WHAT IS SIN? He who does not obey the commandments of God is a sinner in the sight of God. {ST, June 20, 1895 par. 5} Salvation means salvation from sin, its guilt, its power and ultimately its presence. One’s definition of sin, shapes one’s understanding of the gospel, salvation and the human nature Christ. This article addresses the question - What is sin? “Those who have allowed their minds to become beclouded IN REGARD TO WHAT CONSTITUTES SIN are fearfully deceived. Unless they make a decided change they will be found wanting when God pronounces judgment upon the children of men. They have TRANSGRESSED THE LAW and broken the everlasting covenant, and they will receive according to their works.” Testimonies Vol. 9, p 267. What does the Bible declare sin to be? “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1John 3:4. The Law of God is a complete and perfect definition of what constitutes sin. The transgression of which law is sin? “...for I had not known sin except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Rom 7:7. As it is the ten commandment law which states, “Thou shalt not covet,” (Exo 20), sin is therefore the transgression of the ten commandment law. Sin is defined by that which God wrote on the tables of stone. The remedy for sin was illustrated by the ceremonial law which was written by Moses in the book. Various words in the Bible are translated “sin” but all sin is the transgression of the law. Various things are called sin but all are ultimately the transgression of the law. The ONLY DEFINITION FOR SIN that we have in the Bible is that it is the transgression of the law. The law is far-reaching in its claims, and we must bring our hearts into harmony with it... IT CONDEMNS EVERY SIN, AND REQUIRES EVERY VIRTUE.” E.G. White, ST, March 3, 1890 par. 3. Note: There is no sin that the law does not condemn. There is no virtue that the law does not require. “There is no definition given in our world but that transgression is the transgression of the law; and therefore he finds out what sin is.” E.G. White, 1SAT 121. Note: There is no other definition for sin except the transgression of the law. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” This is the ONLY definition of sin.” E.G. White, S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 7, p951. (MS 27, 1899). “The ONLY definition of sin in the Word of God is given us in 1John 3:4. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” E.G. White, Our High Calling, p141. “And what is sin? The ONLY definition given in God’s word is, “Sin is the transgression of the law.”” E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, 24 Dec, 1887. The only definition of sin in the Bible is the transgression of God’s law “Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the WHOLE duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” Ecc 12:13-14. Our WHOLE duty is contained in the ten commandments. How many sins does the law condemn? “The law condemns ALL sin, and requires ALL virtue.” RH, Feb. 26, 1901. “The only definition for sin that we have IN THE BIBLE is that it is the transgression of the law... IT CONDEMNS EVERY SIN, AND REQUIRES EVERY VIRTUE.” E.G. White, ST, March 3, 1890 par. 3. Is the claim that “sin is much MORE than breaking the commandments of God” in harmony with inspiration? “To the law and to the testimony...” Isa 8:20. “Where no law is, [there is] no transgression,” (Rom 4:15). Which of the ten commandments condemns having a fallen nature? Not one. So it is not a sin. The fallen nature we inherit at conception is not a sin but the RESULT of Adam’s sin. We do not need to be forgiven for having a fallen nature, the responsibility for that rests with Adam. As the law does not condemn having a fallen nature then Christ could have come in our fallen nature and lived a sinless life in it. The fact is that this is exactly what inspiration declares... There is no sin that the law does not condemn, no virtue that it does not require. We will be judged by the law and nothing else. The law therefore condemns every sin and requires every virtue. Transgression of the law is therefore the only definition of sin in the Word of God. Some claim that possessing a fallen nature is a sin. As there is no law against inheriting a fallen nature it is not a sin. We all inherit a fallen nature from our parents. There can be no sin where there is no law. “Where no law is, [there is] no transgression.” Rom 4:15. If it is a sin to posses a fallen human nature there must be a law against it. Has God given a law forbidding anyone from being conceived in a fallen human nature? A law against inheriting a fallen nature would be impossible to keep, who could choose not to violate it before one existed?! The only definition of sin in the Bible is the transgression of God’s law The ten commandments are a perfect and complete definition of sin. They are the sum of perfection, a transcript of God’s own character, a ten point explanation and definition of love. “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Rom 13:10. Sin is the transgression of the law. “God requires perfection of His children. His law is a transcript of His own character, and it is the standard of ALL character. THIS INFINITE STANDARD is presented to all that there may be no mistake in regard to the kind of people whom God will have to compose His kingdom.” E.G. White, Christ Object Lessons, p315. Mount of Blessing, p54. Righteousness is not something beyond the INFINITE standard defined in the ten commandments. Sin is not