DISCIPLESHIP 101 - Part 17 - The Issue of Sin - 6

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLESHIP 101

Part 17 – The Issue of Sin - 6

Creator vs. Creature

Genesis 1: 27 So Elohim created man in his own image, in the image of Elohim created he him; male and female created he them.

The sin issue has been completely resolved in our Master Yahushua Messiah; and we must embrace it fully and walk in the power of the new life he died to give us.  We are not at liberty to begin our discipleship with gusto, only to fizzle out in unbelief or lack of heart to continue in the grace of our Master.  Consider the cost before putting your hand to the plow; for it is better never to have begun, than to begin only to draw back from righteousness.

Our final post on “the sin issue” deals with our identity.  Who are we?  Rather, WHAT are we? 

Among all the creatures on the earth, man is unique.  Now, some reading that last sentence might have reacted at the notion that he or she is a creature.  It is easy to relate to the plants and animals, the land and the seas as having been created; but because man is unique in his sentient abilities among all living things, he generally does not see himself as also a created being.  This actually forms the root of the problem in man’s recovery from the sin issue; that, and the inherent nature of dominion decreed upon him by the Creator in Genesis 1.

Genesis 1:26 And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

When man fell in the Garden of Eden, and his righteous nature was lost to a nature of darkness, man did not also forfeit his right of dominion. He simply lost his understanding of how to exercise dominion. Instead of exercising dominion over the animals and the earth; men began to assert dominance over other men.  In time, this resulted in a world-wide mindset that man is an autonomous being, that there is no Creator, that man is on his own and he must make of himself what he will.

Even the Hebrews who were uniquely separated from among men to live in obedience to IAUE eventually cried out, “Make us a king to judge us like all the nations. (1 Samuel 6:1-7)”  IAUE told Samuel “they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”

Without a Creator, man cannot sin; because there is no unimpeachable standard by which man’s actions may be measured.

If there is no Maker whose “operator’s manual” governs how the machine must function; the machine may function in whatsoever way it chooses. 

Without a Creator, man cannot believe in his necessity to obey IAUE; and yet, Paul declared to the brilliant minds sitting atop Mars Hill (Areopagus) in Athens, Greece:

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance IAUE winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Paul, speaking for the Creator, says something that would be absolutely obvious to a creature of His.  He COMMANDS them to repent.  He COMMANDS them to walk in righteousness, for He will judge every man according to righteousness; and He desires all of His creation to be worthy of Him.  This is “Creator-to-Creature” talk.  The one who made man has every right to dictate to man what He expects of him.

By now (hopefully), you have begun to reflect on how you, personally, relate to IAUE.  Is He someone who has deigned to help you, autonomous man, out of a bad situation? Is He some power that comes along side of you to be a beneficent assistant to you in whatever manner you choose to live your life; or is he the one who created you; and you are not an autonomous deity at all; but rather the workmanship of a Creator and utterly dependent upon Him and utterly answerable to Him?

We have failed to recognize a significant element of the gospel message.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (See Colossians 1:23)

In preaching the good news to all the world, it is essential to understand that IAUE sees the gospel as a message to His creation. If man recognizes that he is “a creature,” he also understands that a creature is subservient to and answerable to its Creator.  This opens the door to repentance; especially when the Creator did all that was necessary on his behalf to enable him to turn from darkness to light.

Once man repents and believes the Word of IAUE and bows his knee to the Mastery of the resurrected Messiah, Yahushua, what happens?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Messiah, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yahushua unto good works, which IAUE hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after IAUE is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

We become a NEW creature.  Yes, we are made new; but we are also still a creature who has a Creator.  The indisputable conclusion is that man MUST obey his Creator.  To fail to do so is to fall under the Creator’s judgment. 

