Popular theology teaches that a person who was sexually or physically abused will only find peace with God if she forgives the man who abused her. Women who finally forgave their abusers and who finally found peace with God frequently give testimonies. Texts used include the following:

Mark 11:25 “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any, that your Father also Who is in the heavens may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father Who is in the heavens forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 6:9 “Therefore pray ye after this manner, ‘Our Father Who art in the heavens, Thy Name is Holy. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as in the heavens. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.’ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”

These texts assume one thing found in the following texts:

Luke 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves! If thy brother trespasses against thee, rebuke him! And if he repents, forgive him. And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day, and turns again to thee seven times in a day, saying, ‘I repent,’ thou shalt forgive.”

Acts 8:22 “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee!”

The above texts are commands given by Messiah to Israel. Similar commands are given to the Saints in general:

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for the Messiah’s sake has forgiven.

Repentance is essential. God will not forgive anyone who does not repent of the sin (with one exception that I have found), and no man has the right to forgive anyone of a sin whom God does not forgive. The one exception is found in the following text:

Luke 23:34 Then Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them. For they don’t know what they are doing.” And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

The Roman soldiers had no idea that they had done a crime against God. They thought that they were executing a criminal. Some of the soldiers later realized that some injustice had been done. Apart from such exceptions, repentance is a necessary prerequisite for forgiveness. If a person chooses to forgive someone else who has not repented, the person is putting himself in the place of God, and is being ‘kinder’ than God. This shows great arrogance. John taught,

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Israel’s forgiveness is not automatic:

1 Kings 8:33 “When Thy people Israel are smitten down before the enemy because they have sinned against Thee, and shall turn again to Thee and confess Thy name, and pray and make supplication unto Thee in this house, then hear Thou in the heavens, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel. And bring them again unto the land that Thou gave unto their fathers. When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against Thee, if they pray toward this place and confess Thy name and turn from their sin, when Thou wilt afflict them, then hear Thou in the heavens, and forgive the sin of Thy servants and of Thy people Israel. And Thou shalt teach them the good way in which they shall walk. And give rain upon Thy land that Thou hast given to Thy people for an inheritance. If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, If there is the caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness, whatsoever prayer and supplication is by any man, by all thy people Israel who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and he spreads forth his hands toward this House, then hear Thou in the heavens—Thy dwelling place, and forgive and do and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart Thou knowest (for Thou, Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men) that they may fear Thee all the days that they live in the land that Thou gave unto our fathers.”

2 Chronicles 6:27 “Then hear Thou from the heavens and forgive the sin of Thy servants and of Thy people Israel, when Thou hast taught them the good way in which they shall walk. And send rain upon Thy land that Thou hast given unto Thy people for an inheritance.”

Forgiveness is granted for the purpose of doing right after the forgiveness. Anyone who forgives another who has never turned is not doing right. Why would a person forgive another who is not repentant?

A person who has held bitterness and whose bitterness has eaten away at him for years may find consolation in forgiving another. It takes less humility and even some arrogance to forgive another wrongdoer, ignoring the evil works from his own bitterness and putting the focus on the other person.

The following is an example scenario: Janie’s stepfather Sam sexually abused her when she was a child. Janie left home when she was seventeen, running away with her boyfriend. They lived together for a while, and then got married, and then got divorced. Janie went to church. She “found Jesus” there, and “turned her life over to Christ.” She became very active in church, met and married the choir director, and began to teach Sunday School. She realized that she had a problem, however. She could not get over the recurring haunting from her abuse. She hated that man. She wanted to see him dead. When she would meet other men in the church that reminded her of him, she would feel hatred toward them, even though she did not have a clue that they had ever done anything like that. She went to a woman’s seminar. She heard how it was important to forgive the abusers of her past so that she be healed and could grow. She learned that the strongholds of her life had to be broken, and that she was suffering from ‘soul bonds’ that had to be broken, based on these two texts:

Numbers 30:5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he hears, not any of her vows or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. And the Lord shall forgive her because her father disallowed.

Numbers 30:8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard, then he shall make her vow of none effect that she vowed, and what she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul. And the Lord shall forgive.

Janie was told to write her stepfather a letter telling him that she forgave him. She did not have to mail the letter, but it would ‘bring release’ to her. A number of ladies then prayed that her ‘soul bonds’ would be broken. She felt release as she forgave Sam. From that time on, Janie was able to “see Jesus” in the men whom she had formerly held in contempt for no reason. The story sounds good—at least to some who are ignorant of the Bible.

Janie’s problem was not that she had ‘soul bonds’ to Sam. Her problem was not Sam. Sam was an evil man who will pay dearly for his sin, as all sinners will pay, unless he turns and repents and seeks the Grace of God for Salvation. Janie’s problem was her bitterness toward God.

Janie’s problem was her pride. A few who have been abused in the same way or worse have come away with great humility and with an excellent fear of God. Janie came away with no humility or fear of God. She was outraged that Sam could do this to her—that God could abandon her like this—rather than being outraged at sin. She was outraged that God had not kept her from being harmed by this man. She was not outraged at her foolish mother who chose this man as a husband. She saw her mother as a victim, not a participant.

Janie became religious—a very common symptom of bitterness, but her religion did not give her humility. Religion builds pride, and teaches man to finger others (including demons) for one’s own destructive bitterness.

Godliness requires a right view of the deceitfulness of man.

Janie feels so much better, now. She is teaching women’s seminars, telling other women how to break their ‘soul bonds’ (even though the texts Janie uses have nothing to do with Janie’s applications) and how to bring release from captivity through forgiveness. Janie will never know that she has become arrogant. She thinks that she is giving her testimony.

I will continue answering the question, “Do I have the obligation to forgive someone who did something evil against me in order for God to forgive and bless me?” The obligation to forgive does not extend to all persons or all circumstances. No one has the right to forgive another who did not offend the one trying to forgive.

As an example, consider this scenario: John is a preacher. Sam is another preacher. Sam sinned. His sin became public. His sin had nothing to do with John; John was not involved in his sin. John feels that Sam is part of the Body of Christ (though the proof is contrary to this conclusion). Sam’s sin was adultery and participating with a prostitute, cheating his church members by using their funds to buy the services of whores, and so on. John feels that there must be “healing.” John therefore writes a letter, and publicly reads this letter on the air: “Sam, my brother, on behalf of the Body of Christ, I forgive you. I want to see you restored, and our fellowship to be renewed. I love you, my brother. Accept this forgiveness as from the Lord. In the love of Christ, John.” What John has done includes the following:

he has acted as the vicar of Christ (the stand-in for Christ in Christ’s absence), the same position that the Pope claims for himself.
No one except a prophet has the right to speak for God, and even prophets can only speak exactly what Yehovah says to speak. Anyone who places himself in this position is worthy of death (and it will come).
John has falsified the teachings of the Bible. Sam did not offend John; he offended God. John has no more right to forgive than I have the right to forgive my neighbour’s child if he back-talked his mother. Forgiveness must come from the offended party only.
John has claimed to speak for the entire Body of Christ. This shows great arrogance. Does he think he is Christ? The Head alone does the speaking, not a hand or a foot or a toe.
John has shown that he has not understood the Gospel, because he managed to overlook the required humility necessary for Salvation. Even if Sam had repented before John, John would not have the right to reassure Sam unless Yehovah directly spoke (as to a prophet) to John. John does not know the heart of Sam. Yehovah only knows the heart of all flesh. He alone can read minds.
John has proven himself of the same ilk as Sam, looking so lightly on the sin and evil of Sam, but calling him a brother. They are indeed brothers, but not brothers in the Body of Christ. True Saints will have a much higher view of the demonstration of Salvation. John has made it look cheap.
John has blasphemed God (doing worse than King David) by declaring such a low standard of forgiveness in the face of such obvious evil.

The above answers another question: “Do I have the obligation to forgive someone who did something evil against the Body of Christ in order for God to forgive and bless me?” No one has the right to do that except the Head of the Body.

“Again, do I have the obligation to forgive someone who did something evil against me in order for God to forgive and bless me?”

Messiah said,

He was speaking to Israelis, warning them how they must behave with other Israelis.

But what if the person who seeks forgiveness will repeat the same offense again? Anyone who repeats the same offense has never repented. The Hebrew word for repent means to turn, to return from doing something. Anyone can mouth words. No person has repented who continues with the same evil.

Repentance and forgiveness are reversible:

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him. And he said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Yeshua says unto him, “I don’t say unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven! Therefore the kingdom of the heavens is likened unto a certain king who would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him who owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him and his wife and children and all that he had to be sold, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord! Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all!’ Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion. And he loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellowservants who owed him an hundred pence. And he laid hands on him and took [him] by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what thou owest!’ And his fellowservant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all!’ And he would not, but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt. So, when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very upset. And they came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then, after he had called him, his lord said unto him, ‘Thou wicked servant! I forgave thee all that debt because thou desired me! Shouldn’t thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant even as I had pity on thee?’ And his lord was furious. And he delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him! So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you if ye don’t forgive from your hearts every one his brother their trespasses!”

When Messiah said, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you,” He was referring to the reversal of forgiveness! Any person who repents, then turns from his repentance by doing the same thing again, has repealed his own forgiveness!

When Messiah told Peter, “I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven,” I propose that the sins of the brother were not seventy times seven of the same sin, else the brother’s repentance would have been a farce, a way to keep justice from occurring.

In Messiah’s example of the servant and the king, if the servant had again repented, this time for mistreating his own servant, would the king have forgiven him? The text does not indicate this. He repented from his own repentance by not forgiving according to his own forgiveness! The example shows two distinct truths: the Israeli has an obligation to forgive a repentant fellow Israeli, and repentance and forgiveness may be reversed by hardheartedness against another Israeli!

Definition of Forgive

What does the word forgive mean? The Hebrew word literally means to carry. Anyone who forgives another is agreeing to carry the damage from an offense in order for the two to have a peaceful relationship

This presents a problem. Suppose that a Tim is violent, and he frequently punches other men when he becomes angry because he does not demonstrate self-control. Tim works with Bob. Bob tells Tim to move a particular barrel because it is in the way. Bob is a true Christian. Tim is the member of a Baptist church. Tim becomes very angry, though he doesn’t know why. (He does not know that he is loaded with pride, and his pride has been hurt.) Tim gets up into Bob’s face and tells him,

”Who do you think you are? my mother? If you want the barrel moved, move it yourself.”