more than the transgression of the law. The sanctuary service of the Jews illustrated the work of salvation. The whole sanctuary service existed because man had transgressed the law of God. The ark of the testament contained ONLY ONE standard, that was the ten commandments. So in Heaven there is ONLY ONE standard and that is the law of God. “Those who have allowed their minds to become beclouded IN REGARD TO WHAT CONSTITUTES SIN are fearfully deceived. Unless they make a decided change they will be found wanting when God pronounces judgment upon the children of men. They have TRANSGRESSED THE LAW and broken the everlasting covenant, and they will receive according to their works.” Testimonies Vol. 9, p267. There is only one God, the ONLY true God, the ONLY wise God, the ONLY LORD. There is ONLY one definition of sin, the transgression of the law. Some still claim that sin is more than the transgression of the law and present texts in an attempt to show that sin is more than transgressing God’s law. We will now examine these... “...whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Rom 14:23. Is it a sin to lack faith? “Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.” Rom 14:22-23. The context shows that this refers to doing things contrary to what one believes God requires. To do contrary to what one believes God requires is to set oneself above God which is of course a transgression of God’s law. It is to make an idol out of that which one does and to serve oneself before God. Does Psalm 32 show sin to be more than the transgression of God’s law? Psalms 32:1-2 “Blessed is he whose TRANSGRESSION is forgiven, whose SIN is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not INIQUITY, and in whose spirit there is no GUILE.” This shows that transgression, sin, and iniquity all refer to the same thing. This is a case of Hebrew poetic parallelism where the first statement is repeated with skilful variation to help explain what is being said. The Bible defines transgression, sin, iniquity and guile as the breaking of God’s law. The only definition of sin is the transgression of the law. “The thought of foolishness is sin...” Prov 24:9. What is foolishness? “The wise in heart receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” Prov 24:9. Thoughts of foolishness are thoughts contrary to God’s commandments, which of course are sin. Isn’t it a sin to disobey any command of God, even those not contained in the ten commandments. For example Eve sinned but all she was told was not to eat the fruit. Where do the 10 commandments forbid that? Disobeying God in anything is automatically a transgression of the ten commandments because doing so dishonors your heavenly Father, makes a God of yourself, makes an idol of your will etc. Eve’s sin was coveting, dishonoring her Father, and stealing. God only ever require things in harmony with His law. Is it possible to keep all ten commandments perfectly yet still be committing sin? No, because the ONLY definition of sin is the transgression of the law. If someone is not transgressing the law then they are not sinning. Those who obey God’s holy law are righteous. Christ perfect righteous was that He never transgressed the law of God. The only definition of sin is the transgression of the law. Is it a sin to be short of Christ’s goodness? “He [Christ] is a perfect and holy example given for us to imitate. WE CANNOT EQUAL THE PATTERN; but we shall not be approved of God if we do not copy it and, ACCORDING TO THE ABILITY GOD HAS GIVEN, resemble it.” E.G. White, Testimonies Vol. 2, p549. “We can NEVER EQUAL the pattern; but we may imitate and resemble it according to our ability.” E.G. White, R&H Feb 5, 1895. As our ability to copy the pattern is according to the ability God has given us, if the shortfall was sin then it would be God’s fault. As “we can NEVER equal the pattern” not equaling the pattern cannot be sin otherwise such sin would exist for eternity. What then does this mean? Christ gave up everything, risking even His own eternal existence. I cannot equal that but I can give up that which I have. Is it a sin to come short of Divine absolute perfection? Such cannot be a sin because this would mean that sin existed in heaven as soon as God made the first angel that was short of His own Divine perfection! Furthermore we will always be short of ultimate Divine perfection. If that was a sin then sin would exist for eternity. We are to be perfect in our sphere as God is in His. We can never be as perfect as God is in His sphere because God made us in our sphere. We are to resemble Christ “ACCORDING TO THE ABILITY GOD HAS GIVEN.” If it is a sin to fall short of the Divine perfection then it is God’s responsibility because we can only do according to the ability God has given us! Is inheriting a sinful fallen nature from Adam a sin? No. The ONLY definition of sin is the transgression of the law. There is no law against inheriting a sinful fallen human nature. Inheriting a fallen nature is not a transgression of the law, therefore having a fallen nature is not a sin. There is no law against inheriting a fallen nature and such a law would be absurd, for how could one obey it before one existed to choose to obey it? Our fallen nature is not a sin, it is a RESULT of Adam’s sin. Do we need to be forgiven for having a fallen nature? No. Having a fallen nature is like being born deformed. We inherit a deformed human nature. However deformed people do not need to be personally forgiven for being born deformed! A Bible