Hi, everybody. Thank you all again for being here. Tonight is the third part in a trilogy about overcoming sin. In the first section, my purpose was to get people to at least believe it is _possible_ to live completely without known sin. I used the example of Peter walking on the water to Christ, and the point of that was this - that whosoever answers the call of the Messiah with a full heart can do all that He did. He Himself said of we who would follow: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. " (John 14:12)

We looked at the examples of Enoch and Elijah, who were sanctified to a degree where they overcame physical death, being translated directly to heaven - knowing the Father so well that they assimilated the sanctified Character of Christ.

Also in part 1 we looked at certain verses 1 John that seemed to say it was impossible to live without knowing doing wrong things, and explained them in their context, and what their purpose one - I think to everyone's satisfaction. Essentially, just trying to establish to in your minds that we _can_ do it. Because, really... that's the biggest barrier to living the Gospel. The moment we say, "I can't," we limit Christ's ability to work in us. We deny this wonderful verse: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phil 4:13)

In part 2, we looked at "difficult verses." We finished off 1 John, and then we looked at Romans 7, where Paul seems to say, "I can't help but sin...I am saved in my spirit, but my flesh still forces me to do things I don't want to do." By our examination of those verses in their context, we find that Paul was explaining a pre-converted state of mind, following an analogy he gives in Romans 7:1-6, and that those expressions of agony and longing for righteousness are not an indicator at all of his state after coming to Christ.

We found that if we stop at the end of "Chapter 7"(for there were no chapters in Paul's letter) we can come away with a wrong idea of his meaning, but if we continue reading into the next, the truth becomes clear. Paul is saying: "We once lived in the flesh, but now we walk in the spirit. And while we yet _live_ in the flesh, which is able to be tempted, we walk _after_ the Spirit." And as he puts it: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." (Rom 8:5)

Of course, we really did the "details" of it in the previous two studies, and this is a good time for me to encourage you to read those over, if you have any further questions, or if this is your first time here recently. You can email me at flyingcreature@hotmail.com and I will gladly send you the links where these studies can be found. It's not that you'll need them to really "get" this week's one, because I will refer back to the relevant points made in them here if I need to... but you may not get why I say some things, or what the full significance of understanding sin is for a Christian.

Also, before I begin, I have an announcement. Next week we're going to try and do something a little different. And if it goes well, I may make it a more regular thing. This coming study, and maybe on a fairly regular basis, we're going to have an open format. This means, take the week, and think of questions. Things that you've always wanted to know about the Bible, or God, or anything at least marginally relevant to the Scriptures.

I won't have anything prepared... it'll just be me and the Biblebot, and those controversial, puzzling and troubling queries you might be thinking about. Now, the purpose isn't to debate, or to show how smart we all are... that's what Mars Hill is for :) I'm hoping that people will bring things that are really on their minds, that they are struggling with, and we'll try and study it out and give them a satisfying drink. I can't promise I will know everything, or that my answers will satisfy everybody, but I will certainly back up all I say with Scripture, or I will tell you honestly - "I don't know." Sound fair? Okay, then start thinking of questions for them - which may be a needed session after these three studies... I know this is a fairly difficult issue for many. And if you don't want anyone to know who asked a question (for whatever reason), you can PM it to me, and I will answer it as from an anonymous source, or you can even email me through the week, and have me deal with it that night.

Okay, tonight we are dealing with the nature of sin. This is a really relevant topic, and essential to our study of overcoming the sin nature. The reason for this is simple, and actually twofold. Firstly, if we don't know what sin is, we can't avoid it. Secondly, a lot of the things people think are sinful arent. And this is actually one of Satan's great tools for getting people to believe the very first point I tried to establish at the first part of this trilogy - "It IS possible to live without committing known sin; in fact, it's _expected_ of us who are Christ's indeed."

Now, one of the ways people limit our Father is by judging what they are capable of by what they have already accomplished. A good example is Moses. Moses received a mission: "And the LORD said, 'I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt." (Exo 3:7,10) But what did Moses say? "And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (Exo 3:11)

Immediately he began to doubt. That's a problem. Moses said, "I can't talk in public, they don't know me, I'm shy, they won't believe me anyway..." The list just started to go on and on.