Hebrew 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his (IAUE’s) sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Yahushua the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The Creator has made provision for His NEW creation.  He has given us a High Priest who knows what man is, what he faces, what he experiences, how he is tempted.  IAUE expects man to walk in righteousness before Him.  The NEW creation is infused with the nature of righteousness making that a vital reality, a possibility; no, not a possibility; but an expectation of the Creator.  The Creator, however, knows that until we are separated from a body of flesh and blood, we are going to make mistakes; so He provided us with a magnificent High Priest who is ever interceding for us; and who ministers to us grace…the power of IAUE that enables us to do His will.  The creature just needs to get it thoroughly established in his own mind.  He is a creature, not a creator.  He has a Creator; and thus, he must submit to the Creator’s authority and will.  We are blessed that we have a Creator who loves us.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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DISCIPLESHIP 101 (Part 16 - The Issue of Sin - 5)

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLESHIP 101

Part 16 – The Issue of Sin - 5

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The simplicity of the gospel is that our unrighteous nature is replaced with a righteous nature; and Father provides His very own Spirit to empower that spirit of righteousness within us to break through the barriers of the mind and the flesh in order to bear the fruit of righteousness.  It isn’t complicated.  We simply have to want it.

In a series of studies called “Discipleship 101,” it might seem odd that we have spent five lessons on “the issue of sin.”  Sin receives almost no attention in the “contemporary” gospel message.  That is the main reason why Christians, today, refuse to walk in righteousness; or else, they simply have no clue how to walk in righteousness.  Sin is what they do; and 1 John 1:9 is how they deal with it.  1 John 1:9 is used as the Christian equivalent of confession in the Catholic church.  Sin all you want, whenever you want; just try to do it secretly so it doesn’t tarnish your public image; and yet, you still have the inner guilt and discomfort of knowing what you have done.  The Catholics enter a closet and confess their sins to a man, who then tells them they are forgiven…and sometimes requires certain ritualistic behavior or activity of them if their confessed sins seem to warrant it.  The Christian just quotes 1 John 1:9 and “believes” the matter is put behind him/her.  Both of these are simply mental devices to appease one’s sense of guilt.

Most Christians today have been raised on the notion that their sins were forgiven, past, present and future.  Once they pray “the magic prayer,” they have the “Going to Heaven” card in their possession; and though their continued sinning matters, it really only affects their fellowship with IAUE, not their eternal destination.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  The early disciples had no such concept.  Such an idea is alien to the thinking of the New Testament writers.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Messiah hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Messiah shall profit you nothing.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4 Messiah is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 And have tasted the good word of IAUE, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of IAUE afresh, and put him to an open shame.

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yahushua Messiah, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Roman 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of IAUE: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 John 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Spirit saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living Elohim.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Messiah, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

   

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

These verses are but a small sampling of the thinking of the New Testament writers.  Remember, from prior posts, Yahushua did not take readily the professions of men’s declaration that they want to be his disciples.  In every case, he gave them reasons to reconsider that decision.  Discipleship would not be just a matter of believing in him. It would cost everything.

Those of you who cling to 1 John 1:9 as your “Get out of Jail” card; have you ever reflected on that verse other than as a way to absolve your own sense of guilt?  If you are forgiven past, present and future, why does it say that if you confess your sin, he is faithful and just to FORGIVE your sin.  If your sins are forgiven past, present and future, this would be a needless act.  Why does it say he will cleanse you of all UNRIGHTEOUSNESS?  Where does that unrighteousness come from if you are in a protected state of righteousness?  The apostle John, who wrote this verse, dedicated the entire book of 1 John to convey the absolute necessity of the disciple to walk uprightly before the Master and before IAUE.  He depicted the abject horror of the idea of a believer continuing to walk in sin (unrighteousness).  The whole purpose of the book was to instruct the disciple NOT to walk in sin.

So, once we open the door to believing that sin is still an issue in the life of the believer; we must resolve HOW it remains a problem if Messiah died for our sins.  This is a fairly simple task.

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Messiah Yahushua:

25 Whom Elohim hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of Elohim;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Yahushua.