Bob replies, “I don’t know where the barrel goes, but I do know that each of us is supposed to put away what we get out for the sake of safety. I am not trying to be offensive, Tim, but I know that the boss will be angry if the barrel is still out.”

Tim replies, “So you are acting as the boss now!”

Bob replies, “Never mind. I should not have said anything…”

With that, Tim slugs Bob and knocks him across the room, drawing blood from his cheek. Bob is dazed, but he angrily returns back to his project, not saying a word to Tim. Others saw what happened. After lunch, Tim comes over to Bob in private. He says to him, “I, uh, well, uh, I’ve been thinking. And it was not right for you to tell me what to do, but, uh, it wasn’t right for me to slug you. I, uh, well, I apologize.”

Bob says, “Forget it.”

Tim says, “No, I don’t want to forget it, I want your forgiveness. Forgive me, Bob. I was wrong.”

Bob begins thinking, “This has happened before. It has happened about six times with different ones. Tim has never been fired because his brother in law is the foreman. But Tim will do this again.”

Must Bob forgive Tim? Tim is a repeat offender. Can Tim and Bob form a restored relationship?

Bob answers Tim, “Once I know that you will never do this again to me or to anyone because you have gotten this thing in control, once I know that you have stopped this practice, you will have my forgiveness, and I will be glad to have a peaceful relationship with you. Until then, I don’t trust you, and I don’t want to give you a false impression, Tim. I don’t want to be around you. You are too dangerous.”

Anyone who agrees to forgive is making a very important agreement. It is wrong to lightly or falsely forgive to avoid another problem.

Apart from the exceptions that I have given and some others that I have not, “Do I have the obligation to forgive someone who did something evil against me in order for God to forgive and bless me?” Keep in mind that the texts used above are specifically for unbelieving Israelis. The standards for Saints will be higher. Therefore, the answer is, Yes, with the exceptions given. Those exceptions are important and are frequent. Also, be aware that forgiving does guarantee forgiveness from God or blessing from God. Yehovah’s acceptance of one’s repentance and His willingness to bless must meet Yehovah’s conditions and desire to bless.

“Does a Christian have the right to forgive the sins of someone else?”

Matthew 9:2 And behold, they brought a man sick of the palsy to Him, lying on a bed. And Yeshua seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, “Son, be courageous. Thy sins are forgiven thee.” And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, “This blasphemes!” And Yeshua knowing their thoughts said, “Why think ye evil in your hearts? For which is easier—to say, ‘sins are forgiven thee,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But so that ye will know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins,” then He says to the sick of the palsy, “Arise! Take up thy bed, and go unto thine house!”

Forgiving sins is the territory of God alone—unless He gives part of that territory to a group. Messiah and Peter discussed this:

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him. And he said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Yeshua says unto him, “I don’t say unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven!”

Is Peter forgiving the sins of his brother?

A sin may be against an individual or a group, a sin may be against God, or a sin may be against both, as the following texts show:

Genesis 39:9 “None is greater in this house than I. Neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

Genesis 42:22 And Reuben answered them saying, “Didn’t I speak to you, saying, ‘Don’t sin against the child,’ and ye would not hearken? Therefore, behold, also his blood is required!”

Exodus 23:33 “They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me. For if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.”

Deuteronomy 20:18 And they won’t teach you to do after all their abominations that they have done unto their gods, and ye would sin against Yehovah your God.

1 Samuel 2:25 “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. And if a man sin against Yehovah, who shall entreat for him?” And they didn’t hearken unto the voice of their father, for Yehovah would slay them.

1 Samuel 12:23 “And as for me, God forbid that I should sin against Yehovah by ceasing to pray for you. And I will teach you the good and the right way.”

1 Samuel 19:4 And Jonathan spoke good of David unto Saul his father. And he said unto him, “Let not the king sin against his servant—against David, because he has not sinned against thee, and because his works toward thee are very good. For he did put his life in his hand and slew the Palestinian. And Yehovah wrought a great salvation for all Israel. Thou saw and didst rejoice. Why then wilt thou sin against innocent blood to slay David without a cause?”

1 Kings 8:46 “If they sin against thee (for no man is who doesn’t sin), and thou be angry with them and deliver them to the enemy so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near…”

2 Chronicles 6:22 If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before Thine altar in this house…

Psalm 119:11 I hidden thy word in mine heart so that I won’t sin against thee.

Jeremiah 51:5 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, by his God, by Yehovah of hosts, though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.

1 Corinthians 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against the Messiah.

If the sin is against a brother, the brother has the right to forgive the sin. If the sin is against God, only God has the right to forgive the sin—unless God gives that right to a group (as I said above).

Does God ever give the responsibility of forgiving sins to a group?

John 20:21 And Yeshua again said to them, “Peace unto you! As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” ²²And when He had said this, He breathed on them. And He said unto them, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit. ²³Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them! Whosesoever ye retain, they are retained!”

This End-Times text will be fulfilled during the Tribulation. Such forgiveness of sin or its retention will be absolutely vital at that time. Forgiving or refusing to forgive sins will be for the purpose of saving lives.

If the group forgives an individual of his or her sins, the person will meet the Biblical requirements for sin forgiveness, and the Spirit of Yehovah will apprise the group that this person has truly turned to righteousness. The forgiveness will be extended on the spot in order to save the individual’s life. (The individual will be in great physical danger.)

If the group refuses to forgive an individual of his or her sins, it will be because the person will not meet the Biblical requirements, and will pose the greatest danger to the group. The forgiveness will be refused because the Spirit of God will apprise the group of the deceit of the person; it will be refused to save the lives of the members of the group!

The group that is given the responsibility to forgive sins or cause them to be retained will consist of Israeli Saints.

Do Roman Catholic Priests have the power to forgive sins?

If Roman Catholicism is truth, they do. If Roman Catholicism isn’t truth, they don’t. Roman Catholicism is one of man Replacement Theologies, teachings that declare replacements for literal, physical Israel. It declares its priests as replacements for the Aaronic priests of Israel, and its members as replacements of the Israelis. It claims the promises of Israel for itself. Its altar upon which the Eucharist is performed is supposedly a replacement of the altar of Israel. Its Pope (meaning Papa, or Father) takes the place of the Israeli High Priest, and even stands as a temporary replacement for the Messiah of Israel (called the Vicar of Christ). If Yehovah’s vow in His Covenant to Avraham has been rescinded, and Yehovah has replaced Israel with the Roman Catholic Church, in which case, Yehovah did not keep His word, then Roman Catholicism is truth. If Yehovah has kept His vow that He made with Avraham, knowing fully well the nature and character of the future people of Israel, Roman Catholicism isn’t truth. Decide for yourself whether Yehovah’s character is such that He keeps Covenants and vows, or whether He makes them, then takes them back, instead giving them to others.

“Except for the unforgivable sins, does God always forgive the sin of anyone who asks Him?”

This question is based on the following text:

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Peter responded in a very different way:

Acts 8:22 “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee!”

The only types of thoughts that are sins are plots.

Simon plotted evil. He had confessed his sins, and he had believed. He now desired to buy the ability to grant the Holy Spirit to whomever he wished. His greed for power and prestige became obvious. His pride and lack of humility showed. Peter cursed him, declaring him outside of the faith at the same time.

Yehovah is not under obligation to forgive anyone’s sins just because he confesses. All the conditions must be met, including the condition of turning from the sin.

Some forms of confession are bragging. Some common ‘testimony services’ are brag sessions, telling of the great former evil as a form of entertainment. A true confession must be accompanied by true repentance. Yehovah will be both faithful and righteous to forgive when the one who is asking for mercy will be one who lives according to that mercy. Yehovah’s foreknowledge will always participate in His decisions.

Many will ask for forgiveness of sins. Few will be granted forgiveness. The rest will prove themselves unbelieving and faithless, enslaved sinners who had no true desire to be freed to walk righteously.

Yehovah’s condition for Israel’s forgiveness is given in the following text:

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people that my name is called upon them shall humble themselves and pray and seek my faces and turn from their bad ways, and I, will I hearken from the heavens, and I will pardon to their sin, and I will heal their land.”

Four things are required:

Humbling
Praying
Seeking His faces
Turning

A small part of Israel does one out of four at the present time: praying. Even fewer do some seeking. The Israelis (as a group) do not humble themselves, most having absolutely no interest in the Hebrew Scriptures. There has been no turning that Yehovah has acknowledged as legitimate. The gentiles (as a group) have not done better.

“Why does God forgive sins at all?”

1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name’s sake.

Sins that are forgiven by God are forgiven for the sake of the Name of Yeshua (i.e., for the sake of Salvation) Who gave His life to pay the penalty for the sins of the world.

“Can Christians refuse to forgive other Christians?”

Paul wrote regarding this:

2 Corinthians 2:6 “Sufficient to such a man is this punishment that [was inflicted] under many so that contrariwise ye [owe] rather to forgive and console [him], lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with too much sorrow. I therefore beseech you that ye will confirm love toward him. For I also wrote to this end so that I will know the proof of you—whether ye are obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I also [forgive]. For if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of the Messiah lest Satan should get an advantage of us. For we are not ignorant of his devices.”

This man did an immoral act (probably not realizing it), and Paul found out about it. He wrote to deal strongly with the man, including setting up his death by turning him over to Satan. The man turned, but the Saints at Corinth did not know whether they should forgive him or not. Paul told them to do so, and to confirm love toward the man. The Saints could have refused forgiveness, but this could have caused great damage to the man and to others if Satan used this event.

“When God forgives sins, doesn’t He just do it because He has the power and the right to do it?”

Forgiveness of sins against God requires the shedding of blood:

Colossians 1:14 …in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 …in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.

Sins require blood. If God forgave sins by merely speaking words, there would be no need for Yeshua to be the sacrifice. Every sin that a man does demands the shedding of blood. This is why anyone who thinks that he can sin, and then confess to God (Who, in their theology, basically must forgive him) does not fear God and has never obtained forgiveness! Sin and forgiveness both demand a high price!

A human may forgive the sin of another human if the sin was against him, but the sin itself is still against God. If anyone sins against another person, two evils have been done: the sin against the other person and the sin against God. The Torah teaches this by commanding an Israeli who sinned against another to make restitution, and also to bring a sacrifice!

Another reason why God forgives sin is given in the following text:

Psalm 130:4 forgiveness is with Thee in order that Thou shalt be feared!