The Father, in the meanwhile, gave Moses evidence after evidence of His power. He made his hand go leprous and then cured it, He turned the prophet's staff into a snake and back again... and Moses still couldn't see past his own problems, his own past. Finally, we see this: "And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said, 'Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.'" (Exo 4:14)

Look at that first part: the "anger" of the Lord was kindled against Moses. Did He lose His patience with him? No, that's not God... but, He knew that doubt would prevent His chosen servant from accomplishing the task. The young Christ, reading this story - do you think He learned how to be bold before men from that? It was written of Him: "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law." (Isa 42:4) And did He fail or was He discouraged? Then how can we be? How can we say, "But I've always done things I have known to be wrong. I have always been weak, and slipped up." Would our Messiah say that? And where did He learn not to say things like that? From the Bible; and we have it even more clearly put than He did. He only had the Old Testament.

Doubt is the first barrier to overcome in being able to see sin for what it is, and to overcome it consistently, unbrokenly, triumphantly. This is why we have all these wonderful Scriptures to give us courage: "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." (Psa 31:24)

So, what is sin? I was talking to someone this evening as I was writing this... and she said, "Sin always results in pain to everyone else." I think that's a good and relevant point. It's almost a social issue, as we are to be considered one "Body," and the Scripture teaches: "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." (1 Cor 12:26)

We can really define sin very easily, and all our other definitions will come from that. Sin is something that hurts people. If you can avoid hurting people unnecessarily, you'll essentially not sin. And yes, I say "unnecessarily," because Christ had to hurt people at times. "And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables..." (John 2:15)

He sure hurt people there, at the very least, their feelings. And also among His closest friends: "But He turned, and said unto Peter, 'Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.'" (Mat 16:23) That must have really done a lot of "damage" to Peter, but I say "damage" in quotes, because while it may certainly have been uncomfortable at the time, it was really something needed. Peter was of the type to speak before thinking, and if he was to be one of the major contributors to the spreading of the Gospel to the world, he really would need to have some defects of character straightened out. And as it is well noted: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Rev 3:19)

So, if we can avoid hurting people unnecessarily, does that mean we can sin unintentionally as well? Well, we need to be careful here, because the Bible does have different words for "sin" and that has really led to a fantastic array of problems. For example, here is a passage we looked at in an earlier segment, and I'll revisit it here: " If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death." (1 John 5:15-17)

We saw that John defines sin in at least two ways: sins "unto death," and sins "not unto death." At first, this seems to fly in the face of what we know about sin: "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." (Ezek 18:20) "But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." (Pro 8:36)

But we looked at various passages that John was referring to, such as this one: "And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance." (Num 15:25)

In part2 I used an entirely different set of verses to make this same point, and it's important that we have a "second witness" to it, because this is the very basis of tonight's study: defining what sin IS. Now there, in the verse from Numbers, we have an introduction of a new factor - "intent." A soul which sins "in ignorance," or "unintentionally," these were the ones that would be willing to bring their sacrifices to the Lord and repent. Those that sinned willfully, right in the presence of the cloud of smoke and the pillar of fire - that was another story.

How much would you have to really rebel in order to steal or kill with the presence of Yahweh Almighty just outside your tentflap? The people that sinned willfully were really badly off... so much so that there was, it seemed, no point in even trying. "Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die." (Deu 17:5)

Now, we need to check our picture of the Almighty here :) Does this extreme measure mean He loved that individual any less? Assuredly not. But it was just that they individual had come to that place where nothing would turn them back. They'd made their strong decision, sinning right in the presence of the Holy One... and forever after would only be a thorn in the flesh of Israel.

It's described in the New Testament also: "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." (Mat 12:31) This is the end result of sin, you see... if we continue in it, doing it knowingly, we will get to the place where we don't even hear the call to repent anymore. And the more we know about God, the greater our fall if we do knowingly turn away and go back to rebellion.

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." (Heb 6:4-6) A lot of people have problems with that passage. But let's just take our time and look it over. First and foremost, this verse does not limit the forgiveness of God. One of the big issues people have with Hebrews 6 is that it seems to say that after a point, He will not take back a sinner. This isn't the case at all. As we're looking at what sin is, one of the ways we can really get at it's core is to see what it does.

Sin changes hearts. In some verses it says it "hardens" your heart. "Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief." (Pro 28:14) Now let me ask you a question about this verse in Proverbs. When was the sin committed? Was it in the hardening of the heart, that meaning - did the sin take place in the mind, or did the persons falling into mischief (or "wickedness," as the Hebrew word means) constitute the sin?