The Levitical law explained that the soul that sins must surely die.  A sacrifice for sins was offered year by year to “cover” the sins over to the next year…never being forgiven and removed.  The Hebrew simply had annual protection against accountability for his sin if he participated in the offering of atonement.   Messiah was the perfect sacrifice that removed those sins that had been committed up to the point of their belief in him.  Once a person becomes his disciple, they are under a new covenant; and they have a new high priest who is of the tribe of Judah.

Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Yahushua presides over a new priesthood that does not fall under the auspices of the Levitical law.  The law of Moses was given to the tribe of Levi.  Yahushua is of the tribe of Judah; which necessitates that he presides over new law; and he does just that.  Sin is dealt with differently under the New Covenant than it was under the Old Covenant…and it IS dealt with.

Sin, in the lives of those who are partakers of the New Covenant, is to be an experience of omission, not commission.  We are not to CHOOSE a path of unrighteousness. Sin in the life of the disciples should only occur because their minds are yet in the process of being renewed and their unrighteous acts are committed, not by choice to disobey their Master; but rather because they did not know better.  Choosing sin is the path of rebellion against the King; and a deliberate dishonoring of the price paid by our Master to deliver us from unrighteousness.

The price Yahushua paid that we might walk in the light as he is in the light is a wound in the heart of IAUE; and HE does not take lightly men’s rejection of it.  The sin issue has been completely resolved in our Master Yahushua Messiah; and we must embrace it fully and walk in the power of the new life he died to give us.  We are not at liberty to begin our discipleship with gusto, only to fizzle out in unbelief or lack of heart to continue in the grace of our Master. 

Consider the cost before putting your hand to the plow; for it is better never to have begun, than to begin only to draw back from righteousness.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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DISCIPLESHIP 101 (Part 15 - The Issue of Sin - 4)

WBS.218

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLESHIP 101

Part 15 – The Issue of Sin - 4

1 Corinthians 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of Elohim: I speak this to your shame.

We must understand that sin has not been accommodated by forgiveness.  It has not had a place made for it because of grace.  Sin is unrighteousness in action; and it has no place in the life of the disciple.

Sin is not the most pleasant of subjects to discuss.  The church would like to think it put the sin issue behind them when they prayed “the magic prayer.”  Christians tend to live their lives, today, as though sin is really no big deal.  Christians hardly even feel guilt over their sin because they have 1 John 1:9 in their hip pocket to pull out any time they want to cater to the flesh. After all, Yahushua took away their sins.  It is no longer something for them to worry about. The holy life is perceived to be for those choice few who through an ascetic lifestyle and throwing caution to the wind, make a name for themselves through exploits of faith. Living a life of devotion and obedience is fully satisfied by regular church attendance; and yet, even while sitting in the pew listening to the pastor deliver the Sunday morning sermon, they are already contemplating what fleshly pursuits should occupy their afternoon.

Such living is alien to the purposes of IAUE sending and sacrificing His Son for man. IAUE replaces man’s unrighteous core with the righteousness of His Son for the express purpose of changing the motivating force of our every word, action and thought from a root of darkness to a root of light. Our lives are EXPECTED to be a wellspring of righteous words, works and thoughts.

Our Words:

James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Our Works:

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto Elohim through Yahushua Messiah our Master.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto Elohim, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto Elohim.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yahushua unto good works, which Elohim hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Our Thoughts:

2 Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Elohim, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah;

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of Elohim, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Messiah also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to Elohim for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and of Elohim.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of IAUE upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

If Messiah has not made a difference in the way we live our lives, then Messiah has become of no benefit to us.  If we, who profess to be his disciples, continue to lend ourselves servants to unrighteousness, we are choosing our Master by our words, works and thoughts.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

The gospel is not a message of a free gift that has been offered to man so he can go to heaven when he dies.  No, it is a message of a King who loved you so much he laid down his own life in order to redeem you out of darkness and into the glorious light of His Father.  It is a message of IAUE Elohim loving his creation so much that He devised a plan of redemption that required the sacrificing of His own Son to restore man unto righteousness. 

