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What IS Sin?

4/29/2014

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What is sin?  Is it an action, something we can do or not do?  Is it a decision, can we make a choice and sin without ‘doing’ anything?  Or is sin something else entirely?

Webster’s dictionary has this to say about sin:

sin
noun
1. transgression of divine law: the sin of Adam.

2. any act regarded as such a transgression, especially a willful or deliberate violation of some religious or moral principle.

3.any reprehensible or regrettable action, behavior, lapse, etc.; great fault or offense: It's a sin to waste time.

I find it interesting that SIN is described as a noun when all the examples of sin are actions and therefore verbs.   I do not think is a mistake; as you may remember when you first learned to read, a noun is a person, place, or thing.  In this case I would consider sin all three.  You might ask, “Walter, how can sin be all three?” or “How can you possibly come to this conclusion?”  Well let’s break it down.

1.      Is Sin a Person?
All transgressions against God come from one source, and that source is our advisory.  And that advisory is of course Satan, or Lucifer is you prefer.  An angel of God, indeed the head angel in charge of worship; Satan embodied the first sin pride and fought against God in effort to take heaven and God’s throne for himself and he got whooped.  As Satan fell he took all of those with him he had corrupted, a full third of the heavenly hosts.  Along with Satan they too became sin.  If you have your Bible handy, please to turn to the book of Genesis chapter 4 verse 7.

“But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

If you take this verse into context of the chapter, God is warning Cain that the path he is taking is leading him to allow sin to have a hold of his life.   When we commit trespasses against God, and indeed even when we think about trespassing against God, we are listening to our great advisory and his fallen angels. Giving the very personhood of sin influence over our lives.

2.      Is Sin a Place?
Ok, so we have discussed how sin can be considered a person but how can sin also be a place?  When we give the enemy Satan, our old advisory a foothold into our lives, we separate ourselves from God.  God has given us free will so He will allow us to rest in sin if we chose to. 

To paraphrase Albert Einstein, “Cold does not exist for cold is only the absence of heat.  Much the same evil and therefore sin are the absence of God” When we enter into sin, we place ourselves into a state removed from the closeness of God.  Outside of His warmth and light, away from the relationship He would have with us.  Sin does not live in His divine Kingdom, so in order for us to be in sin we must enter into the enemy’s kingdom, a spiritual place apart from God.  One day, when the Lord returns some of us; hopefully no one in this room, will enter into the enemy’s kingdom forever.  Those that have not excepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savoir will enter into sheol, hades, hell; eternal separation from God.  And we will pray for them. 

3.      Is Sin a Thing?
So if sin can be a person and a place, what about a thing?  I would say sin is very much a thing. Let’s take a look at the book of Romans 8:3 and 8:5, Paul says this:

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh. (Romans 8:3)

This is confirming sin can be in the flesh, sin can be contained in flesh.  This is a very important concept, especially considering what Paul goes on to say in Romans 8:5:

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

If you live according to the flesh (sin) you will fill your life with fleshly (sinful) things, whereas if you live your life according to the Spirit (Big S) you will crave things in your life that are of the Holy Spirit.

So, sin can be understood as a person through Satan and his evil minions.  Sin can be understood as a place, a separation from God.  Sin can also be considered a thing that can lure us away from Godly things, and bring us out of the Kingdom of God and into a sinful place ruled by the personification of sin himself.   Sin breeds sin. 

But that’s not all.

Recently I have been informed that there has been a new definition added for nouns.  Nouns do not only mean a person, place, or thing anymore.  Now, nouns can also be ideas; sin, can be an idea.  The funny thing is this is not new, new to us but not new to God.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke before the multitudes:

“You have heard that it was said ‘You shall not commit adultery’.  But I say to you, whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)

Even having the idea of sin is as bad as performing the sin because it has already infected your heart.  This means you can have an idea that infects your flesh with sin which separates you from God putting you in a place outside of God’s Kingdom and into the very palm of the enemy.  So what can we do?