A very good reason to fear Yehovah is because forgiveness is with Him! Anyone who thinks that he can obtain Yehovah’s forgiveness for any other reason than because of Yehovah’s Grace will never obtain forgiveness.

“Can a Christian forgive an unbeliever’s sin?”

Pharaoh thought so:

Exodus 10:17 “Now, therefore, forgive, na, my sin only this once, and entreat Yehovah your God. And He will turn-away this death from me.”

There is no indication that Moses forgave (carried) Pharaoh’s sin. Moses knew that Pharaoh would not follow through on his repentance.

Saints must be accurate regarding what they claim they can do. Pharaoh’s sin was against Yehovah, not Moses, and Moses knew this. He did not promise Pharaoh anything, and he certainly did not tell Pharaoh what God would do. I have heard some promise others, “God will forgive you.” How do they know? Did God give this blanket promise?

“Can a group sin?”

Yes. Israel is accused of sin, though not everyone in Israel took part in the sin. Moses interceded for the Israelis as a group:

Exodus 32:32 “And now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin— And if not, blot me, na, from thy book that Thou hast written.”

“Is there anything else that must be forgiven besides sin?”

Exodus 34:7 …keeping Grace for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and Who will by no means clear, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children’s children upon thirds and upon fourths.

Biblical definitions of sin are covered in another document. Iniquity is the remaining guilt that anyone has who has sinned and whose sin has never been removed. It is true and genuine guilt before God for past, unforgiven sins, not the feelings of guilt with which many suffer.

Transgression is the violation of any command by doing less than or more than what has been commanded. If Yehovah says to bring a lamb as a sacrifice, and someone wants to bring a bullock, this is a transgression through pride. Obedience demands that the person or group obeying does not go “to the left or to the right” of the command.

King Saul transgressed by sacrificing when Yehovah had commanded that only priests do this. King Saul was not from the priestly line.

“Are there times when Yehovah will not forgive?”

Isaiah 2:8 Their land also is full of idols! They worship the work of their own hands—that which their own fingers have made. ⁹And adam bows down, and a man humbles himself. Therefore don’t forgive them!

Isaiah was not praying this to Yehovah. He was prophesying this to the Israelis! The Spirit of Yehovah was telling the Israelis that they had violated to a point where forgiveness was no longer possible.

Jeremiah 18:23 Yet, Yehovah, Thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay. Don’t forgive their iniquity, and don’t blot out their sin from Thy sight! And they shall be overthrown before Thee. Deal with them in the time of Thine anger.

Jeremiah appears to be the one praying this prayer. Yehovah did not respond at that time. He later responded, and many Israelis died because of Yehovah’s wrath. Jeremiah cursed them. Yehovah hearkened. Jeremiah was not unrighteous.

Joshua 24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, “Ye cannot serve Yehovah! For He is a holy God! He is a jealous God! He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins!”

The Israelis had to obey the Torah just to stay alive on the Land of Israel! They had a guarantee that Yehovah would not forgive transgressions or sins! They found that Yehovah was serious. The Israelis made peace with Yehovah for a time in the days of Joshua, and closely followed the Torah.

Mark 3:28 “Faith I say unto you, all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme. But he who shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness; he is in danger of everlasting damnation!”

Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men. But the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man—it shall be forgiven him. But whosoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.”

“Is anyone guaranteed forgiveness of sin?”

Jeremiah 31:34 “And they shall no more teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know Yehovah!’ For they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them,” says Yehovah. “For I will forgive their iniquity and I will no more remember their sin.”

Yehovah has guaranteed that the Israelis living toward the end of the Tribulation who have not become hardened against the truth will be forgiven. No other entire group of which I am aware has such a guarantee.

“Does God ever forgive the sin of one person because of the faith of a group?”

Though no one has ever asked me this question, the following text answers this:

Mark 2:3 And they come unto Him bringing one sick of the palsy who was carried by four. And when they could not come near unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was. And when they had broken up, they let down the bed in which the sick of the palsy lay. When Yeshua saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.” But there were certain of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this thus speak blasphemies? Who forgives sins but God only?” And immediately when Yeshua perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, He said unto them, “Why do ye reason these things in your hearts whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, ‘Sins are forgiven thee,’ or to say, ‘Arise! And take up thy bed and walk’? But that ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins,” He says to the sick of the palsy, “I say unto thee, Arise! And take up thy bed! And go thy way into thine house!” And he immediately arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all insomuch that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw it on this fashion!”

Conclusion

Forgiving sins requires very specific prerequisites. Yehovah does not guarantee that He will forgive sins of all, and most will not have their sins forgiven. Humans cannot forgive sins of others (with rare exceptions). Yehovah is ready to forgive if the person or group meets the requirements for forgiveness.

Psalm 86:5 For Thou, Yehovah, art good and ready to forgive, and of great grace unto all them that call upon Thee.

March 3, 2009August 22, 2016

Wages of Sin is Death

The Wages Of Sin

Is Death

[The following events are factual, written by the woman involved. Names have been changed. If you desire contact with the writer, contact Saar Shalom Center.]

Then when lust hast conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:15

The above-mentioned passage is one that I came to understand all too well as a teenager. It seemed that no matter how great the sin was in my life, I always thought that I was basically a ‘good person’. I didn’t recognize sin for what it was. I always had excuses for my actions. I was the ‘victim’ rather than the responsible party. My eyes have been opened, thanks to God; for I can recognize that these actions were sin, and I can refuse to repeat them by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is a common story, but is usually kept quiet because of shame. I wrote this so that I would finally have freedom, and so that others who read it would be able to stop sin before it gets going.

I was an insecure child because of many things. Being the youngest of four children and the only female, I was considered spoiled. I can recall my brothers, when almost anything went wrong, saying: “Renee did it. She’s the youngest and doesn’t know any better; and besides, she’s a girl!” They said it as though the definition of girl were any form of loathsome disease. My Dad didn’t understand how girls’ emotions worked, so he found me to be a constant frustration. “How do I talk to her?” he would ask. “All she ever does is cry!” That seemed true, but I misread his frustration as rejection.

My heart’s desire was to play baseball with my Dad and brothers. Instead, I was left behind to do women’s work with mother. My brothers’ births were planned. I was my parents’ little accident. My Mother made it quite evident that she loved me very much. She truly indicated that I was a gift of God. I knew that she really cared about me, but I wanted my father’s love and attention so much.

I was very overweight in grade school. This, coupled with hypersensitivity, made me a total mess. I was a fat kid that cried over everything! This was not a popular combination, to say the least. Other children made fun of me with loud comments across the playground like “Hey, Tubby! You gonna’ roll home from school today?” Even my brothers joined in the mockery. They were ashamed to identify with me as their sister. I wanted to roll over them and flatten them like a steamroller! But I just cried: my way to escape the hypersensitivity and insecurity. When it came to ‘fight or flight’, I always chose ‘flight’.

When I began to approach the age of junior high, I realized that something in my life had to change. Boys were beginning to be something desirable, rather than the usual nuisance. I figured that I would be entering a new school; I would find new friends; and I needed to be a new me. I starved myself five or six days per week. Although I finally obtained a figure that was considered too skinny by some, I still had a fat, undesirable image of myself. My first ‘date’ was at the age of 12. Brad’s mother picked me up to take me to the movies with her son. We went to see Planet of the Apes. What a bore, but I enjoyed just being out with Brad. I was both nervous and excited. After the movie, we were driven to the local ice cream parlor hangout. On the pretense of a nice walk, I was then escorted to an abandoned office lobby where my date suddenly turned into an octopus. His hands were all over me. After a scuffle, I pushed him away and asked to be taken home. That’s when I got my new nice name of Prude. The implication was far from that of respect.

I grew up in the age of mini-skirts, so naturally I was right in style wearing them. I was now 13, the weight I wanted to be, but lonely. I was at my favorite ice cream parlor hangout, this particular summer day, wearing a mini-skirt. I bent over the water fountain to get a drink. There was a young man of the Negro race around five years my senior ordering ice cream nearby. As I bent over the water fountain, he glanced my way. As he started to order his ice cream, he said, “Give me a scoop of legs…I mean, chocolate almond ice cream.” I was flattered that someone actually thought that I, the rolly-polly bundle of emotional chaos, had nice legs! I still felt fat, though, despite all the weight-loss. He came over and introduced himself to me as Jack, and requested my telephone number.

I knew Mother demonstrated no prejudice. She worked with underprivileged Blacks, and encouraged us to be friends with them. I did not know if this included dating, however. When Jack called me to ask me out to a school band concert, I received parental approval. What harm could there be in attending such an event?

As I continued dating Jack, I developed a sick dependency on him. I seemed to overlook his intense jealousy, arrogance, and power over me. I was all involved in the idea of ‘going steady’ and ‘having a boyfriend’. I desired to belong…to be loved…to be the main person in someone’s life. He didn’t allow me to speak to other males. I could accept no ride to school unless he approved: those in his group.

If he threatened to leave me, I would become hysterical, begging and pleading with him to stay. My life was miserable: I was trapped. Jack’s friends that were the group were into drugs and alcohol. I started out smoking cigarettes, and was pressured into smoking marijuana. Alcohol was disgusting, but I drank to belong. At times I enjoyed the ‘high’; but usually it seemed to intensify my insecurity and fears. Reality hit home after the affects wore off. I managed to not succumb to the hard drugs most of the time, although I tried stronger things on two occasions.

My parents realized that the relationship was a bad one, and forbade me to see him. I had girlfriends who snuck me out of the house so that I could see Jack. I frequently cut classes to go to the nearby duck pond, to talk to Jack. When I would get into trouble at school, the principal would lecture me and ask me, “What’s a nice girl doing hanging around people like these?” I really didn’t know the answer to that question. On one particular summer’s day beneath a shade tree at the duck pond, I was talking to Jack, skipping my P.E. class. The dreaded subject of sex came up. I wanted no part in it, since I had been sexually abused as a child. I can’t recall if it was a ploy by Jack, or if I thought of it on my own, but I began to wonder if I could be a wife sexually to a future husband, because of my past. My indecision over time was confronted by Jack’s words: “If you don’t, I’ll be forced to find someone who will.” I eventually bought it, hook, line, sinker, bait, fish-pole and all: and planned out the dreaded day.