The missing link between Elohim and man is righteousness (the nature of intrinsic moral perfection from which proceeds forth purity of all words, works and thoughts). IAUE and Yahushua bridged that gap and provided the missing link.  The very idea that we can “accept” Yahushua and go to Heaven when we die disregards the very objective of the gospel.  The objective of the gospel was to produce men and woman who walked uprightly before their Elohim in joyous fellowship with Him.

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Yahushua Messiah.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that IAUE is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yahushua Messiah his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Yahushua Messiah the righteous:

Our Master spoke of this in his Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

You don’t have to look at the root to know what kind of tree you are.  You can tell by the fruit; because the root bears the fruit.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Master, Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Here, the fruit was not the prophesying, the casting out of devils or the doing of wonderful works. Don’t you know that WE do not produce the prophetic word?  WE do not cast out demons, or heal the sick, heal the lame or raise the dead?  It is Messiah in us.  He does the works (and yes, all of his disciples should be doing all of these things in His name, on a regular basis).  The fruit was their iniquity. Iniquity (a pattern of unrighteous behavior) is what was being produced by their lives, not the signs and wonders.  Have you ever reflected on the fact that when Messiah sent out the 12, and he sent out the 70, that none of them were born again? None of them were righteous in their spirit. All of them were still in darkness awaiting their new creation in Messiah that would come on the day of Pentecost.  Do you not remember the one that the disciples rebuked because he was casting out demons in Yahushua’s name but was not travelling with them as a part of their group?  That person was not born again.  He was still lost in his sins; and yet he performed signs and wonders because the demons were responsive to the name of Yahushua.  The fruit is not the works that are done by the name of Yahushua.  They are the manifestations of the righteousness of Yahushua within us as demonstrated by the manner in which we live our lives…our choices…OUR words, OUR works, and OUR thoughts.  We are not credited with HIS words, works and thoughts; but they do assist us in bearing the fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of Elohim, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith IAUE. And again, IAUE shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of Elohim, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The life that is expected of us after having been born of the Spirit and made a new creature in Messiah Yahushua may not be what most “Christians” bargained for; and if that is the case; they may as well eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow they die.  However, if relationship and fellowship with their Creator and their King is what their heart truly desires, then repentance unto obedience is the next step.

Father has not made this complicated.  Preachers have troubled the gospel with lies and misrepresentations about forgiveness and grace.  The simplicity of the gospel is that our unrighteous nature is replaced with a righteous nature; and Father provides His very own Spirit to empower that spirit of righteousness within us to break through the barriers of the mind and the flesh in order to bear the fruit of righteousness.  It isn’t complicated.  We simply have to want it.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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DISCIPLESHIP 101 (Part 14 - The Issue of Sin -3)

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLESHIP 101

Part 14 – The Issue of Sin - 3

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

The natural desire and proclivity of the new man is to do the will of IAUE.  It isn’t because the newborn man sees the law of IAUE as something he wants to do, now.  No, it is not a choice to do good; it is now his nature to do that which is pure and right and moral. Having a righteous nature is to naturally do that which is righteous; hence it is to behave in a way that is consistent with the will of IAUE.

Today, I want to discuss the aberration of sin continuing in the life of a disciple of Yahushua Messiah.  In order to have clarity on this issue, we need to revisit the definition of sin.  For most people, sin represents things they have said or done (or have thought to say or do) for which they feel guilt.  Many have done wicked things for which they feel no guilt at all because they were done in revenge.  They believe the person whom they harmed had it coming...they deserved it.  From this light, one can see that sin, in the mind of man, is a highly subjective concept.  It is not anchored in the Law of IAUE.  It is based entirely on social mores. Some cultures on the planet even justify murder. It is not perceived to be wrong when it is committed for reasons consistent with their social values.

