Sin

It's defined in the original translations of the Bible meaning "to miss the mark." The
mark, in this case, is the standard of perfection established by God and evidenced by
Jesus. Noah Webster defined sin as the following: The voluntary departure of a moral
agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary
transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity.
Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary
neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such
command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts
purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. See 1 John
3, Matthew 15 and James 4. It's mentioned hundreds of times in the bible. Sin is a noun
(person, place or thing) and not a verb (action word). The bible teaches us that an evil
power named sin that is at work against mankind. God reveals this power called sin is
Satan's secret weapon that comes against everybody. This is first seen in the garden (the
lust of the flesh, the desire or lust of the eyes and the pride of life). See Genesis 3:1-7 and
1 John 2:15-17. The power of sin arises in Genesis 4:7 where God talks to Cain who is
contemplating murder. "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest
not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over
him." Hidden in this verse shows the key to unmasking Satan's means to deceive us. In
Hebrew it could be literally translated as "sin is crouching at the door; his desire is for
you but you must overcome and master him." This personifies sin to represent as having
personality or thoughts...of a living thing. God said that an entity called sin somehow had
the ability to influence Cain. God portrayed sin as having the power to:
1) Persuade Cain.
2) Entice Cain.
3) Tempt Cain.
4) Lead Cain to take matters into his own hands.
5) Suggest that Cain can solve his problem by rebelling against God.
6) Influence Cain to murder his brother Abel.
God shows forth or penetrates Satan's camouflage here and repeatedly so within the
Bible. He gives us a better understanding as to how sin seeks to influence all to do evil or
fail to accomplish God's will.
The Holy Spirit versus The Power of Sin
1) The Holy Spirit: Teaches truth. The Power of Sin: Teaches lies.
2) The Holy Spirit: Credits God with goodness and Satan with evil. The Power of Sin:
Denies validity of part or all of the Scriptures.
3) The Holy Spirit: Verifies the reality of God who is worthy of all of our praise and
honor. The Power of Sin: Portrays Jesus as a impotent or weak and a tragic figure.
4) The Holy Spirit: Teaches that following God's word is best. The Power of Sin: Tells all
that following "cultural correctness" is best for man.
5) The Holy Spirit: Convicts us of sin. The Power of Sin: Dulls our sensitivity to sin.
6) The Holy Spirit: Indwells in believers (1 Corinthians 6:17). The Power of Sin:
Indwells your body (Romans 7:23).
7) The Holy Spirit: Brings thoughts in your mind. The Power of Sin: Implants ideas to
you.
8) The Holy Spirit: Persuades you. The Power of Sin: Persuades you.
9) The Holy Spirit: Seeks to lead a person in the paths of righteousness. The Power of
Sin: Seeks to lead all to unrighteous acts and ways.
10) The Holy Spirit: Convicts of sin. The Power of Sin: Condemns those who have
sinned.
11) The Holy Spirit: Uses valid feelings of Godly guilt. The Power of Sin: Use faulty
feelings of guilt.
12) The Holy Spirit: Portrays God as a loving father. The Power of Sin: Promotes terror
of God.
13) The Holy Spirit: Draws a person to God. The Power of Sin: Alienates one from God.
14) The Holy Spirit: Always tells the truth in all things. The Power of Sin: Always
distorts the truth or lies.
15) The Holy Spirit: Guides followers of the word with Scriptures interpreted correctly.
The Power of Sin: Guides with Scriptures that take things out of context instead of their
true terms.
Sin can be seen as Self Induced Negativity. All have sinned and fallen short of God's
glory. It can be seen in every wicked work. God is Holy and cannot tolerate it in His
presence. The wages of sin is death. Only Jesus provides a way to escape it. By biblical
belief and God's grace we are made whole through Christ and our sins are cast into the
sea - never to return to the account of God's children. There is a way unto death and
another one that brings life eternal. Jesus is that unique way, as He alone can reconcile us
to God. As He bridged the gap if we choose to trust in His truth. there are but two paths,
the one of life or death. Blessing or cursing. The Saviour or Satan. To become a son or
daughter of the "Most High God" simply apply His name of Jesus Christ in all things, this
is to include your baptism. "The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that
keeps his way preserves his soul" (Proverbs 16:17).
Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza..."I shall be telling
this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I
took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."
In an even more famous discourse on roads taken and not taken, Jesus admonishes those
who have an ear to hear to..."Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad
is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)
We can either choose to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and pay the price of
eternal separation from God or decide to trust and obey Jesus Christ in all things, thereby
gaining eternal life.