You see that intent plays into sin yet again. The end result of doing sin with intent, is that your heart will be hardened. This is where Hebrews 6 comes in. Notice this very important verse: "...if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." (Heb 6:6)

Look at the first part of that. Does it say, "It is impossible for God to forgive them?" No, it says, "It is impossible to renew THEM to repentance." It is not that God will not forgive them IF they repent, but that they will not come and be sincere. And sincere is important, because an insincere request for forgiveness cannot be granted. "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." (Heb 12:15-17)

Esau, it is written, "sought repentance with tears." He had a great desire to get what he wanted, but it doesn't say he repented... it says he "sought" it. He looked for it, he wanted to be sorry for what he'd done, but he couldn't. He didn't want to _change_ who he was, in order to be accepted. Sin changes the _person_ it doesn't change how God feels about you. And it's a deadly poison.

So here's what we know about sin so far: It's got a lot to do with intention, and it does not destroy the grace of God towards a person, but makes the individual unable to receive it.

Let's go back to 1 John. We need to understand what the Apostles' idea of sin was, because they were the ones who taught how to avoid it. "All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death." (1 John 5:17)

The word for "sin" is "hamartia," what playwrites call a main character's "fatal flaw," and it means "to miss the mark," like in archery. This is for the very people who say "I try, but I just can't seem to make it." They're "missing the mark." The question you might ask yourself is, "Who's aiming my bow?" If you're doing it, you might miss. In fact, you WILL miss. The target - perfection - is very far away. But if Christ is aiming your bow... He _cannot_ miss. And John actually says that in the very next verse: "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." (1 John 5:18)

Translation: "He who is born of God will not miss the mark." We'll make it... we can be sure of it. No need to worry. We just have to get over that little problem of trying to aim our own bows, and let Him hit the mark for us. In fact, He's already done it. We just have to accept it. The biggest obstacle to that is, as I said, believing we can do it. Believing we will make it, that we'll triumph over sin.

So sin can also be seen as not achieving a goal, in terms of spiritual things. And sometimes, this can happen by mistake "unintentionally," as Numbers and Leviticus put it. When we find that this is the case in us, we know what to do: "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." (Isa 1:16-17) He says, "If you find yourself in error, it's okay. Wash yourself. Make yourself clean." And we know where to wash ourselves too... In the blood of Christ. Isaiah continues, though... after you've made yourself clean... do we keep doing what we washed ourselves from? "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Rom 6:1-2)

A very powerful set of verses. And of course we studied through Romans 7 to show that his later words do not in any way contradict or dampen down the sheer, mighty Good News of those two statements. When we truly repent (turn away) from something we know to be wrong... our souls will hate it. If we just give it up grudgingly, because we're afraid of hell, or because our friends tell us to... are we really repenting? No, you'd be like Esau... looking for repentance, but never finding it, because a "profane" person, as Hebrews says Esau was... is not willing to _change_.

The Bible talks about people who are not willing to change, even in the face of good evidence: "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children." (2 Pet 2:12,14)

He says they are like beasts, their hearts are "trained" to do evil, and we know this because they "cannot" cease from sin! that is the criteria of someone who doesn't "get it." Makes me wonder about Christians who say things like "I just can't stop; I can't help myself." The question is: are those things _true_, or are they just repeatedly cursing themselves? If they cannot, maybe it's because they keep saying they can't... they are speaking words of power, and not the good kind. If we start speaking words of faith - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," maybe we'll find that in Him we can do more than we thought we could.

Let's not judge God's ability by our own experiences so far. It is written that "Eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared for those who love Him." Do we need to wait for Heaven for that, or maybe... can we see little miracles in our own lives, if we will only believe we CAN?

In terms of what to DO when we find ourselves in error - as well all have at some point, for Paul says "All have sinned, and come short." And of course, I keep pointing out that this is _past_ tense. Paul says, "Now we are set free. We cannot continue in it." That's Romans 6:1-2 again, and a lot of 1 John. It's consistent :)

So in terms of what to DO, Isaiah concludes with: "Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." (Isa 1:17) Learn to do well. We aren't converted knowing everything about being good and spiritual and perfect (as MEN judge perfection). No, Christ judged perfection this way: "For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." (Mark 4:28) We don't say it's a "bad" cornstalk because it's young, do we? In the same way, Paul is very careful about "young" Christians, saying things like: "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." (Rom 14:13)

We need to understand that while Salvation, being "justified" happens once, when we accept the Gospel - the work of "sanctification" is a process. It's lifelong, we always learn what it means to be more Christlike, and by our faith, we are always moving in that direction. We could almost go into a study on evolution at this point, and seeing what applying that hypothesis (it's not a theory - theories have real evidence) to spirituality has done to the Christian community. Because really, that idea of "improving" or getting better through a series of ups and downs... it's spiritual evolution, and it came from the same place. The Devil. Well, maybe we will talk about that another night :)

So to review, and to start closing up, let's look at what we know about sin.