Sin is not subjectively defined. Cultures and social mores do not define sin.  Sin is not defined in terms of man’s relationship with man.  It is defined in terms of man’s relationship with IAUE.  Until man relates his words, deeds and thoughts to how they measure up against the law and nature of IAUE, man will not consider that he/she has any need for repentance.  To a Jew, brought up under the Torah, this is self-evident; because the Torah (the Law) requires the Jew to contrast all of his life against the standard IAUE has placed upon it. To a gentile who is not born under the Law; he only has nature and common sense to define what is right or wrong.  Though his life is lived as a progression from one sin to the next, he has less reason to be aware of it than one born under the Law; hence the frail and inadequate understanding of what sin is.

In past posts we have defined sin as “disobedience to the will of IAUE.”  This is a correct definition; but we can refine that definition yet more; and this refinement will lead us to understand why sin in the life of a disciple is an aberration which should not be tolerated in his/her life.

Man sins…he disobeys the will of IAUE…because his nature is one of unrighteousness.  An unrighteous nature is one whose natural impulses and desires are not moral, pure, good, just, selfless and holy in the same manner in which IAUE is moral, pure, good, just, selfless and holy.  Based on human culture and social mores, man can think his words and deeds, even his thoughts, are good; but nothing proceeds forth from man’s unrighteous nature that is not already tainted with the darkness that defines who and what he really is. IAUE, on the other hand, is moral, pure, good, just, selfless and holy in and of himself.  His nature is to be that way despite the cultures and social mores of man. IAUE is light; and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5); consequently, only purity, goodness, justness, selflessness and holiness can proceed forth from him; because that is His nature.

We see, then, that there are two natures:  Righteousness, from which proceeds words, deeds, and even thoughts that are born of LIGHT; and Unrighteousness from which proceeds words, deeds, and even thoughts, that are born of darkness.  It is the nature of man that made procuring salvation from among our own ranks an absolute impossibility.  One who is born in darkness cannot bring man into the Light of IAUE.  Only one born in the Light can redeem man out of darkness. (This is why our redeemer had to be born of a virgin.  Any man born of the seed of fallen man would himself be fallen…born with a nature of unrighteousness; and thereby automatically disqualified from being a savior of mankind.)

Now we can understand that our redemption was based on freeing us from our own nature of unrighteousness.  It was our lack of righteousness that separated us from IAUE.  We had to have a new nature provided to us.  With a new nature…a nature that is righteous, our lives would then naturally be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the nature of IAUE; and that means we would be consistently obeying His will in all things (i.e., ceasing to sin).  In other words, we can define sin as any behavior that proceeds forth from unrighteousness; because the very nature of unrighteousness is disobedience to the nature, hence the will of IAUE.

Let’s consider this concept for a moment. If sin is behavior that is born of unrighteousness; then the objective of redemption would be to eradicate sinful behavior by replacing man’s nature.  In so doing, man could live in a manner that is consistent with the nature of IAUE.  Forgiveness of man’s unrighteousness and unrighteous deeds would be the first step; for there is a price demanded by holiness against all unrighteousness.  Forgiveness, however, does not change man’s life.  We saw in last week’s post, that forgiveness merely pays the debt placed upon man’s unrighteous deeds.  It is remission that delivers man from bondage to sin; but even remission is not enough.  Man must have a righteous nature in order to act and behave righteously; to behave in a manner consistent with the nature and will of IAUE. 

Righteousness is the nature of the New Man we become in Messiah Yahushua. If we walk in the spirit; if we walk in the nature of the New Man, we do not sin for our lives are being conducted in a manner that is by its very nature consistent with the will of IAUE.  When we understand this, we can understand how out of place sin is in the life of a disciple.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yahushua Messiah, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

1 John 2:29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 John 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of Elohim doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim.

This brings us to our opening verses:

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

We must understand that sin has not been accommodated by forgiveness.  It has not had a place made for it because of grace.  Sin is unrighteousness in action; and it has no place in the life of the disciple.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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