My first voluntary sexual encounter was painful, awkward, and definitely not desirable to do again. I didn’t bleed, as do most first-timers, so my virginity was questioned. I wondered just how far the sexual abuse had gone with me as a child, when I was too little to really understand sex. These thoughts added to my discomfort.

Our relationship went on for five years. I don’t recall whether any of the sexual encounters with Jack was pleasurable. They were a way to hold on. Jack mocked our relationship and my devotion to him! I later found out that Jack had relations with just about every one of my friends, including my ‘very best friend’. One night while at a party, I had a few drinks for courage, then walked over to my ‘best friend’ and slapped her across the face for sleeping with Jack. I then turned to Jack and asked him to take me home. Instead he returned with a pinch on my bottom. I was irritated and told him not to do it again. He did it again with a cunning smirk on his face. I told him “Don’t do it again, or I’ll hurt you.” He immediately repeated the gesture. I swung around, and delivered a hefty blow across his back. The next thing I knew, I was backed into a corner, receiving several swift punches to the jaw. I remember slumping to the floor, screaming and crying, more from the pain of realizing that the one I thought I had loved could do such a thing, rather than the actual physical pain. I ended up in an emergency room that night, with my father present. Of course, I lied about how it happened to save Jack’s hide. I used the “ran into a door” routine, which no one swallowed, but I stuck to the story. It took five hours for the doctors to reset my jaw. A specialist was called in from out of town to assist, but they finally fixed it before he arrived. When I called Jack later to let him know how I was, the party was still going on. Jack sounded sleepy with my ‘best friend’s’ voice equally as sleepy beside him in the background. I was suspicious as to what was going on, but I didn’t want to believe the obvious. I was too proud to admit that my boyfriend was a snake! One might think that anyone would dump this jerk by now, but no! I was a slow learner.

At age 16, I worked in a coffee shop. It was the first real job that I found on my own. I began to daily get suddenly ill at the smell of food. I spent several lunch hours lying down in the locker room with a cool rag over my forehead, trying to overcome the nausea. I had episodes where I almost passed out. I was several weeks late for my period, so I devised a story to get out of the house, to visit the Free Clinic for a pregnancy test. My parents had recently divorced, and Jack was newly drafted into the army. I felt as though everyone in that overcrowded clinic knew my shame; I was overcome with guilt. My worst fears became a reality. The doctor came out smiling and said, “Congratulations. You’re going to have a baby.” I gasped, “Oh God, NO! I can’t have a baby! My Dad would just kill me!” I asked if there could be any mistake. He assured me there was no mistake. My whole world seemed to be crashing down around me. The clinic said they could fly me to a big city over a weekend, for an abortion. I didn’t even need parental approval. A few more lies, just a few days: who would be the wiser? But no – as tempted as I was, I couldn’t do it. Suppose the doctor who was to perform the abortion was a ‘quack butcher’ who would leave me to bleed to death? What would it do to my parents? I would eventually have to face them with the truth if there were any complications, although the clinic assured me that it was quite safe. I was in a whirlwind of turmoil. I didn’t know what to do, so I did nothing. I went home, and went to bed, trying to sleep. The next morning, I awoke hoping it had been a dream. My queasy stomach confirmed that it was all too real. A few days later, I talked with Jack who was in the armed services, and his mother. She had often told me that her son was no good for me: that I should leave him. I didn’t listen. She was, and is a sweet lady who loves the Lord, and she loved me. Now she was telling me not to have the baby. Jack was leaving the decision up to me. What should I do? I didn’t believe in abortion. I thought this sick relationship with Jack was love, and I wanted his baby. I had to go one step further and tell my Dad about my pregnancy.

My Mother was gone, and I wasn’t even speaking to her. The separation from my Father was a bitter one. I couldn’t handle being in the middle, so I chose one over the other. I felt that my Dad was like a child who needed to be cared-for, so I chose to stay with him. I severed the relationship and all contact with Mom, so Dad was all I had. It took every ounce of courage to tell Dad. Would he surprise me and react calmly, or would he become enraged? Stammering, I nervously told him. “What?” he yelled, “you’re nothing but a little whore!…” That’s all I really heard. The rest I blocked out…

When Dad was finally over the shock, I guess he really handled this tough situation as best as he could. Given the same situation, I don’t know how I would have reacted. All I recalled then was the rejection I felt, and the shame in knowing my own father considered me a whore; the guilt. Dad took me to his choice of a doctor for confirmation of pregnancy. The abortion that I was being pressured into accepting was to take place in the best local hospital: a very prominent one. No one was to know why I was there; but many suspected, since I was in the obstetrical unit. The lie that the other rooms were full, such that I had to be placed here, was told. Pride demands such a price!

Before I would be granted a legal abortion, I needed to see two psychiatrists. They had to determine that I was either mentally or physically unable to have a baby before an abortion would be performed. I truly wanted to have the baby, but . . . how could I? I had refused to drink or smoke for the child’s sake. How could I now end it all? But what could I offer this life that would be dependent upon me? I talked frankly with the psychiatrists. “The child would be rejected because of its mixed race. My Dad won’t help support us. My Mom is gone and I’m not even speaking to her. Jack’s family says have the abortion. Jack’s in the army, so he’s no help. I haven’t even finished school – I’m just a kid myself! What kind of life could I provide for this child?” I searched the psychiatrist’s face looking for an answer. But the decision was left up to me. “So,” the psychiatrist questioned, “does that mean you want the abortion?” I drew in a deep breath and said, “Yes.” The psychiatrists told me I had a very clear perspective on the situation beyond what most people would have, given the same situation. They would back me up and help me as much as they could in either direction. With the facts put before me, abortion seemed to be the only answer.

My outward appearance before the abortion was calm and carefree. Inside, my emotions were raging like a storm. How could I do this? Would I be able to live with my decision? Now will anyone ever love and understand me after this awful thing that I am about to do? I didn’t have any answers; just a lot of questions.

The operation went well. I was wheeled from recovery into my hospital room. I cried out for something to relieve my excruciating pain. It was finished. The dirty deed had been done. My heart was filled with remorse. I grabbed one of the attendant’s hands. “What was it?” I pleaded, “Boy or girl?” He hesitated. “I’m not allowed to say-,” he stammered. “Please,” I begged, determined not to let go of him, until I got my answer. “A boy,” he said reluctantly, “a beautiful baby boy.” He forced a smile. I rang for a shot. The emotional and physical pain was more than I could bear. I wanted to get away from it all. I started to sink into self-pity. But then a curious thing happened. I decided not to let my emotions get the best of me. I fixed myself up, and decided to go for a walk down the hall and visit other patients. I was determined not to let the four walls of the room and my self-pity crash down on me. When I returned to my room, I felt refreshed. The other patients seemed to also enjoy my company. Later in the day I would daydream about my unborn child – my son. I wondered what he would have looked like. I supposed he would have been beautiful. I would gaze out of my window to the busy streets below. I felt all alone, and cried, mourning for the death of my son. I loved him, though I never knew him.

After I had recovered and returned home, Jack called from the service. I told him it was over; the abortion was done. “What?” he raged, “you murdered my son? How could you?” I remember my turmoil in response to his remarks. A knife in my heart could not have hurt any worse than those words. He gave me no indication that he wanted this child. He left the decision up to me. Now he was blaming me for the murder of his son. One would think this would be enough for me to break it off with Jack: but no. Now I was sure no one else could ever love me: a murderer.

God certainly knew what He was doing when he intended sex to be saved for marriage. There is a bond between two people who have given their bodies to each other in such an intimate way. With the right person, it would be so special. With the wrong person, it seemed like a trap.

I don’t recall how we met in the school office that day, but there he was: Dave. He was blonde-haired and blue eyed: I had admired him from grade school. He was so handsome! Unfortunately, he had never cared for me. He looked different that day; he actually looked happy: happy and peaceful. I hadn’t seen this look before; he was more attractive than I had remembered. We exchanged words, and he seemed to be able to look right through me. He said that I looked like I needed a friend, and he knew the right one: Jesus. I had been raised to attend church, but I rebelled and went my own way. I was angry when anyone wanted to talk about God…but not this time. True, I had affection for Dave, but God knew Dave was the right one to lead me to Him. My motives were partially wrong, but God knew the results would be right. I attended a Bible study with him that weekend. I truly enjoyed the study! I was surprised. Dave and I were comfortable with one another. We discussed our likes/dislikes; we discussed his girlfriend and our separate futures. We were all alone in his parent’s cottage for a weekend, and for once, a male just enjoyed my company. What a refreshing change!

That weekend Bible study gave me a desire to find out more about this God Who changed the life of a boy that I admired for so long. I don’t remember what church I was in, nor with whom I attended. I was around 18 years old now, crying my heart out on the altar of a church I had attended for the first time that night. I asked for God’s forgiveness for my sin. I knew my heavenly Father loved me and knew all about me whether my earthly father did or not. Mom and I had made contact, although we had some problems working out our differences. She and my step-Dad were the first two with whom I wanted to share this wonderful news. Something had changed in me that night. I knew that it had taken place; and it was even more than I realized. They were very happy for me.

I had boldness in dealing with Jack from that night on. He no longer played on my emotions with the intensity he once had. His threats and anger produced laughter in me instead of the fear that once gripped me. I knew I wanted out of the relationship, but still I couldn’t get out. He threatened suicide. He followed me. He tried to make my life miserable. I finally left my Father to live with my Mom and step-Dad. I told my Father that I wasn’t leaving him because I didn’t care for him; it was just time to go.

My stepfather had more patience and confidence than any man I had ever known. He feared God, and he obviously loved my Mother and me. I discussed my hopelessness in the situation between Jack and me. When I wanted marriage for the sake of his child, Jack wanted no part of it. Now that I wanted no part of Jack, he wanted marriage. What a farce! But the thought of Jack’s threat of suicide took an emotional toll on me. How could I take responsibility for another lost life? I had sacrificed my son’s life. Now, with Jack’s life on my hands, what could I do? My step-Dad always assured me by saying, “I know you, and I know you’ll do the right thing.” How could he? “I’ve done a pretty good job of messing up my life so far; what makes him think I’m going to stop now?” I was frantic. I wanted him to be right, but I was so afraid he was wrong. He was a hard man when it came to talking: tough, yet loving. My Mother was convinced that I would not be responsible if Jack committed suicide. Now all she had to do was convince me! She finally succeeded. Although I had already ended Jack’s and my relationship in my heart, the timing wasn’t right. I chose to find a way that we could somehow part as friends. I told him how a woman likes to be treated, and how to be a friend. We spent good times together on a different level. No more sex. No more commitment. Then the time came. We had a nice quiet evening together walking, laughing and talking. The evening commenced with my termination of the relationship. “Why?” he asked, when things are going so well? Aren’t we getting along better than ever before?” I answered “Yes, and that’s the way I want to leave it. Too much has happened between us to patch things up,” I continued, “but at least now we can part as friends.” I told him how God had changed my life through Jesus. He couldn’t deny the changes he saw.