It's deadly... all sin results in death. All have sinned, and therefore need a Savior. When we accept Him, we see that we can walk in the Spirit He gives us, and though we will live "in the flesh," (Gal 2:20) which is able to be tempted, we know we can overcome every time. Not by our efforts, but by _faith_ this is done. I tell people this story a lot :) When I was 6 years old, I started biting my nails. I bit my nails until I was 23. Daily, by the minute. If I was nervous, if I was bored... if I was angry. I had no nails for 17 years of my life. Then, I learned about the Gospel. All of it :) And I found out that I really do have control, in Christ, over _every_ habit, every thought, every tendency. As it's said, I began the process of: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Cor 10:5)

And it still amazes me... I haven't bitten my nails once since then. The really interesting thing is this: if I was addicted to drugs, I'd have to go out and buy drugs. If I was addicted to sex, I'd have to go find someone to sin with. But I have my nails _always_ with me. They are a constant presence on my hands... and I have just no desire to chew on them. It's like a Christian living in the flesh. He has temptations _always_ with him. But he will have no desire to chew on them. This is, I believe, a little testimony that Christ has given me to share with others. It may not be a big, world-altering change... but it, and the principle behind it, means everything to me.

This is the power of regeneration, of really grasping this "overcoming." And it had _nothing_ to do with my efforts. Zero. I didn't "try" to stop. I just did one day.

Sin in one sense has to do with intention. You have to purposely choose to do something you know is wrong. This is the kind that destroys your soul... that "hardens" it. This is the kind we need to overcome. Some have problems, for example, with the "sins in the mind." This verse scares a lot of people: "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Mat 5:28)

If you just take that, and apply what I said in these three studies to it, you might be tempted to think, "So the next time I look at a pretty girl/handsome man and I think she/he looks nice, I've fallen from grace?" No, that's not it :) Some famous person once said, "You can't stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair." You can appreciate the beauty of the opposite sex - that's what they're there for! But it's when you "look at a woman TO (with the intention of) lust after her" that means you have the intent, the purpose of thinking wrong thoughts. These thoughts may pop up... Satan, or flesh, may put them in your mind. But if she's not your wife, if he's not your husband... rebuke it. It'll go away if you truly want it gone, I promise. As it's written: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."(James 4:7)

It is the wrong intent that will harden your heart against repentance. I want us all to understand that very clearly. The other kind is the one in John that "leadeth not unto death." If there's no rebellion in you, how can it harden your heart? God can always work with people who make mistakes. I'm not even going to attempt a list :)

But it's when people WILL not come - when they WILL not repent, and when they say, "I will not change." Or - and this is hard for some - when they say, "I can not change." A lot more people put it that way... and it's the same thing. And that is the very definition of sin - rebellion. As John puts it clearly: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. " (1 John 3:4)

It is rebellion against the Law... and the Law is love. Love for God, love for yourself, love for others. We can come to the place in Christ were our intentions are _always_ to do the best good for these three aspects of love, and you'll find that the habits you "struggle" with now will all start disappearing. Miraculously :) We need only believe, and we will have this testimony. But doubt, and fear, these are the things that God had to strongly rebuke in Moses before he could serve Him. And it's exactly the same way for us today.

I have been saying this a lot "First of all, believe it's possible." The second thing, and what I'd like to close with, is this, "don't be afraid of it." Don't say, "That sounds nice, but I could never really do that. And if I accept it, and I start... what if I fall away?" The Scriptures have comfort for us on that: "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Cor 2:14) Only jump... let HIM catch you.

Here is a quote from a book I was reading called "Lessons on Faith." It's a really old book... from the 1800s, but this was so striking, so _true_ that I just wanted to share it with you, it was written by someone named E.J. Waggoner. Quote: "Some folks look with dread upon the though of having to wage a continual warfare with self and worldly lusts. That is because they do not as yet know anything about the joy of victory; they have experienced only defeat. But it isn't so doleful a thing to battle constantly, when there is continual victory. The old veteran of a hundred battles, who has been victorious in every fight, longs to be at the scene of conflict. Alexander's soldiers, who under his command never knew defeat, were always impatient to be led into the fray. Each victory increased their strength, which was born only of courage, and correspondingly diminished that of the vanquished foe. Now how may we gain continual victories in our spiritual warfare? Listen to the beloved disciple: 'For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.' - 1 John 5:4" Endquote.

As I said before: We just have to get over that little problem of trying to aim our own bows, and let Christ hit the mark for us.

David.