What is sin according to the Bible?

[phipps]

 

[phipps]

Isaiah 5:20-24, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."

 

[Flarepath]

Are all sins equally bad, or are some badder than others in God's eyes?
For example here are the 7 deadly sins, does that mean there are other sins that are not so deadly?
And are some sins so mild that God will overlook them?

 

[phipps]

Exodus 21:23-25

Are all sins equally bad, or are some badder than others in God's eyes?
For example here are the 7 deadly sins, does that mean there are other sins that are not so deadly?
And are some sins so mild that God will overlook them?

View attachment 104356

All sin is abominable to God. It is because of sin that man is separated from God. There is no such thing as mild sin and nowhere in the Bible are we told God will overlook any sin.

The Bible tells us, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This is talking about eternal death.

However not all sin is equal biblically. In the Old Testament more serious crimes/sins got harsher punishments. For example the punishment for kidnapping was death (Exodus 21:16), whereas the punishment for stealing livestock was their restoration (Exodus 22:1).

The Israelites under God's theocracy gave punishments that fitted the crimes. God told them, "But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe" (Exodus 21:23-25). In the Bible, the punishment must match, but not exceed, the damage or harm done by the perpetrator.

At the end of time all sinners will be punished before they die eternally, but more serious sins will have greater consequences than others. The Bible tells us, “He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27) and “That servant who knew his master’s will, and did not ... do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few” (Luke 12:47-48).

So biblically all the wicked will be punished according to their deeds but some will receive longer punishments than others, based upon their works. I imagine Satan will be punished the longest.

 

[Flarepath]

..biblically all the wicked will be punished according to their deeds. This means some will receive longer punishments than others, based upon their works..

Are you saying there'll be varying lengths of punishment in hell, after which they'll be let out after serving their sentence?
PS- As a matter of interest, will God regard hindus, muslims, jews and atheists etc as sinners for rejecting Jesus?

 

[phipps]

@Flarepath

Are you saying there'll be varying lengths of punishment in hell, after which they'll be let out after serving their sentence?

Yes, there are going to be varying punishments in hell since some people have done far worse things than others. The punishments will match their works because God is fair and just. Hence why He said, “He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).

After the punishments, the unrighteous will die eternally, never to exist again. Only the righteous are promised eternal life.

PS- As a matter of interest, will God regard hindus, muslims, jews and atheists etc as sinners for rejecting Jesus?

The Bible does say that before the second coming of Christ, all the world would hear the Gospel, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

So we know that every person living at the time of Christ’s coming will have heard the gospel message and have had a chance to accept and submit to Him and be part of His Kingdom.

But what about past generations? What about someone who never even heard about Jesus?

God will judge them and everyone based on how much of His truth they had and how they they responded to it. Luke 12:48 says, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required." Those who knew little, if they lived up to what they understood, God will judge them accordingly. Their works will reveal whether the saving work of the Holy Spirit was active in their hearts.

God will judge everyone fairly and justly.

 

[Flarepath]

...Yes, there are going to be varying punishments in hell since some people have done far worse things than other. The punishments will match their works because God is fair and just. Hence why He said, “He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).
After the punishments, the unrighteous will die eternally, never to exist again. Only the righteous are promised eternal life...

We're ALL sinners, so when we die do we ALL go to hell?
Then after serving our time in there, do some of us go to heaven?
Where exactly do the rest go?

 

[phipps]

We're ALL sinners, so when we die do we ALL go to hell?

Yes we've all sinned but when we let God in our hearts and surrender our wills to His, He gives us the power to grow in Him and that leads us to repent and confess our sins and then be obedient to Him. As we grow in Christ we sin less and less. When we sin during our spiritual growth, if we confess our sins genuinely, we will be forgiven. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

No one that dies right now is going to heaven or hell. They go to their graves. When Jesus returns the second time those that died in Him (the righteous who repented and led true Christian lives), will be raised from their graves and the righteous who are alive at that time will meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The wicked, hell and eternal death will happen after the millennium (Revelation 20:5-6).

Then after serving our time in there, do some of us go to heaven?

Hell is not going to be like prison where some people are going to be released after being punished then go to heaven. That is not biblical at all.