I wish I could say that all my sin and wrong decisions ceased from that moment on, but they did not. I was growing, learning, and changing more each day, but I still had a long way to go. I’ve still got a long way to go, but I’m looking to the future and whatever else God has in store for me.

Remember my friend whom I slapped for sleeping with my boyfriend? Well, I couldn’t leave that the way it stood, either. We talked, and I told her I no longer resented what she had done. I was sorry that she, too, had gotten involved with the sick, evil ways of Jack. I hoped that she would also get freedom.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 8:23.

February 19, 2009August 26, 2016

Blood and Sin

A Brief Look at Blood and Sin

Blood is where the life of the flesh is found.
Sin cannot go unpaid. Justice (a non-being) must be satisfied for every sin that occurs in the universe.
Sin can only be covered and/or removed by the blood of one of equal or greater value who has no sin. (Thus, no animal can cover or remove the sin of a human.)
No human born from Adam has come into the world untainted by sin. Thus, no human can die, shedding his/her blood, to cover or remove the sin of another.
Even a perfect human from birth could only cover or remove the sin of one other human, if that were possible. Since there are no humans born perfect in this way, and since all sin (if they live for any reasonable length of time), humans cannot cover others for sin. They can die so that others will live; that is heroism.
Yehovah cannot sin and has never been tainted by sin.
Yehovah’s value is infinitely greater than the value of all humans combined.
Yehovah is able to shed His own blood to cover the sin of the entire world. But… God cannot die.
Yehovah sent part of Himself, made mortal (that is, capable of dying) and in the form of a human (and thus, with blood) in order to die for the sin of the world.
That part of Yehovah is Yeshua (meaning salvation). He was born as a child without sin, lived without sin, voluntarily shed His own blood for the sin of the world, and rose from the dead.
Only those who have a truly Biblical faith (based on direct knowledge of what the Bible or some other infallible form of communication from the God of Bible says, not on what someone said about the Bible) in His blood have access to that Salvation (being saved) from sin.
Yehovah gave instructions for animal sacrifices so that adults and children could learn about such sacrifices through show-and-tell means. Animal sacrifices are therefore very important learning tools. They will be restored and active again before and during the Millennium.

February 13, 2009August 22, 2016

Biblical Definition of Sin/Can a Saint Go a Day without Sinning?

Can a Saint Go a Day without Sinning?

Introduction

Ask folks claiming to be Christians, “Can anyone go a day without sinning?” Some may take a stand that they can. Others will claim that going any length of time without sinning is not possible, since mortals are fallen creatures. Some practically fight for the right to sin.

One common response is, “You sin all the time, just by your thoughts!” and another is, “We commit the sin of omission all the time!” “Nobody’s perfect!” comes in somewhere. How do Scriptures describe the Saints who pleased God?

Pastor Arthur Glass wrote the following summary (which I have updated later in this document):

The Biblical Definition of Sin

As taken form the pastoral outline notes of Arthur Glass

A. The Depraving Folly: “The thought of foolishness is sin” —Proverbs 24:9-a

The Hebrew word being translated thought is not the usual word. This word means “to connive, design, devise or plan (evil); also to scheme, think (immorally or evil).” Only when used of God can it be used in a good sense (as in Zechariah 8:14 & 15). Whenever it is used of man, it is mainly evil (as in Deuteronomy 19:19).

The Hebrew word being translated foolishness has nothing to do with intelligence or intellectual capacity, or lack of it: but rather with moral or spiritual status: “a state of impious wickedness.”

1. Its Source: The heart

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. ¹⁹For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: ²⁰These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

2. Its Substance: Evil thoughts (as defined above), murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies

3. Its Sequence: “These are the things which defile a man.”

Examples: Matthew 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. ⁴And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

B. The Deciding Faithlessness: “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” —Romans 14:23-b

An Example: Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

1. Is it for the glory of God? 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

2. Is it for my good or the good of others?

Examples: Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

3. Is it for the furtherance of the Gospel? Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.

C. The Deliberate Failure: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” —James 4:17

1. In Example: 1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

1 Thessalonians 2:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor [yet] of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. ⁷But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

2. In Exercise: Psalm 131:1 A Song of degrees of David. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.

1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

3. In Expression: Colossians 4:6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

D. The Demonstrated Flagrancy: “Sin is the transgression of the Law” —1 John 3:4-b

Deuteronomy 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

1. The Spiritual Law: Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

2. The Social Law: Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, [but] gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; ¹⁴Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. ¹⁵For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

3. The Standard Law: The Bible warns against dissipation, drunkenness, excess, gluttony, intemperance, laziness.

E. The Declared Finality: “All unrighteousness is sin” —1 John 5:17-a

1. In Thought: Psalm 50:21 These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes. + Acts 8:20,22

2. In Tongue: Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: ¹⁷A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, ¹⁹A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. ³Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. ³⁷For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

3. In Transaction: Romans 12:17-b Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

2 Corinthians 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; ¹²That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.

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(The following is added and not original)

F. The Deleterious Frivolity: “The plowing of the wicked is sin.” —Proverbs 21:4-b

The Hebrew word translated plowing is also the word for lamp or light.

Isaiah 5:20 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!

Psalm 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? ¹⁷Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. ¹⁸When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. ¹⁹Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. ²⁰Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. ²¹These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

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Discussion

A. The Plot of Evil

“The plot of evil is sin.” The Hebrew literally reads, “The plot of evil is a sin-sacrifice.” This is an End Times warning text, one of several thousand in the Bible. It gives a particular detail that will save the lives of Jewish folks who know and hearken to it. During the Tribulation, Jews (and some non-Jews) will approach the priests at the Temple to do sin sacrifices. They will not know that they are identifying themselves as enemies of those in power by this means, and will be tracked for arrest or death. The Proverbs text explains that the sin sacrifice will be a plot against them. Readers who hearken to this warning will refrain from approaching to do sin sacrifices during this time.

This does not eliminate plots of evil from being sin, but this Proverbs text is not giving this general rule.

I will discuss “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin,” “all unrighteousness is sin,” and “who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it–to him it is sin” later in this document.

“Sin is the transgression of the Law.” Anyone ignorant of the Torah (Law) might find this confusing. Read the Torah (the first six books of the Bible) to determine what constitutes transgressions.

“The lamp of the wicked is sin.” What is this lamp? The Hebrew text literally reads, “The lamp of culpable-ones is a sin-sacrifice.” This again is a warning for End Times events (as are all Proverbs texts). The sin sacrifice will be a signal to culpable ones. They will know whom to arrest and/or kill. Readers of these texts with knowledge who are alive during the Tribulation will know to stay away from the Temple and its sacrifices until Salvation has come.

B. “We are not to judge!”

1. No normal person would argue against trained and certified, uncorrupted judges judging without violating any law of God, just as Biblically appointed judges (Gideon, Samson, Samuel) of old were appointed by God to judge. The blanket statement, “we are not to judge,” is a legal, moral and ethical error. If a non-certified person sets himself as a judge, injustice will be done.

2. A customer in the grocery store or on a car lot judges objects. Distinguishing between different objects and different persons is called discernment, determining differences between objects, persons, works, etc. when they otherwise look very similar. Discernment is a form of judgment. Another form of judgment is condemnation. Anyone who condemns another without being authorized is doing wrong.

3. Folks who date judge the qualities of each other (if they have sense). Those who date and marry without judging usually get the quality of the product they deserve. Judgment is crucial in such important decisions.

4. Condemning anyone before the time (of Yehovah’s judgment) is wrong. Discernment is right.

Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. And with what measure ye mete [assign by measure], it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote [a small particle] that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, ‘Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;’ and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye!

Messiah addressed many who had not come to faith (Matthew 5-7). In Matthew 7:1-5, an unbelieving Israeli (and therefore under condemnation) is judging another Israeli for a lesser offense! Anyone with a beam in his eye is totally blind, a description of the unsaved. This text does not pertain to Saints.

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given unto you–men shall give into your bosom good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over. For it shall be measured to you with the same measure that ye mete withal … (43) …For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit, neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man bringeth forth that which is good out of the good treasure of his heart. And an evil man bringeth forth that which is evil out of the evil treasure of his heart. For his mouth speaketh from the abundance of the heart.

In the same manner, the Luke text addressed unsaved Israelis. One Israeli judged another instead of carefully considering his own status before God. The Israelis are commanded to love each other, not sit in judgment upon one other. Israel had courts where judgments beyond this could take place. Messiah guarantees that Israelis who treat other Israelis in a particular way will be treated in the same way. (What is the timing?)

John 7:24 …Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother [concerning foods and holy days]? or why doest thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah… (13) …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 the brother’s way.

5. The next level of judgment is in a dispute over keeping a holiday or eating certain foods. Jewish individuals could not eat some things according to the Torah, while non-Jewish Saints could. Yehovah prohibited all Saints from eating certain foods, like meat sacrificed to idols (if the host discloses that it was involved in this) and anything with blood. Yehovah commanded the Jewish People to keep certain Holy Days. The Gentiles are not given Biblical Holy Days, and they may observe the days of their choosing, or no days. Contention results if a non-Jewish person tries to put restrictions on a Jew, or vice versa. If a Gentile tells another Gentile to keep the Sabbath (which was given to Israel and not the Gentiles), the Torah has been twisted. If one judges another according to his own views, the judge is violating the territory of Yehovah. This judgment belongs to Yehovah only.

I Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

Luke 7:42b “Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose that to whom he forgave most.” And He said unto him, “Thou has rightly judged.”

I Corinthians 5:3 For I verily–as absent in body but present in spirit–have judged already, as though I were present, him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Messiah Jesus, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus!

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner–with such an one no notto eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person!

1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one who shall be able to judge between his brethren?

6. The next level of judgment is when a Believer judges a sinning non-believer. Religious judgment of sinners (for abortions, addictions, etc.) is presumptuous and not a Saint’s responsibility. The non-believer always has sin. Yehovah judges such for sin.

