Dear brethren,

My thoughts this week have been about the topic of what is a sin? This question seems hard to answer by some in this current age.  Things once considered a sin in society now are considered by some as right. 

Bible prophecy says there would come a time when people would call good evil and evil good. More than ever we need to know what sin is.     

I John 3:4 says defines sin as the transgression of the law or lawlessness.  God gave the Ten Commandments and other laws and statutes so we would know what was right and wrong.  The Apostle Paul wrote, "I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (Rom. 7:7)

Does the Bible name every sin which a human being can commit?  As this modern era unfolds, man comes up with ways to sin which previous generations never imagined.  Our ancestors never imagined the cell phone and the computer age we live in today.

All sins stem from Satan-instilled carnal human nature characterized as vanity, jealousy, lust, and greed in some way, and these break the commandments of God.  All sin is inward-going and not based on God's agape outgoing love. Even though there may not be a specific commandment one can pin-point and say, this is "black" or "white," this does not mean it is not a transgression of God's law, sin.

Paul says this about the law of God, "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Gal. 5:13-14)

The question then we must ask ourselves about any form of human conduct is,  "does what I'm doing show love to my neighbor?"  Would you want someone else to do to you what you might do?

One thing we enjoy about Arizona in the cooler months is sitting on the back patio in the evening and looking at the stars.  But there is one problem, we have a neighbor living next door to us who loves to smoke on his patio at the same time, and the awful smell of his smoke wafts over the fence to kill our otherwise delightful evening experience. 

Though no commandment says "Thou Shalt Not Smoke," is my neighbor sinning?  Yes, his practice of smoking doesn't treat his neighbor with love.  I'm very sure he would not want us blowing smoke over the fence each day to his house.

One thing a smoker doesn't consider is the health impact of secondhand smoke on other people, nor do they consider the offensive smell on their breath and clothing.  As well, they often don't know the body is meant to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, and he who would destroy the temple of God is sinning.

Is being lazy a sin?  Once again there is no bold commandment found, but there are many scriptures which warn God's people about being lazy and lethargic.  Solomon was a prolific writer when it comes to this matter, and states in Prov. 6:9,  "How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? "

When someone is prone to laziness what often happens is someone else has to take care of them.  Why?  Because they typically don't take care of themselves.  Is this showing Christian love towards someone else?  Certainly not!

Paul wrote the church in Thessalonica about this very thing:  "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread." (I Thes. 3:10-12)

 

 

When we don't work and take care of ourselves when we are capable, it is a sin.  It isn't showing love to our neighbor.  We should not be lazy physically or spiritually!  

God corrects the Laodiceans of Rev. 3:15, 19 because they are lukewarm and lacked the zealousness to repent.  He warns them to repent and change, and that He stands at the door and knocks.  Do we hear Him knocking?  Is His Spirit leading us to humble ourselves and open the door and yield to Jesus Christ and allow Him to change our carnal nature to the mind of Christ? 

Please have a wonderful Sabbath!

Your servant and pastor,                                                                        

Jim Tuck