The unrighteous of all ages will go to hell (which will be on this earth) and be punished for their sins and because they rejected the free gift of salvation, then they will die eternally (aka the second death).

Where exactly do the rest go?

As I said above, biblically the unrighteous will be punished in hellfire and then they will die and never live again. God promised the righteous that they will have immortality but the unrighteous will not have immortality because the wages of sin is death and that is exactly what will happen to them. They will die forever/permanently. All of them, not some of them.

 

[phipps]

There is nothing in the humanity of Christ different from us that gives an excuse for failing to overcome every propensity for sin.

 

[phipps]

 

[phipps]

 

[phipps]

 

[phipps]

ENOUGH WITH THE SMOOTH SERMONS.

Too many endtime Preachers are preaching smooth messages today. Messages about the love of Messiah, without the conviction of sin. Yes, you'll hear them talking of 'love', but have abandoned the Bible truth concerning victory over sin. The messages given today from the pulpits produce no conviction of sin and appeals to the majority of the world these days.

Isaiah 30:9-10 says, "That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits."

Many others preachers also are now saying we cannot get the victory over sin and we will continue to sin until Messiah returns. This is a lie from the devil friends!

You are busy advocating for love, telling others that Messiah loves everyone and we should love the world like Messiah did. Love, love, love! The end!

What they are missing is written, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God" (Ephesians 5:1-5).

The problem is, there are TWO kinds of 'love'. Love of self, that results in sin. And love of Almighty, that results in obedience and righteousness. And the love that is preached in most churches and assemblies today unfortunately, is love of self, not Almighty God. Hence why most people are still living lives of sin. Because sin is the result of loving self.

Many people are at ease today, thinking they need not gain the victory over the sin in their lives. They believe they need not make any effort in the cause of Jesus' Kingdom. They sit down in calm expectation, thinking that Almighty will protect them in the last days. And many are going to be shocked when the Master returns!

All the churches of Babylon preach about the 'love' of Jesus, without the conviction of sin, because Satan has deceived the leaders into accepting a false gospel. They reject the 'everlasting gospel' which is found all throughout the scriptures, which Jesus' Set-Apart believers are supposed to preach to the world according to Revelation 14:6.

 

[phipps]

...continued from above.

Is the Bible not clear in the message it gives that we are to turn away from all sin? Well, let's confirm the truth.

1 Peter 2:21-22, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.”

1 John 2:3-4, "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

John 5:14, "Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

John 8:10-11, "When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Important note: Our 'keeping the commandments' is NOT of ourselves. Our keeping the commandments is a result of walking in the complete Love of Jesus and allowing Him, by His Spirit, to dwell in us and change us.

So many people love to hold onto the words that Jesus spoke to the woman caught in adultery ..."neither do I condemn thee." ... Which reveals the love and mercy of Jesus. But they ignore the clear instruction Jesus also attached to that statement ..."SIN NO MORE." ... You see, if the woman went away and continued living a life of sin, then the grace of Christ would no longer cover her. She would be lost in her sins. But the grace of Almighty would still cover her if she went away and turned away from sin and lived a life following Jesus. This is why He told her to sin no more. Now don't get me wrong. We all have stumbled in sin AFTER coming to Christ. I am not saying you won't stumble now and again while you grow in faith. And Jesus will forgive you if you repent. But the problem I'm talking about is the belief that we cannot stop sinning. As this goes against the Word of Almighty.

Romans 8:1-2, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Do you see? There is no condemnation for those who do not continue in sin.

Did Jesus say anything that would even suggest we would continue living in sin ? No.

Did the apostles say anything that would even suggest we would continue living in sin? No.

In fact, they clearly taught condemnation for those who do continue living in sin. Look ...

Hebrews 10:26-27, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."

2 Peter 2:12-15, "But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."

 

[phipps]

Isaiah 14:12-17

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!

For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

“Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’

 

[phipps]

2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

 

[phipps]

 

[phipps]

 

[phipps]

Matthew 7:15-17, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit."

2 Corinthians 11:14, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

 

[phipps]

Luke 21:33, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."

Psalm 89:34, "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips."

Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."