incident illustrates this. The disciples saw a man born blind and asked Jesus a question... John 9:2 “And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, WHO DID SIN, this man, or his parents, that he was BORN BLIND?” The man was born blind, born deformed. The disciples were asking if the man was born blind because of his own sin, apparently in the womb prior to him being born, or because of his parents sin? Jesus said, “neither.” Jesus did not forgive the man for having defective eyes. It was not his fault. Likewise Jesus does not need to forgive us for having inherited a defective fallen human nature. There is no personal sin in inheriting defective eyes or in having a fallen nature. Both are a result of sin, not sin itself. No one will be condemned to hell because they were born blind and no one will be condemned to hell because they inherited a fallen nature. Sin unto condemnation only occurs when we knowingly break God’s law in thought or act: John 9:41 “Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.” Is this definition of sin simple, restrictive and narrow? The definition of sin is simple but very comprehensive. It covers EVERY situation. The ONLY DEFINITION FOR SIN that we have in the Bible is that it is the transgression of the law. The law is far-reaching in its claims, and we must bring our hearts into harmony with it... IT CONDEMNS EVERY SIN, AND REQUIRES EVERY VIRTUE.” E.G. White, ST, March 3, 1890 par. 3. Anything which condemns EVERY sin, and requires EVERY virtue is not narrow and restrictive. It is exceeding broad. Sin is the transgression of the law. This is the only definition of sin. Without the law there can be no transgression. By the law is the knowledge of sin. The standard of righteousness is exceeding broad, prohibiting EVERY evil thing (MS 27, 1899) 7BC 951. Psa 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. What is that sin which condemns us to destruction? “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19. From these words of Christ we see that before the light of truth comes into our life we are not condemned and yet before these light of truth comes to us we possess a fallen nature. Clearly we are not condemned for having a fallen nature. What then brings condemnation? Choice. I cannot choose my human nature but I can choose to obey or disobey. Character is not about the kind of flesh I inherit, but about my personal choices and actions. Condemnation occurs ONLY when we knowingly transgress God’s law. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, TO HIM it is sin.” Jas 4:17. Note that the law of God defines what is good. To him that DOES NOT KNOW what good our God expects, it is not sin unto condemnation. John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. John 15:22 “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.” Sin unto condemnation only exist when willful known rebellion exists. Does sin exist in the heart before one consents to sin? “It is not in the power of Satan to force anyone to sin. SIN IS THE SINNER’S INDIVIDUAL ACT. BEFORE SIN EXISTS IN THE HEART, THE CONSENT OF THE WILL MUST BE GIVEN, and as soon as it is given, sin is triumphant, and hell rejoices. But there is no excuse for sin, either great or little.” E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, 12-18-93. When the law of God is not being knowingly resisted there is no sin unto death Rom 4:15 “Because the law worketh wrath: for where NO LAW is, [there is] NO TRANSGRESSION.” Jas 4:17 “Therefore to him that KNOWETH to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.” “Said the angel: “If light come, and that light is set aside or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God; but BEFORE THE LIGHT COMES, THERE IS NO SIN, for there is no light for them to reject.” E.G. White, Testimonies for the Church Volume One, p116. “Light makes manifest and reproves the errors that were concealed in darkness; and as light comes, the life and character of men must change correspondingly, to be in harmony with it. Sins that were once sins of IGNORANCE because of the blindness of the mind, CAN NO MORE BE INDULGED IN without incurring guilt.” E.G. White, Gospel Workers, p104. No light, no guilt. No guilt, no condemnation. Guilt ONLY comes when light is knowingly rejected. “An impure thought TOLERATED, an unholy desire CHERISHED, and the soul is contaminated, its integrity compromised. ‘Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.’ If we would not commit sin, we must shun its very beginnings. Every emotion and desire must be held in subjection to reason and conscience. Every unholy thought must be instantly repelled.” E.G. White, Testimonies Vol. 5, p177. An impure thought is temptation to sin but it is not sin itself. What turns an impure thought into sin unto death is tolerating it. If it is instantly repelled there is no sin unto death. “No man can be forced to transgress. His own CONSENT must be first gained; THE SOUL MUST PURPOSE THE SINFUL ACT, before passion can dominate over reason, or iniquity triumph over conscience. Temptation, however strong, is never an excuse for sin.” E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, 02-08-83. Is lust a sin? Lust, in the sense of fantasizing about an immoral act, is sin but the word lust may also refer to temptation and not to sin itself as the following shows: James 1:14-15 “But every man is TEMPTED, when he is drawn away of his own LUST, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Lust here is not sin but refers to the temptation of the