Well thank God because He has the answer.  2000 years ago God sent His Son to pay the penalty of our sin.  We can now rest in the arms of our loving God because Jesus suffered and died for us. 

That being said, let us pray to our Saviour:

Dear Lord,
We could never put a price on what you did for us.  If we could we wouldn’t have needed you to die for us.  You have bought and paid for our very lives and we love you for it.  Now we can enjoy a renewed and refreshed relationship with You because You tore the veil that separated us from the Father.  Bless us and live with us today as we go out to live Christ-centered lives for Your honour and glory.  In Your righteous name Lord, Amen. 

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Parables & The Kingdom

4/25/2014

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He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11)       


During His earthly ministry, Jesus used a unique teaching method called "parables" to reveal spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God. Today, we will look at what parables are and why Jesus used them to teach Kingdom principles.

A parable is a story which uses an example from the natural world to illustrate a spiritual truth. The actual meaning of the word "parable" is "to lay beside to compare." 

In parables, Jesus used a natural example and compared it to a spiritual truth, an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning. That which is natural is something you can observe with your senses. You can see, hear, or touch it. That which is spiritual can only be observed with your spiritual senses.       

The main subject of the parables of Jesus was the Kingdom of God. Before telling some of these parables Jesus clearly stated this as the subject:

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? (Mark 4:30)     

Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? (Luke 13:20)   

Even when the parable was not introduced by such a direct statement, the subject was still the Kingdom of God. Every parable told by Jesus related in some way to the Kingdom. So why did Jesus choose this unique teaching method of parables to reveal spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God? The disciples asked this same question:   

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” (Matthew 13:10)          

And Jesus answered them:   

...Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11)    

Knowledge of the spiritual truths of the Kingdom was given to the disciples because they had spiritual minds. Those without spiritual minds heard the parables and failed to understand them because spiritual truths can only be understood by a spiritual mind: 

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (I Corinthians 2:14)   

Those with spiritual minds understand the Kingdom principles revealed in parables. Those with carnal, sinful minds cannot understand them. Jesus used parables to conceal these great spiritual principles from unbelievers:     

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing, they may hear, and not understand... (Mark 4:12)    

All the parables told by Jesus reveal various facts about the Kingdom of God.  The Patched Garment: (Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36) and the parable of the Wine Bottles: (Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37) These two parables taught that Jesus offered a Kingdom that was new and unique.  It could not be confined to the old patterns of religious tradition.  It is not possible to understand the Kingdom of God by trying to fit it into old thought patterns and lifestyles.      

Then there is the parable of the Good Shepherd: (John 10:1-16) Our Lord and King, Jesus is compared to a shepherd. He would lead His sheep out of religious bondage and bring them into the liberty of His Kingdom.  His sheep would know His voice and respond to His offer of the Kingdom. Each parable teaches those with ears to hear a Biblical truth about the Kingdom of God.

Jesus used parables to reveal that the nation of Israel would reject Him as Messiah and King. This was illustrated in the parable of the murderous husbandmen.  God sent prophets to earth with the offer of the Kingdom but Israel killed the prophets. Then God sent His own Son.  He, too, was rejected and killed.         

Jesus told a parable about a barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9). The fig tree is a natural symbol of the nation of Israel. God raised up Israel as the nation through which He could reveal the Kingdom to the world. Time and time again God tried to get the "tree" of Israel to bring forth "fruit" among heathen nations by sharing their knowledge of the true God but Israel remained barren and unfruitful. 

Jesus also used a parable of a wedding to illustrate His rejection (Matthew 22:2-14). Servants were sent to call people to the wedding but the people killed the servants and rejected the invitation. This revealed how the offer of the Kingdom was to be rejected.

Jesus told several parables, The Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), The Watchful Servants (Luke 12:36-38), The Man on the Long Journey (Luke 12:39-46), which revealed the Kingdom of God would be established in its final form in the future. 

The Kingdom would not come at the present time because Israel rejected Jesus as King. These parables also revealed Jesus would be absent for a time from the realm in which the Kingdom would finally be instituted. They stressed that His followers should be faithful over the task given them, using their talents and abilities to extend the Kingdom of God.      