7. 1 Corinthians addresses legitimately judging a sinning Saint (if there is proof). This is vital to maintain the standards of Godliness among Brethren. Some religious folks will judge others for certain types of clothing, hair lengths, drinking wine, etc., but these are not sin issues unless they cross over into immodesty or addictions. Some maintain that a woman’s wearing pants is immodest. If she does not wear pants, that would truly be immodest!

8. The next level of judgment is discernment (of spirits, of spirituality, of things hard to distinguish without wisdom or the Spirit of God). Even unbelievers can sometimes accurately exercise this important level of judgment.

9. 1 Corinthians 6 teaches that Saints will judge unbelievers and angels. They need to show proper judgment now in preparation for this event.

10. Anyone who criticizes is judging. Criticism is not automatically wrong. It can be constructive, destructive or impertinent. Constructive criticism helps a person do right and become better at something good. Destructive criticism tears down and attacks. The critic may be arrogant, bitter or prideful, or may be untaught in proper communications and sensitivity. No one has the right to condemn criticism, but its form is important. It is a vital part of growth.

11. Anyone exercising no judgment is a fool. Anyone utilizing wise judgment demonstrates virtue. Anyone condemning sound judgment defies the Scriptures and lacks understanding.

C. “You sin all the time, just by your thoughts!”

What constitutes a thought-sin? The Torah teaches the following:

Leviticus 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am Yehovah.

Exodus 23:5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

Luke states,

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, Rebuke Him! And if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, ‘I repent,’ thou shalt forgive him.

1. Hatred of a brother is sin. The following Psalm describes Biblically proper hatred:

Psalm 139:19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked one, O God; depart from me therefore, ye bloody men! For they speak against thee wickedly; thine enemies take [thy Name] in vain! Do not I hate them, Yehovah, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: test me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be a wicked way in me: and lead me in the way everlasting.

2. A Saint does right by hating those who hate Yehovah and His Name. His views of justice must line up with Yehovah’s. Yet Yehovah shows grace to His enemies, and the Saint must do the same with Wisdom. One of Yehovah’s characteristics is hatred:

Psalm 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies: Yehovah will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Psalm 11:5 Yehovah tries the righteous [person]: but the wicked [person] and him that loveth violence His Soul Hateth!

Proverbs 6:16 These… doth Yehovah hate: … A false witness speaking lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off who trouble you!

Hatred is not sin as long as it—

is not toward a brother (a believer, or, among the Israelis, a fellow Israeli);

is part of Biblical grace (Yehovah’s hatred of the above-mentioned sinners has always been an integral part of His grace; He still calls them to repent); and

does not have destructive bitterness. If an enemy desires to make peace on God’s terms, Biblical grace will eliminate bitterness towards the worst enemy.

Any plot of evil is sin (though the text that mentions a plot of evil is referring to a particular event). The following are examples of the plotting of evil:

holding hatred toward a brother

evil bitterness (there is a righteous form)

presumption (assumption with arrogance)

plotting murder, harm, destruction, theft (outside of a war action)

plotting revenge (outside of a war action)

plotting the ruination of character (outside of a war action)

covetousness

Covetousness is fervently desiring the exact item or person possessed by another, and is not the same as desiring something or someone similar. Covetousness can be a plot of evil if, given the chance and possibility, someone will violate ethics to obtain the desired object.

The Torah defines sin. There is no case where incorrect thoughts are considered sin. Anyone acting on evil thoughts or plotting evil has sinned.

If I were to see someone doing what might be evil, but I am unsure, if I draw a conclusion before I know the truth and the facts, I have not sinned. If I act upon those thoughts, my act may be sin. Every thought that is truly a sin is a plot. We can correct thoughts before we act upon them. If the Israelis must bring thoughts into subjection, preventing sin (2 Corinthians 10:5b: bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah, and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience…), all Saints must also. This is not a command to control thoughts. Some have erred by trying to keep evil thoughts out of their minds, feeling guilty before God for even having them. Evil thoughts do not pollute the person in any way. Anyone who has evil thoughts and refuses to yield to them is showing strength, not weakness.

I have often heard the following verse cited regarding thought-sins:

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

The initial action, looketh on a woman, is followed by another action, to lust after her. This is no passive, fleeting thought, but is the beginning of an evil plot. Lusting after anyone in the Biblical sense is an action. The Israelis lusted after meat. Yehovah gave them quails. They ate them raw. It is no sin for a man to lustily desire a woman for a wife if he refuses to sin in the process of properly acquiring her (if she will have him). Raping, stalking or involving her in adultery are great evils. Lusting for a woman (not lusting after) is not Biblically wrong. God built desires into men and women. The races would have ceased long ago had it not been for this.

If one believes fleeting evil thoughts are sin, he will never able to overcome:

James 1:6b …For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Since he is sinning all of the time (in his view), he is less likely to attempt to refuse to sin. Were fleeting thoughts sin, the Word of God would have said so. When one speaks a lie to us, have we sinned? When our mind thinks lies, have we sinned? If we lie and do evil, we sin.

D. “Well, we commit the sin of omission all the time!”

Some use this false doctrine to convict people to go out and witness in every spare moment. “If you don’t witness to every person you can in a given day, you have committed the sin of omission, since we are told to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” they say. This is also used to get drivers for the bus ministry or tithers to give to ‘the storehouse’. It is a handy tool to get people to come to every service in order to “not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as the practice of some is.”

Study the Law of God. Try to find a sin that is not a sin of commission. A sin of omission is a sin done by omitting some necessary act. A sin of commission is a sin done by performing (committing) some act. Every sin in the Bible is a committed sin.

The Torah says to give a coat to a poor brother who is naked. Suppose an Israeli with an extra coat refuses to give his coat. That is an act of disobedience, not of omission.

Suppose someone doesn’t know a particular Law of God, and inadvertently violates it, thereby sinning. It may have been done in ignorance, but it was done, and the command was violated. Examples of this are found in Leviticus and Numbers. Every sin is an act. No sin is an accident. Sin may be done in ignorance, but it is still an act. No Israeli is permitted to be ignorant of the commandment! The Hebrew texts refer to sins of imprudence rather than sins of ignorance. A sin of omission, were it to exist, would be a non-act.

Did Messiah Yeshua witness to every person? He could have witnessed to Herod at His trial, but He refrained (“He opened not His mouth”). Paul was forbidden to preach the word by the command of the Holy Spirit:

Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit allowed them not.

Weren’t they commanded to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature? Abraham did not witness to everyone, nor did any of the Saints. They pleased God by working with their hands and by being obedient in all things. Refuse to commit sins (obviously of commission). That will please Yehovah.

E. “Nobody’s perfect!”

This is a statement of disbelief. Unbelief indicates blindness regarding Spiritual things. Disbelief indicates sight, the refusal to acknowledge what is openly seen, and even obstinacy rooted in pride.

1. What does perfect mean? It is always in the superlative degree. There is nothing above perfect. There is no such thing in the Hebrew language as ‘more perfect’. The expressions more perfectly and more perfect are used in the ‘New Testament’ in the following texts:

Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto [them], and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Acts 23:15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

Acts 23:20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

Acts 24:22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of [that] way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building…

These verses express the addition of perfect information or clarity to what was already known. The Hebrew use of perfect is always expressing a superlative.

Perfect is used as an adjective to describe the Law of God, which is part of the Word of God. It is elevated above the Name Yehovah:

Psalm 138:2b …for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above ALL thy Name…

The statement, “the Law of Yehovah is perfect” declares a perfection that cannot be surpassed.

2. Israel’s sacrifices had to be perfect (not without blemish as in most renderings). They typify Messiah. Therefore perfect will not mean anything less. A car may be without blemish. That doesn’t mean that it will start. A perfect car will start. Perfect means being and doing all that God created the person, item or animal to be and to do by His power and according to His command. Is it difficult to do the will of God when He has given the power and the command to do it? Is obedience difficult? The way of transgressors is hard (Proverbs 13:15).

3. Are there any perfect people besides Messiah? Righteous is to be in right standing before God based on doing right, not under accusation before Him. All unrighteousness is sin, and therefore all righteousness is not sin. A righteous person refuses to sin, and an unrighteous person sins. Yehovah holds the standard and judges according to it. Anything short of righteousness in His view isn’t righteous. Yet someone may do right in the sight of Yehovah and not be righteous, as in the following case:

2 Kings 14:1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. ²He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. ³And he did right in the sight of Yehovah, yet not like David his father. He did according to all things as Joash his father did. ⁴Howbeit the high places were not taken away. As yet, the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

To be righteous in the Spiritual sense is both to do right and to be right in all things. Positional righteousness is no replacement for experiential righteousness. Some righteous individuals are not born of God. King Abimelech was such a person:

Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Behold, thou art a dead man, for the woman that thou hast taken. For she is a man’s wife.” ⁴But Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, “Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? ⁵Said he not unto me, ‘She is my sister?’ And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.” ⁶And God said unto him in a dream, “Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart. For I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. ⁷Now therefore restore the man the wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.”

4. The theological stand known as Sinless perfection is unscriptural. One of the two words in sinless perfection is redundant, since to be perfect is to be without sin. This false doctrine claims that a person born in sin may lose his ability to sin by entire sanctification (another false doctrine). No mortal hast lost the ability to sin. The Bible gives warnings to Saints to beware lest they fall. But can a Saint be perfect?

Genesis 6:9b Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.

Genesis 7:1 And Yehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and refused evil… 1:8 …And Yehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and refuses evil?… 1:22 …In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly… 2:3b …a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and refuseth evil? and still he holds fast his perfection [Hebrew], although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause… 2:10b …In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisheva. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

If “Nobody’s perfect,” the Scriptures aren’t true.

5. Some folks attempt to diminish the definitions of words like perfect into meanings like mature (The Law of Yehovah is mature, restoring the soul?) or sincere (The Law of Yehovah is sincere, restoring the soul?). “Be ye therefore mature, even as your Father who is in heaven is mature”? “Be ye therefore sincere, even as your Father who is in heaven is sincere”?

How were some Saints perfect/righteous? Noah walked with God. Job feared God and refused evil. He didn’t accuse God. He held fast to his perfection. He didn’t sin with his lips. Zechariah and Elisheva walked in all the commandments and ordinances of Yehovah, and were blameless before God (Luke 1:5,6). Were they born that way? No. They made up their minds using the power God gave them to consistently do right. Daniel is twice commended for his righteousness:

Ezekiel 14:14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver [but] their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Yehovah.