flesh that “bringeth forth sin.” “...make no provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts thereof.” Rom 13:14. “[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the LUSTS of the flesh.” Gal 5:16. Lust here refers to TEMPTATION not sin. FULFILLING the lusts of the flesh is sin. Is it a sin to be tempted? A temptation TO (TOWARD) sin, is not a sin. Even Christ “was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15). Christ was tempted on “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” (1John 2:16). Are we born bearing the iniquity of Adam? Eze 18:20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. THE SON SHALL NOT BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHER, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” “It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parents’ guilt, EXCEPT as they participate in their sins.” E.G .White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p306. “The instant man accepted the temptations of Satan, and did the very things God had said he should not do, Christ, the Son of God, stood between the living and the dead, saying, “Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man’s place. He shall have another chance.” (Letter 22, Feb. 13, 1900). E.G. White, S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 1, p1085. The instant Adam sinned, even BEFORE Adam repented, Jesus took the penalty that all mankind would have suffered. Christ took the condemnation to death that would have fallen upon the whole human race and therefore no child is born bearing that condemnation. Christ took it ALL. He did not take some and leave us some. If Adam and Eve are lost it will not be because they ate the fruit, it will be because they knowingly chose to continue in sin. No man will be lost because of Adam and Eve’s transgression. If we are lost it will be because we knowingly chose to continue in sin. Do babies need a Saviour? All babies have a Saviour and their Saviour has already taken the death consequence of Adam’s transgression that would have fallen upon us all. Babies, who have not knowingly sinned, need a Saviour but not in the sense of personal forgiveness for personal rebellion, sin and guilt. Sin does not exist in the heart of any baby until knowing rebellion occurs. We must not confuse the effects of sin and acts of sin itself. To say that possessing a fallen nature is sin is to say that we are sinning even when we are choosing not to sin. This idea easily leads to the thought that specific willful transgressions are simply expressions of the greater sin of having a fallen nature. What separates us from God? Isaiah 59:2 “YOUR INIQUITIES have separated between you and your God.” The idea that a man is a sinner by nature comes from Augustine in the Roman Catholic Church, and it has been transmitted to mainline Protestantism through the writings of Luther and Calvin. Today most evangelical Protestant churches follow the Roman Catholic doctrines that possessing our fallen nature is sin. Just by being human we are said to be sinning a sin worthy of eternal death! Are men born guilty? “What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? As I live saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: THE SOUL THAT SINNETH, IT shall die.” Eze 18:2-4. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die, THE SON SHALL NOT BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHER...” Eze 18:20. “Every one shall die FOR HIS OWN INIQUITY.” Jer 31:30 “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, NEITHER SHALL THE CHILDREN BE PUT TO DEATH FOR THE FATHER: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” Deut 24:16; also 2Kings 14:6; 2Chron 25:4. “Who will render to every man according to HIS DEEDS.” Rom 2:6. “judged...according to THEIR WORKS.” Rev 20:12. “It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parents’ guilt, except as they participate in their sins.” E.G .White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p306. Do we inherit guilt from Adam? “Christ volunteered to come to this earth and stand at the head of fallen human beings, who WERE HEIRS OF GUILT, under sentence of eternal death. We must have perished HAD HE NOT BORNE OUR GUILT and the wrath of God” E.G. White, Manuscript Releases, Vol. 12, p61. “After the Fall Christ became Adam’s instructor. He acted in God’s stead toward humanity, SAVING THE RACE from immediate death.” E.G. White, Manuscript Releases, Vol. 9, p237. “Adam sinned, and the children of Adam share his guilt and its consequences; BUT JESUS BORE THE GUILT OF ADAM, and all the children of Adam that will flee to Christ, the second Adam, may escape the penalty of transgression” E.G. White, Signs of the Times, 19 May, 1890; Faith and Work, p88. Jesus bore the guilt of Adam and bought for Adam, Eve and us a second chance. “These dear children received from Adam an INHERITANCE OF DISOBEDIENCE, of GUILT and DEATH.” E.G. White, Manuscript Release, Vol 13, p14. “The INHERITANCE OF CHILDREN IS THAT OF SIN. Sin has separated them from God. Jesus gave His life that He might unite the broken links to God. As related to the first Adam, men receive from him nothing but GUILT and the sentence of DEATH. BUT CHRIST STEPS IN and passes over the ground where Adam fell, enduring the test in man’s behalf. He redeems Adam’s disgraceful failure and fall by coming forth from the trial untarnished. This PLACES MAN ON VANTAGE GROUND with God. It places him where through accepting Christ as His Saviour, he becomes a partaker of the Divine nature.” E.G. White, Manuscript Releases, Vol. 9, p236. “After the Fall Christ became Adam’s instructor. He acted in God’s stead toward humanity, SAVING THE RACE from immediate death.” E.G. White, Manuscript Releases, Vol. 9, p237. Christ saved the race to a second probation. He took our inheritance of death and bought us a second chance because Adam lost our first chance. One inherits that which is not his but belongs to his forebears. Without Christ we would all have inherited death. Christ however took the death which could have been ours and took upon Himself even the sins we commit unknowingly and paid for it all. Are we not conceived in sin? Psalm 51:5. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This text shows that David’s mother was in sin when she conceived him. David does not say that he was born a guilty sinner condemned from conception. Some Bible versions say David was born a sinner, but that is a theological interpretation rather than a correct translation. Where else could David have been conceived and born except in iniquity and sin? A child born into a family of thieves is not a thief but is born into thievery. Likewise, to be born in sin does not automatically constitute one a lost and condemned sinner. It means that one’s circumstances from birth are extremely undesirable, and that one is most likely to end up a sinner but it does not make one a guilty sinner condemned to death from birth. Why then didn’t God give us the Holy Spirit from birth? Because the Holy Spirit is only received by choice and we didn’t exist before we were born to make the choice! Christ however did. We may be born again, however, whenever we chose Christ! Was Seth born in Sin? “Seth was “born in sin.” Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, p60. The prophet rewrote Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 1 and titled the new book Patriarchs & Prophets. In the parallel passage in Patriarchs and Prophets she wrote that Seth inherited a fallen nature. This is what it means to be born on sin: Seth “inherited fallen nature.” Patriarchs and Prophets , p80. Are we by nature children of wrath? Eph 2:3 “Among whom also we all HAD our conversation IN TIMES PAST in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and WERE BY NATURE THE CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as others.” While it is true that the sinful nature is to be destroyed the passage here speaks of a nature that Christians DO NOT possess. Those who have accepted Christ “WERE,” “IN TIMES PAST,” children of wrath, fulfilling the desires of the flesh. As the nature referred to here is something we “WERE” it cannot refer to our fallen human nature which Christians retain until Jesus’ returns. Nature can refer to the kind of person someone is. Are all men born condemned sinners? A very frequently misunderstood passage from which select portions are often quoted is that of Rom 5: Romans 5:18 “Therefore as by the offense of one [judgment came] upon all men to CONDEMNATION; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto JUSTIFICATION of life. For as by one man’s disobedience MANY were made SINNERS, so by the obedience of one shall MANY be made RIGHTEOUS....” By Adam’s offense all men were born mortal, condemned to die. In the same way, by the righteousness of Christ all men were justified (as in acquitted), given another chance. What Adam did and what Christ did both occurred without our personal involvement or choice, and both occurred at the same instant of time. In Adam the human race was lost. In Christ the human race was given a second chance to chose for themselves life or death. Adam has given us all a fallen nature, a nature which unaided cannot keep God’s law. A nature which is degraded, weakened and defiled by sin. Because of Adam we commit sinful acts before we even know what we are doing. However we are not condemned for these acts because condemnation only occurs when light and truth is knowingly rejected. These acts performed before the light has come are not sins unto death. Christ took these upon Himself. By taking upon Himself the sins of the human race Christ bought the entire human race the chance to be born again. Christ took our fallen nature but He was united with the Divine from conception. We may also unite with the Divine and this is called the new birth. “The INSTANT man accepted the temptations of Satan, and did the very things God had said he should not do, Christ. the Son of God, stood between the living and the dead, saying, ‘Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man’s place. He shall have another chance.’ E.G. White, 1BC 1085. “AS SOON AS THERE WAS SIN, THERE WAS A SAVIOUR... As soon as Adam sinned, the Son of God presented Himself as surety for the human race, with just as much power to avert the doom pronounced upon the guilty as when He died upon the cross of Calvary.” E.G. White, 1BC 1064. Adam’s guilt would have been ours. Adam’s condemnation would have been ours BUT Christ took this guilt and condemnation and none are born bearing it. Christ took the full penalty of it so we bear none of it, though we do inherit a fallen nature. We are not born condemned because Christ WAS. He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The Sanctuary system taught that sin was something we can be free from The transferal of sin from he sinner to the sacrifice shows that sin can be removed from us. As we cannot be free of our fallen human nature through transferring it to another, it cannot be a sin. The cleansing