Jesus also told a parable about a fig tree which revealed the approximate timing for the final establishing of God's Kingdom. He said one can tell when summer is near because the fig tree puts out growth in leaves and blossoms. As already mentioned, the fig tree is a natural example of the nation of Israel. Jesus was revealing that when Israel was restored to her own land and began to "blossom" again as a nation, the time of the return of the King was near.   

Several of the parables which Jesus told, illustrated how the Kingdom of God would extend throughout the world.  The parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) which we discussed before also reveals that the Kingdom will be spread by wise use of the spiritual talents and abilities God has given believers.  And then the parable of The Sower: (Matthew 13:3-8; Mark 4:3-8; Luke 8:5-8), teaches that the Gospel of the Kingdom will be spread by the sowing of the seed of the Word of God. 

To this sowing there will be varied responses, depending on the attitude of the hearers. The fruit depends not on the sower but on the life that is in the seed itself and the condition of the soil (man's heart).  Satan will try to defeat the spread of the Kingdom by sowing people described as "weeds" among the good seed of God's Kingdom. The weeds Satan sows resemble good wheat. At the time of harvest wheat can be identified by the grain it produces, however, while weeds produce no usable grain. 

The Kingdom is also compared to a great net thrown into the sea (Matthew 13:47-50). All kinds of fish are caught, but when the net is drawn to shore the good fish are separated from the bad. The Kingdom will draw in men and women from all nations. Prior to the final establishing of the Kingdom, there will be judgment to determine those who must be excluded.         

Jesus told several parables concerning future judgment in the Kingdom. At the time of judgment, those who are sheep of the true shepherd, Jesus Christ, will be accepted. All others will be denied entrance into the Kingdom.    

Jesus used several parables such as The Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46) and The Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) to illustrate the great value of the Kingdom of God.  These parables show that the Kingdom of God is of such great value that nothing else compares with it. It is more valuable than any possession of man, and if you must give up everything you possess in order to obtain the Kingdom, it is worth the sacrifice.

Many parables Jesus told, illustrated principles of Kingdom living.  Through The Good Samaritan: (Luke 10:30-37) Jesus taught the Kingdom principle that love is for all of our neighbors. And that our neighbors are anyone in need, whose need we know, and whose need we are able to meet.    

With The Two Debtors in Luke 7:41-43 He taught that love will be shown by the one who has experienced the love of the Kingdom.        

And then there is The Pharisee And The Publican in Luke 18:10-14.The Pharisee approached God on the basis of his own righteousness. The tax collector recognized there was nothing in himself worthy to stand before the Lord. In this parable Jesus taught how people should approach God to offer worship, praise, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession in the Kingdom. 

These nature examples of spiritual truths, these qualities of God's Kingdom.  Jesus uses all of them to show those of us with open eyes and open hearts what the Kingdom looked like in the past, and how it will look in the future.

More importantly, Jesus shows us through these parables the Kingdom qualities He expects from us.  And how we can grow spiritually and live more Christ-centered lives in God's Kingdom.

©2014 LHF Ministries. All rights reserved.
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Thank You for Your Prayers

4/23/2014

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So it's been awhile since I posted anything in LHF. Some out there who know my wife Connie and I, know that we have been struggling through a painful adoption. To say that this has been and continues to be a stressful time in our lives is a little bit of an understatement.  We continue to move forward even though everything seems to be against us.  We can do this because we have strength and faith given to us by a loving, living, and wonderful God.  

This is a new blog I am putting together so that I can share some of the personal insights about God, Scripture, and Christianity on a weekly basis, (if not more).  I am also going to add some of the mini-sermons I have been writing. Please feel free to comment on them, (even if it's constructive criticism I can take it!).

God bless you all and thank you for all of your  prayers!

Walter Blackwood
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    Walking With God

    Walter Blackwood

    Director of Out of School Care at Sunridge Community Church in West Kelowna BC, Canada

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