We can easily forgive a child for being afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. (Plato)
What is sin? By:J.Davidson
The word "SIN" has been so defined; as "any deviation (movement) from the way of God, or disobedience to the will of God."
We have many English words that are derived from The Hebrew terms used to describe a picture of Sin. None with any adequacy. Each of the English terms, however, deals with deviations from the way of God, such as perverseness, crookedness, transgression, mischief, trespass and offense. Every one of these words carries the idea of desiring or doing that, which is contrary to the divine, will, either in open rebellion, or in some secret way to God. The Bible also makes it clear that an attitude or an action which leans upon the creature (self) rather that the creator is SIN.
Now we know what sin is. It is any violation, any violation of the character or law of God, the moral character or the law of God. Summing it up, 1st John 3:4 says: Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."Sin is the transgression of the law. That is one definition of sin. Another way to translate that; everyone doing sin is doing lawlessness; "ad nominal," lawlessness. In other words, simply put its ignoring God's law; it's violating God's law. That is sin. Any violation of God's law is sin. Sin and lawlessness, in that Greek construction of 1st John 3:4, are identical. It's living as if there was no law of God. Calling your own shots. It's further defined in Romans 14:23:. …."Whatsoever is not of faith is sin…" Anything that you do that isn't done as a direct act of faith in God is sin. In James 4:17 NKJV. It says: therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. In 1st John 5:17: "All unrighteousness is sin."
So we have a problem in our society today, we -- don't believe that man is innately a sinner. We think he's basically good and something happens to him environmentally. If we do believe that -- if we do acknowledge that he does evil, how do we define that evil? What is our standard for what is evil? What is it? Well, once the Bible established our standard for evil with-in America, our standard for morality in America. Right? That is right you heard me the BIBLE. I mean that's what the nation was founded on; that's what basically our laws were written on. Our view of morality, our view of crime, our view of justice, all came out of the Bible.
Why do so many want to disregard the Bible in its fullest? Because Satan is very busy, the "father of lies" So, once, there were certain behaviors that were considered to be against the law. And that's changing. That's changing very rapidly. It's changing in the sexual realm. It's changing in the homosexual world. It's changed, in what is thought in abortion, euthanasia. Just sit back and watch. Watch what happens with the genetic engineering that's going to come in the very near future, as they now, determine the ability to handle the genes and decide who gets born and who doesn't, et cetera.
As we continue to move down deeper and deeper into the morass of sin and dislodge ourselves from any set standard, being the word of God, we have no way to define morality anymore except to take a survey. Right? Take a survey. That's what you do. The politicians do it. They give back what they think the constituencies would vote for. They want to get elected. So they basically say I believe this, because they polled the “selected” constituents, and that's what they say. And that's how we develop our morality. SAINTS hear me now, why are we allowing our-self's to be caught up in the web of lies that even we are fooled? Why do I say SAINTS? Because I see so many believers doing as what the world is now doing. It’s ok to leave a husband or wife, its OK to have a casual relationship, or say so many untruths we forgotten the real truth in the first place! We have delusions and base it on “feelings” rather then the Word of God! We need to get back to read diligently God's Word and let it BE a double edge sword pierce through. 2 Tim. 2:15. " Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth".
"Rejoicing" is mentioned positively from creation (Job 38:4, 7) to Revelation (Rev. 19:7). But it is forbidden in connection with situations in which feelings of vengeance would be expected.
"Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles:
Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him." (Pro. 24:17-18).
If we truly have "love" for all others, we will not count anyone as an "enemy". But if others want to count themselves as our enemies, we have little or no control over that.
Anger is an all-consuming, intolerant emotion, not allowing room for other feelings. Joy is a feeling of great happiness. It is not possible to experience joy and anger over a single situation. To "rejoice" because an "enemy" suffers, is not "joy" in the positive sense, but rather it is to experience a sense of satisfaction in the fulfillment of our lust for revenge.
God claims all "vengeance" as his. If we give up all anger, which is "revengeful passion", to God, then we shall have a lot more room in our lives for true "rejoicing".
Col. 3:8, "But now . . . put off all these; anger, wrath, malice . . ."
Isa. 29:19, "The meek (gentle, resistant to provocation) also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor (in spirit) among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."
1 Ths. 5:16, "Rejoice evermore."