of the sanctuary taught we may be cleansed from sin. That which demands the death of the sinner may be removed from them while they still possess a fallen nature. Does the following passage show that we will always be sinning, corrupt, defiled, spotted and earthly till our human nature is changed? “The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary, but passing through the CORRUPT channels of humanity, they are so DEFILED that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. They ascend NOT IN SPOTLESS PURITY, and unless the Intercessor, who is at God’s right hand, presents and purifies all by His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God. All incense from earthly tabernacles must be moist with the cleansing drops of the blood of Christ. He holds before the Father the CENSER of His own merits, in which there is no taint of EARTHLY CORRUPTION He gathers into this censer the prayers, the praise, and the confessions of His people, and with these He puts His own spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the merits of Christ’s propitiation, the incense comes up before God wholly and entirely acceptable. Then gracious answers are returned.” Selected Messages, bk. 1, 344. The things mentioned are only corrupt, defiled etc if they are not perfumed with the merits of Christ. Having sinned nothing we do can be acceptable to God without the merits of Christ. Must every saint remain a corrupt channel; defiled; not in spotless purity; always tainted with earthly corruption and in need of continual intercession until the Second Coming? The following passages say no... Not Corrupt “The heart must be kept PURE and HOLY, for out of it are the issues of life. If the heart is PURIFIED through obedience to the truth, there will be no selfish preferences, NO CORRUPT motives.” SpTB16 1.3 We need not remain corrupt. Not Defiled “Blessed are the UNDEFILED IN THE WAY, who walk in the law of the Lord.” Ps 119:1. We need not be defiled. “Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God ‘was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin’...By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments.” COL 311-312. We need not remain defiled. Not Spotted “That He might present it to himself a glorious church, NOT HAVING SPOT, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph 5:27. We need not remain spotted. Not Earthly “...but it is needful for them to be placed in the furnace of fire; THEIR EARTHLINESS must be CONSUMED that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected.” Great Controversy, p621. We need not remain earthly. Not always in need of intercession for sin “Those who are living upon the earth when the INTERCESSION OF CHRIST SHALL CEASE in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be SPOTLESS, their characters must be PURIFIED from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil...Then the church which our Lord at His coming is to receive to Himself will be a glorious church, NOT HAVING SPOT, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Ephesians 5:27. Then she will look forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. Song of Solomon 6:10.” Great Controversy p425. There will be a time when Christ throws down the censer and at that time there will be a people who need no intercession for any sin they have at that time because they will not be committing any sin at that time! When Christ throws down the censer at the close of probation, having blotted out the sins of His people, (EW 279) the saints will pass through the time of trouble and at that time they will be UNDEFILED, WITHOUT SPOT, WITHOUT EARTHINESS. This is the glorious possibility of the gospel. God’s people need NOT always be sinning, corrupt, defiled, spotted and earthly this side of the second Coming. This is the condition of many of God’s people today who are unknowingly transgressing BUT the gospel makes possible our total restoration from such things. HERES A WARNING: “A terrible doom awaits the sinner, and therefore it is necessary that we know what sin is, in order that we may escape from its power. John says, Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law. Here we have the TRUE DEFINITION of sin; it is the transgression of the law. How often the sinner is urged to leave his sins, and come to Jesus; but has the messenger who would lead him to Christ clearly pointed out the way? Has he clearly pointed out the fact that sin is the transgression of the law, and that he must repent, and forsake the breaking of Gods commandments? Christ will come to consume the false prophet, to sweep away the hosts of apostasy, to take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of God; and it is of the highest importance to each one of us that we know the conditions by which we shall escape the sinners doom. It is of the greatest moment that we understand the nature of our fall and the consequences of transgression. Mans conscience has become hardened by sin, and his understanding darkened by transgression, and his judgment has become confused as to what is sin. He has become benumbed by the influence of iniquity, and it is essential that his conscience be aroused to understand that sin is the transgression of Gods holy law. He who does not obey the commandments of God is a sinner in the sight of God.” {ST, June 20, 1895 par. 5} Truth fears no investigation, on the contrary, it welcomes it
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 07:41:56 +0000
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