Ezekiel 14:20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, I live, saith the Lord Yehovah, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

6. Yehovah has a great investment in each person’s walking righteously. Yehovah leads Israel in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name. His Name would be on the line if a Saint were to sin. John, by the Spirit of Yehovah, wrote,

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2And He is the covering for our sins—and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

He tells the little children to not sin. If any man does sin, the Israelis have Yeshua, the advocate with the Father Who is the covering for the Israelis’ sins, and also for the sins of the whole world. Any man who sins must come to the Advocate that the Israelis have. In the meantime, these little children are not to sin.

7. Is sinning just going to happen? Are we bound to sin daily? We have examples who did not, so they were not bound to sin. Have we less power than they? What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1) The modern answer is, Amen! The modern Churchianic answer is, It’s going to happen, and the Grace of God will cover it. The correct answer is, How shall we (who are dead to sin) live any longer in it? We are not to serve sin.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

8. There is no such thing as a ‘sinner saved by Grace.’ Either one is a sinner, or one is saved by Grace. “You either is or you ain’t!” No ‘is’ can say that he is a ‘saved Ain’t’! Perhaps the ‘used-to-be-a-sinner’ is now saved by Grace.

Paul stated that he is the chief of sinners. If he was still sinning at the time of his writing, and is still the chief of sinners in evil, what right does he have to write Scriptures telling others to stop sinning? If his being chief was acquired before Salvation, and he still holds the record, and/or if he is prophesying in the voice of another (like Israel) who has now turned to righteousness, is this not an excellent example of the great Grace of God?

9. Consider the woman caught in adultery:

John 8:1 Yeshua went unto the mount of Olives. ²And He came again early in the morning into the Temple. And all the people came unto Him. And He sat down and taught them. ³And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman unto Him taken in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, ⁴they say unto Him, “Master! This woman was taken in adultery—in the very act! ⁵Now, Moshe commanded us in the Torah that such should be stoned. But what sayest thou?” ⁶They said this, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. And Yeshua stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger as though He heard them not. ⁷So, when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself and said unto them, “He who is without sin among you, he shall first cast a stone at her.” ⁸And He again stooped down and wrote on the ground. ⁹And they who heard being convicted by conscience, went out one by one beginning at the eldest unto the last. And Yeshua was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. ¹⁰When Yeshua had lifted up Himself and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, “Woman! Where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” ¹¹She said, “No man, Lord.” And Yeshua said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee. Go! And sin no more!”

Had Yeshua commanded her to do what she could not possibly do, Yeshua would have compounded her sin! If she was capable, however, acknowledge that this command is reasonable.

Also consider the following text:

1 John 3:4 Whosoever does a sin also does lawlessness. And sin is lawlessness. ⁵And ye know that He was manifested so that He will take away our sins. And sin is not in Him. ⁶Anyone who abides in Him doesn’t sin. Anyone who sins has not seen Him nor has known Him. ⁷Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. ⁸He who does a sin is of the devil because the devil sins from the beginning. The Son of God was manifested for this—that He will undo the works of the devil. ⁹Everyone that has been begotten of God doesn’t do sin because His seed abides in him. And he is not able to sin because he has been begotten of God.

I propose that the last verse (verse 9) should have been rendered in the following manner:

Everyone that has been begotten of God doesn’t do sin (because His seed abides in him, and He is not able to sin) because he has been begotten of God.

This would verify that God’s inability to sin is what empowers the Saint to not sin. Since a Saint has Yehovah’s seed in him, and Yehovah doesn’t sin, simple consistency will teach that the person also will not sin. (Should a Saint sin, the consequences will be much worse than if a sinner sins, since that action brings Yehovah and His Body into disrepute.)

Romans 6:1,14,15 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Not to exist! ¹⁴For sin shall not have dominion over you. For ye are not under the law, but under grace. ¹⁵What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Not to exist!

Conclusion

Saints must consistently live righteously, refusing to sin. Messiah died and rose again so that Saints would live, not sin! If His power is not great enough to enable Saints to stand, He is neither sovereign nor omnipotent. Saints glorify His Name by walking righteously. This is perfection.

Learn what is and isn’t sin by reading the Torah (the first six books of the Bible). Yehovah paid a great price because of sin. Don’t treat the price with contempt by showing that He failed.

February 9, 2009August 22, 2016

Was Paul Struggling with Sin?

Introduction

The second half of Romans 7 has become the focal text determining whether the Saint can successfully refrain from sinning. Some believe the doctrine of Sinless Perfection, which states that one can become ‘entirely sanctified’ so that he looses the ability to sin. Others claim that the most successful among the Saints are bound to sin at least once in a while, if not on a daily basis. This second view is encapsulated in “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” This document will examine Romans 6 through 8 as a unit to see what is right.

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ²Absolutely not. How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer in it? ³Know ye not that as many of us as were baptized into Yeshua Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death so that, just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also of the resurrection, ⁶knowing this–that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, ⁹knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death has no more dominion over him. ¹⁰For in that He died, He died unto sin once. And in that He lives, He lives unto God. ¹¹Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God through Yeshua Christ our Lord. ¹²Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that ye should obey it in its lusts. ¹³Neither yield ye your members instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. But yield yourselves unto God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members instruments of righteousness unto God. ¹⁴For sin shall not have dominion over you. For ye are not under the law, but under grace. ¹⁵What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Absolutely not! ¹⁶Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness? ¹⁷But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered you. ¹⁸Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. ¹⁹I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. ²⁰For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. ²¹What fruit had ye then in those things of which ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. ²²But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end–everlasting life. ²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Yeshua Christ our Lord. 7:1Know ye not brethren (for I speak to them that know the law) that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? ²For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to the husband so long as he lives. But if the husband is dead, she is loosed from the law of the husband. ³So then if she be married to another man while the husband lives, she shall be called an adulteress. But if her husband is dead, she is free from that law so that she is no adulteress though she is married to another man. ⁴Therefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ so that ye should be married to another—to Him who is raised from the dead—that we should bring forth fruit unto God. ⁵For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins that were by the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. ⁶But we are now delivered from the law, that being dead in which we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit and not the oldness of the letter. ⁷What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! No, I had not known sin but by the law. For I had not known lust except the law had said, “Thou shalt not covet.” ⁸But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin is dead. ⁹For I was alive without the law once. But when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. ¹⁰And I found the commandment that is to life unto death! ¹¹For sin deceived me, taking occasion by the commandment, and by it slew [me]. ¹²Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. ¹³Was, then, that which is good made death unto me? Absolutely not. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good, that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. ¹⁴For we know that the law is spiritual. And I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵For I don’t allow what I do. For what I would, that don’t do. But what I hate, I do that! ¹⁶If then I do what I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. ¹⁷Now, then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but to perform that which is good–I don’t find. ¹⁹For I don’t do the good that I would. But the evil that I would not–I do that! ²⁰Now if I do what I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. ²¹I find, then, a law—that when I would do good, evil is present with me. ²²For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. ²³But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin that is in my members. ²⁴O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²⁵I thank God—through Yeshua Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with the mind, but the law of sin with the flesh. 8:1Therefore, now, no condemnation is to them who are in Christ Yeshua. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Yeshua has made me free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh ⁴that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk–not after the flesh–but after the Spirit. ⁵For they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and they who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷For the carnal mind is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸So then, they who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit—if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. ¹⁰And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, and the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Yeshua from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you. ¹²Therefore, brethren, we are debtors–not to the flesh to live after the flesh. ¹³For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye mortify the deeds of the body through the Spirit, ye shall live. ¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God—they are the sons of God. ¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of ‘sonshipment’ by which we cry “Abba!” “Father!” ¹⁶The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with [Him], that we may be also glorified together. ¹⁸For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy [to be compared] with the glory that shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God! ²⁰For the creation was made subject to vanity—not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected in hope. ²¹For the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. ²³And not only [they] but ourselves also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit–even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the ‘sonshipment’—the redemption of our Body! ²⁴For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man sees–why does he yet hope for? ²⁵But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for [it] with patience. ²⁶Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we don’t know for what we should pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. ²⁷And He Who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to God. ²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God—to them who are the called according to purpose. ²⁹For whom He did foreknow He also did predestinate conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰And whom He did predestinate, He also called them. And whom He called, He also justified them. And whom He justified, He also glorified them. ³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³²He Who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all—how shall He not also freely give us all things with Him? ³³Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? God is Who justifies. ³⁴Who is he who condemns? Christ is Who died—yea rather Who is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us! ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation? or distress? or persecution? or famine? or nakedness? or peril? or sword? ³⁶as it is written, “We are killed all the day long for Thy sake. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. ³⁸For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come ³⁹nor height nor depth nor any other creation shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Yeshua our Lord!

Romans 6

Verses 1 and 2 teach that those identified as we are not to continue in sin, because they are dead to sin. It would be strange for a dead person to continue doing something that he did when he was alive.

Who are the we? Are they Saints or non-saints? Verse 3 identifies them as those who are “baptized in Messiah Yeshua,” and thus, baptized into His death. Are they Saints? Paul was not referring to counterfeits. They are Saints. (A Saint is anyone who is born of God, having Salvation.)

What does “not continue in sin” mean? To not continue means to stop. Texts must be taken literally.

Verse 4 continues, baptism is a burial into death. Since Messiah was literally raised up from the dead (by the glory of the Father), so we are also to walk in newness of life. If anyone continues to ‘occasionally sin’ (which is what he did before salvation), how does this demonstrate genuine newness of life? This makes no sense. The issue of this text is sin, not salvation. If salvation is still in question, other texts cover salvation much better.

Verses 5-7 speak of death and resurrection. The “old man is crucified” (not “being crucified”), that the Body of sin might be destroyed (the result of the old man being crucified). The accent is on this statement: “Henceforth (from now on) we are not to serve sin!” If anyone still serves sin, what good did the act of being baptized into Messiah’s death accomplish for him?

Anyone who is dead is freed from sin. This Old Man of sin is a group, not an individual. It is a Body. The New Man is also a Body. One must leave the Old Man of sin and be placed in the New Man.

Verses 8-11: A resurrection depends upon first being dead with Messiah. There is no basis for a hope in the resurrection if one is not dead in Messiah. No one can be partially dead. Anyone who claims to be still connected to an “old man” does not yet have the assurance of the resurrection.

