Question: Why is the biblical definition of sin important?
Answer: The Biblical definition of sin under the New Testament covenant is one of the most important questions for believers and non-believers alike.
Is sin any short-coming, as in getting irritated, going 5km over the posted speed limit, being late for an appointment? If these “small sins” are sins, is there any difference between them and the “big sins” like lying, lusting in your heart, and stealing?
Is sin just something we will have to commit daily for the rest of our lives? Are our sins all forgiven past, present, and future?
What does the Bible mean when it says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil” (1Jn 3:8)? Does this just mean continuously practicing the same sin? If so, how many times do you have to commit it before you are of the devil?
Is God able to “make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear” (1Co 10:13) every temptation? Does God expect us to take the way of escape?
When Jesus told the woman taken in adultery to “go, and sin no more” (Jn 8:11), did he really mean that, or was that just an ideal to aim at and she was only expected to try to sin less?
These and many more questions are very important!
I am trying to address these questions in a fair and Biblical way, and that is one of the main concerns I deal with on this blog.
June 4th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Jews and Gentiles are ALL under Sin -
We were born into this present evil world (Gal.1:4) as Jews and Gentiles. Jews and Gentiles are all under sin (Rom.3:9), and there is no difference between them for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, whether they be Jew or Gentile, shall be saved (Rom.10:12-13).
NOTE Romans 3:9 - Jews and Gentiles are all under sin; the church of God (1 Cor.10:32) are not included in that Scripture.
When the Jew or the Gentile calls upon the name of the Lord and are saved, they are no longer a Jew or a Gentile (Eph.2:16, Gal.3:28); the Jew or Gentile has become a “new” creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor.5:17, Gal.6:15); they have become the church of God.
The church of God (the living body of Christ Jesus - Col.1:24) a “people” chosen before the foundation of the world, are holy and without blame before Him in love (Eph.1:4, Col.1:22).
We are born of God (1 Jn.3:9, 1 Jn.5:18). We are the offspring of God (Acts.17:29). Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for God’s seed remains in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1 Jn.3:9). Whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and the wicked one (Satan) touches him not (1 Jn.5:18).
In Christ Jesus we pass FROM death UNTO life (Jn.5:24), immediately upon death (2 Cor.5:8).
Gentiles do not know God (1 Thess.4:5). They have no hope, and are without God in the world: (Eph.2:12).
NOTE 1 Thessalonians 4:5 and Ephesians 2:12 do not include the Jew or the church of God (1 Cor.10:32).
The world calls us “Christians” (Acts 11:26); God calls us the church of God (1 Cor.10:32, 1 Cor.1:2, 1 Cor.15:9, Gal.1:13).
Patricia © Bible Prophecy on the Web
June 4th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Hi Patricia,
While I may be misunderstanding your comment when you say “When the Jew or the Gentile calls upon the name of the Lord and are saved, they are no longer a Jew or a Gentile”, I respectfully disagree with your position.
Paul stated post-conversation “I am verily a man which am a Jew” (Act 22:3) and Paul also said of post-conversation Peter “If thou, being a Jew” (Gal 2:14).
Likewise when Paul took issue with Peter for compelling the saved Gentiles to keep the law of Moses. Paul calls those that were Gentiles and saved, Gentiles. “Why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews” (Gal 2:14).
As far as eternal or everlasting life I would hold that just like “saved” in the Bible has a present (Tit 3:5) and future aspect (Mat 10:22), so likewise “eternal life” or “everlasting life” has a present (Joh 17:3 and Joh 5:24) and future aspect (Rom 6:22 and Joh 3:16).
I would hold that we “pass from death unto life” (Joh 5:24) when we are converted.