Q&A – WHAT IS SIN? Part 2

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Q&A – WHAT IS SIN?   Part 2

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Pharisees were a political sect of the Jews that were meticulous keepers of every “jot and tittle” of the law; and yet they were the ones that could not comprehend the fact that the long-awaited promised Messiah was standing right in front of them.  The very next verse in this passage begins the first of five times that Yahushua says, “You have heard it said…but I say unto you.”  Five times, the Master tells them what the letter of the law (the Torah) said; but then goes on to explain what the spirit of the law was.  The Pharisees kept the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law.  They could refrain from committing adultery, but they could not refrain from looking at a woman with the desire to commit adultery.  They could refrain from killing someone; but they could not keep from hating that person, etc.

2 Corinthians 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

In this portion of the “sermon on the mount, among other things, ”Yahushua was explaining the difference between obeying IAUE’s laws and obeying IAUE.  Anyone can choose to abide by the law, in the same way a person can choose not to exceed the posted speed limit on the roadway. It does not keep a person from wanting to speed.  You see, the law by itself becomes about us, not about IAUE.  If I abide by the speed limit, but I want to speed, then I am not delighted that the Father has set that speed limit for the good of myself and others; and take joy and comfort in the knowledge that exceeding that speed is not in the best interest of myself and of those around me.  Such is the case for every aspect of the Torah. If the Pharisees saw the law as an expression of the love of IAUE, they would have understood the spirit of the law.

The proof of this is demonstrated in the testimony of the Scriptures about the Pharisees.  These meticulous law-keepers were intent on everyone knowing they kept the law more carefully than others.  They insisted on wearing clothing that showed their law-keeping as they broadened their phylacteries; and they prayed in public to be seen and heard of men; they insured the coins they tossed into the treasury of the temple made noise so others would take notice of their giving, etc.  They were on display for their law-keeping; and Yahushua assured them they that “they had their reward” in the praise and awe of their fellow-man; but they had no treasure with IAUE; and were only storing up wrath in the day of the wrath and vengeance of IAUE.  They were whited sepulchers (white-washed burial tombs), pretty on the outside but full of dead men’s bones on the inside.

How does this answer our question, “What is sin?”  It helps us to understand that when the Scripture says that Yahushua came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), it was referring to rescuing his people from something that alienated them from IAUE.  Sin, as man thinks of sin, is not the things that make them feel guilty. That notion is all about self and has no view of the offense their words and deeds are to IAUE; consequently, there is no mourning or grieving over the wickedness of their hearts before a holy Creator.

Matthew 3:6  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Do not think they silently prayed to IAUE to confess their sins.  No, the context here suggests they declared publicly the reason why they were in need of repentance and the baptism of John.  Can you imagine a church service in the USA, where a pastor would require someone coming to “accept Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour” to confess publicly to the congregation their sins and to openly grieve over the wickedness of their heart and life before IAUE?  (That would very likely “out” the people in the congregation with whom they were committing sin.)  Instead, what we see often is, “I want every head bowed and every eye closed.  I will do nothing to embarrass you.  If you want to receive Christ today as your personal Lord and Saviour, just quietly lift your hand, then bring it back down.”  Voila, conversion via abject anonymity.  No repentance.  No confession of sins.  No grieving. Nothing is allowed that would assault the sensibilities of the flesh.  In the book of Acts, the new believer was immediately and publicly baptized.  The very act of baptism was a public declaration that they were unclean and needed to be cleansed of law-breaking.  It was definitely a blow to pride; but then, pride is not permitted entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.

The gospel was a self-crushing message. It obliterated one’s ability to have Messiah on the one hand and hold to sin on the other hand. We can only serve one master.

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.

Here we see sin being called “the transgression of the law;” but we have already seen in the Scripture that keeping the law is not enough.  Messiah said our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees; and they were meticulous keepers of the law.  David broke the law when he led his men into the holy place to eat the showbread that only the Levites could eat.  The entire nation of Israel broke the law when they marched around the city of Jericho on the Sabbath day.  The woman with the issue of blood broke the law when she, an unclean person, walked among the crowd and touched the hem of Yahushua’s garment; and yet in each of these occasions, they were rewarded for their act.

Here we also see that Messiah coming to “save us from our sins” means he came to “take away our sins.”  If one’s sins are taken away, the result is “doing righteousness.”  Now, we begin to understand what sin really is; because a tree is known by its fruit. If righteous acts are the fruit of the life of one who has had his sins taken away, then sin is unrighteousness.  So, if sin is the transgression of the law, why isn’t keeping the law enough?

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified (made righteous) by the works of the law, but by the faith of Yahushua Messiah, even we have believed in Yahushua Messiah, that we might be justified (made righteous) by the faith of Messiah, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified (made righteous).

Keeping the law as an end in itself is only about self.  It is about how we are perceived by others.  It is not about how we are perceived by IAUE.  The kind of law-keeping that pleases IAUE must come from the heart that honors the love and integrity of IAUE’s commandments; and that is only achieved by what Yahushua did on our behalf.

 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of Elohim in him.

This verse describes the process of Yahushua taking away our sins in order to replace unrighteousness with his own righteousness; but this post is not about the doctrine of righteousness.  It is about defining sin.  By now, I think we can see that the Scripture characterizes sin as that which is unrighteous; and that it is absolutely possible to keep the law and keep being unrighteous at the same time.

What is the word “sin” in the Greek?  It is “hamartia,” and it literally means “to miss the mark.”  It was a word called out by the spotter in an archery competition when the archer failed to hit the bullseye of the target.  In short, you failed.  You missed accomplishing the objective.  What is it we are expected to do, that we are obligated to do?  It is the will of IAUE.  We have seen however that it is not doing His words only; but obeying the intent behind His words.  It is not just refraining from doing or not doing something; but it includes the reason behind doing or not doing. Sin is violating the moral purity of the will of IAUE.

Luke 1:73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

In Zacharias’ prophecy at the naming of his son, John (Yohannes), he describes the condition of the people of IAUE once they have been “saved from their sins,” after the Messiah has “taken away their sins.”  They are delivered from all of the enemies which prevented them from serving IAUE in holiness and righteousness.  It is a condition that is separated from unrighteousness, separated from violating the moral purity of IAUE’s nature as seen in Him personally, and as seen in His words and His commandments to man.

Sin is any word, thought or deed that bears the nature of unrighteousness. It is anything that “misses the mark” of righteousness.  Righteousness is defined as the moral purity of IAUE. It is demonstrated by the joyous obedience to the good and perfect and acceptable will of IAUE that proceeds forth from a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).  

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?