Verse 9 demonstrates the finality of the death of Messiah and the finality of His resurrection. These statements are all absolute, not progressive in nature.

Verse 10 states that Messiah lives unto God. He no longer needs to repeat the dying process, and neither does anyone who has been born of God. The process is completed never to be done again.

The ‘likewise’ of verse 11 cannot be overstated. The Saint is to reckon himself to be dead indeed unto sin. To reckon is to consider something factual. The Believer is not to live in a dream world. Anyone who reckons himself to be something that he is not is living a lie, not the truth. Messiah is only interested in Truth, not in visualization or self-deception. He desires an honest self-appraisal.

Verses 12-14 give the result of this reckoning. If someone is reigning or ruling, he has the power. If sin is reigning, sin has the power. No Saint is to give sin any power. He is not to obey sin in any of sin’s lusts. Anyone who still sins is doing the opposite of the commands of these verses.

Members of the Body are the bodily parts. Yielding bodily parts to be instruments of unrighteousness is giving in to sin. Sinning daily (or even once a week) is voluntarily yielding bodily parts as instruments of unrighteousness. Some so-called “Christians” are stupid (brutish, K.J.V.) and are not able to understand these texts. Unbelievers know the right standard for Christians. They become outraged (or entertained) if a Christian sins.

Anyone born of God and truly alive from the dead is to yield to God. If he does not, this whole chapter does not apply to him. Yielding to righteousness and to God is to not sin. It is not a struggle; it is a yielding. Anyone who is struggling to not sin shows that he hasn’t been born of God. He is still a slave trying to break free. The word yield means to not contend, to not give resistance; to let another do what he is going to do without hindrance.

Verse 14 states that sin shall not have dominion over anyone who is yielded unto God. A dead person is not under the penalties of the Law, as Paul states:

Colossians 2:14 And you—being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh—He has made-alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, that was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross. ¹⁵Having spoiled principalities and powers, He openly made a show of them, triumphing over them in it.

Messiah, in His death, blotted out the handwriting of the ordinances (not the Law) that specified the crimes of which each one was guilty.

A dead person is not under the Law. The Law only has contention with those who are alive and are violating it. A corpse does not—indeed cannot—violate the Law! One who is dead (to sin) and alive (to God) is under the Grace of Yehovah, having taking advantage of that Grace! The Saint lives a lifestyle above the requirements and expectations of the Law, not under it, by this Grace. The Law (Torah) was given to unbelieving Israelis, not to Saints.

Verse 15 asks the question, “Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Absolutely not!” Paul deals with sinning in this blatant and absolute manner.

Sin is unto death (verse 16). Obedience alone is unto righteousness. A man will be the servant of the one to whom he yields.

The historical fact (verse 17) is declared: “Ye were the servants to sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

Yielding a group’s “members servants to righteousness unto holiness” (verse 19) is a choice. Paul would be foolish to tell the Romans to do something they could not do were this not the case.

(Verses 20-22) The tense of the statement “… for when ye were …” demonstrates that this is no longer the case. They are no longer “the servants of sin.” But now being made free from sin, and having become servants to God, they can bear fruit. No one in the state of death can bear fruit.

Verse 22 states that those identified as ye are freed from sin, they now have their fruit unto holiness, and the end, everlasting life. Verse 23 states that the wages of sin is death to them, and the gift of God is everlasting life. The wages of sin for the non-saint will not be death, since the non-saint is already dead. The wages of sin for the non-saint will be greater damnation.

Romans 7

According to verses 1-3, the extent of the Law only reaches to those who are physically alive. Verse 4 explains that the death of the man means that the man is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Law, not that the Law is abolished.

The purpose of this new life is to bring forth fruit. Sin kills, it doesn’t cause fruit production. Dead things don’t grow. They rot.

Verse 5: “When we were in the flesh” indicates that those identified as we are no longer in the flesh. We brought forth fruit unto death when we were in the flesh.

Verse 6: That in which we were held is dead. This group identified as we have been delivered out of the ‘hands’ of the Law. We are now to serve in newness of spirit, and not the oldness of the letter.

Verse 7: One purpose of the Law is to know what is and isn’t sin. The Law is good. Since the purpose of the Law is to know sin, if the Law had not been there, “I” (Paul—or whom he typifies) would not have known sin. (Verse 8:) But sin worked in ‘me’ every manner of concupiscence. Paul (or whom Paul typifies) recognized sin to be exactly what it was because the Law informed him!

Do not overlook the tenses of the statements. The Spirit of Yehovah is prophetically speaking through Paul in the past tense: “I had not known …” “… for when we were …” His reference is to the old life in contrast to newness of life in Messiah.

Verse 9: There was a time when the Law had nothing to do with Paul (and to the one Paul typifies). He was a child under the tutelage of parents. When he later learned the commandment, however, sin came alive for him. He found that the wages of sin were death. Paul died. He died as certainly as Adam and Eve died according to the promise, “In the day that you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, dying, you will die!”

Verse 10: The commandment’s purpose was to life! (ohÐœ8j0k) It preserved the follower from being put to death until he (he or she) could come to faith if the follower refrained from death-penalty offenses. He would then no longer need the commandment in order to do righteousness; he simply would do righteousness (as he yielded to God). The commandment declared that the result would be death for anyone breaking the commandment, however.

Sin deceives, and sin slays. The commandment specified what sin is, and thus what is worthy of death. The Law declares sin and its consequences. It is of Yehovah, and it is holy. The commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

Verse 13 asks, since the commandment is good, and since, by the power of the commandment, sin slays, is the commandment made to be death? No. Sin works death by means of the commandment. (There would be no death if there were no commandment declaring something to be sin and a cause of death.) The commandment demonstrates that sin is exceedingly strong!

Verse 14: I ask you, Was Paul carnal, sold under sin at the time of this writing? The Greek is even stronger. It states that he sold himself to sin. This verse declares this in the present tense. Is this the condition of an inspired and infallible writer of a book of the Bible?

In one Jewish form of argument, it is usual to go from the past tense to the present. Look at the tenses of the verbs in the following quote: “I came and found the car gone. So I ran into the house. And what is the first thing I find? I find that the safe is missing too!” The tense changed, but it is still describing an event in the past. The Spirit of God through Paul either employed this technique, or Paul was in no condition to tell others that they need to be freed from sin.

Paul states in 6:20 and 6:22 that the Saints have been made free from sin and servanthood to sin, and have become servants to God. Did Paul change his mind?

To be “sold under sin” is to sell one’s self to be the servant to sin. Did Paul do that as a Saint? Would his writings be infallible if he were still a (voluntary) slave to sin?

Being carnal is walking after the flesh. Why does Paul refer to those who “do not walk after the flesh” (8:4) as if it is the norm for Saints?

If Paul was still carnal and sold under sin at the time of this writing, he certainly stated that we are not to be carnal or sold under sin! Was he confused about his own status? Nonsense. Paul is either discussing his past as if it is the present, prophesying for another whom he typifies, or he is quite the hypocrite, telling others to do what he never could accomplish until he was dead! Paul was not carnal or sold under sin at this time.

Verses 15 and 16 show the dilemma of the non-spiritual person who desires to do right on his own: he does the opposite of what he knows is right. It is a very part of his carnal nature!

Verse 17 demonstrates the result of “indwelling sin:” the tendency to sin! It is ‘only natural’! There is no ability to do good! (verse 18-20). Evil (only) is present with the sinner, with the carnal person, with the non-Saint. Paul found himself captive to the law of sin that was an integral part of him (when he was carnal, and when he was non-spiritual, verse 23). [In 8:2, he declares that he is free from the law of sin.]

How can anyone get free from carnality, from slavery to sin and from death? Only through Messiah Yeshua our Lord (verse 25). Until that happened, Paul could only serve the law of sin with his flesh. He was a slave. These texts demonstrate the futility of achieving salvation by works. Paul was righteous, a hot zealot, but he was not born of God. He was a slave to sin.

Romans 8

(Verse 1) Those who are in Messiah Yeshua have no condemnation, since the Law of the Spirit of life via Messiah Yeshua has made them free from the law of sin and death. One who is freed from the law of sin will no longer serve sin (Romans 6:12).

Was the problem the Law? The Law (verse 3) was weak by its weakest link: the flesh. The flesh could not uphold the righteousness of the Law. Only the Spirit of life could provide the support for the righteous life. Messiah came in the likeness of sinful flesh in order to condemn sin in the flesh. My Grandfather explained it this way: A perfectly sound nail will hold nothing if it is hammered into rotten wood. The Law is the nail, and the flesh is the rotten wood. The nail is weak because of its placement, not its design.

“The righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” There are only two types of individuals: those who “mind the things of the flesh” and those who “mind the things of the Spirit.” The result of being carnally minded is death. The result of being Spiritually minded is both life and peace.

The carnal mind is an enemy against God. It cannot be subject to the Law of God.

Verse 8 teaches that those who are in the flesh cannot please God. The contrast is being in the Spirit. The “Spirit of God dwells in you.” No person without the Spirit of Messiah is holy to Messiah—Messiah’s property.

If Messiah is in anyone, the Body is dead (not dying) because of sin, and the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Verse 11 returns back to the original topic of Romans 6:5. If the Spirit of God dwells in anyone, he will be resurrected by God’s Spirit Who dwells in him. Only those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God (verse 14). Those who live after the flesh shall die (verse 13).

Sinless Perfection

Anyone who subscribes to the concepts of “sinless perfection” (the idea that the saint can and should reach a point where he cannot sin any longer while in the mortal body) is damnably deceived. The Scriptures warn the Saints of the dangers in this world:

1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Sinless perfection is a doctrine for fools. Refusing to sin is the obligation and occupation of Saints.

Conclusion

Either Paul was a Spiritual schizophrenic or he was describing himself (in the second half of chapter 7) as he was before he turned to Messiah. Anyone who teaches that Paul had a struggle with sin and sinning throughout his Christian life is teaching the opposite of his own declaration of the liberty that every Saint enjoys—liberty from the slavery to sin and sinning.

Paul’s commands to the Romans are absolute: Do not yield the members of your body to sin and sinning under any circumstance. Yield to God and to righteousness.

Anyone who struggles to do right has not yet come to the point of mortifying the deeds of the body (8:13). He is still a slave in need of Salvation from sin.

The Saint has no excuse to continue sinning.