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right to another. If it doesn't bother
a murderer's conscience to kili ,
does that make murder acceptable?
Surely no one believes that.
Others say sin is whatever does
not "show love" to God or neighbor
and that's as specific as they can
define it. But here again each indi–
vidual is left to decide for himself
what does and what does not consti–
tute " love" to God and neighbor.
That's not a workable, dependable
standard or guide for conduct.
Still others would have you
believe sin is mostly dancing, play–
ing cards and drinking liquor. But
based on what autbority do they
make sueh a claim? There are even
sorne who seek to solve the problem
by saying sin and evil don't really
exist in the first place. What confu–
sion!
These are all human etforts to
define sin. Wben it gets right down
to it, though, it doesn't matter what
humans say sin is. What matters is
bow God looks at the subject and
what he says sin is. How does God
define sin? After all, Christians
cannot put sin out of their lives, as
they are expected to do (Heb.
12: 1),
if they are not taught God's
definition.
"Sin is," the Bible declares, "the
transgression of the law"
(1
John
3:4). That is the real Bible defini–
tion of sin, plainly and clearly
stated, yet ignored by most church
denominations. Sin is the brea king
of God's law as detailed in the Ten
Commandments and other biblical
precepts (verse 24). But the reason
most church denominations cannot
use the biblical definition of si n–
that sin is the breaking of God's
law- is that they claim God's law
is no longer in force, that it is no
longer necessary to obey it. They
especially do not like the Fourth
Commandment about keeping the
Sabbath.
How different from what the
New Testament teaches!
J esus said,
"If
ye love me, keep
my commandments" (John
14:15).
The apostle Paul wrote that "not
the hearers of tbe law are just
before God, but the
doers
of the
law s ha ll be justified" (Rom.
2:13).
The apostle James wrote that
"faith without works is dead" (las.
2:20).
January
1985
The apostle John wrote, " He
that saith, 1 know him [God], and
keepeth not his commandments, is
a liar, and the truth is not in him"
(1 John 2:4).
God must consider the matter
extremely important to have
inspired and preserved such strong
language! The question is, Why
then don't most church denomina–
tions consider it equally impor–
tant?
What about the Christianity you
are familiar with? Has it enabled
you to identify what is and what is
not sin? Has it helped you under–
stand the Bible? Js it supplying you
the answers to your day-to-day
problems? Is it showing you how to
receive answers when you pray?
The religion J esus
founded is more than a
list of beliefs.
It
is a way of life that
produces peace
of mind, happiness,
contentment.
Does it give you real hope, confi–
dence, peace of mind? Does it
answer the big questions: Why are
you alive? What does the future
hold for you? How should you pre–
pare for it?
Exactly what
is
it doing for
you?
Filling the Voi d
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Strangely enough, the Christian–
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