qualified to completely recognize which people are truly “sinning” and which people are just ignorant of God’s Word. Therefore, when sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ don’t fix your focus on the outward actions of “sin” but rather on the spiritual sacrifice for all “sins” Jesus Christ the righteousness. Amen!