AboutJ Muller Expertise I enjoy answering question on the nature and character of God, the what and why of sin, where we go from here, the lake of fire, Mark of the Beast, the why and how of prophecy. I cannot answer speculative questions or Questions regarding the so-called `Eastern` religions.
Experience I have a varied teaching history. My experience includes one-on-one (privately), instruction in the military (US Air Force), and College.
I am currently working on a personal project about the nature of Sin. I am the artist and co-author of a religious, contemporary graphic novel focusing heavily on Sin. I want to include more than just the Christian viewpoint, though that will be the main focus, so am contacting experts of various different religions in order to gain a better understanding of the world view of Sin. I was hoping you could give me a rundown of Sin and your understanding of it, anything you have to offer me is helpful and much appreciated, I am open to absolutely any information concerning the subject, and I thank you in advance.
Alyssa Mogil
Answer Hello Alyssa:
I will gladly give you my viewpoints on the definition and nature of Sin. However, The Bible states very clearly what the defintion of Sin is. In 1 John 3:4 we find: "Sin is the transgression of the Law." But this is not the end of the story. Jesus expounds (Magnified) the Law and a few examples are found in Matthew 5.
A case in point: In Matthew 5:27 Jesus said: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY:" Note: This is DEFINATELY a reference to the Seventh Commandment of the Law. Exodus 20:14. But Jesus doesn't stop there, He continues: "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (mind)." Matt. 5:28. Clearly Jesus is saying that the keeping only of the letter of the Law is not enough. God requires the keeping of the law even to the very core of the applicable principles of the Moral Law of God.
Frequently some will misinterpret the words of Paul to make it appear that God has annulled the Law. But, a correct reading of Paul makes it very clear that the Law has NOT been made void but that the law has been ESTABLISHED. See Romans 3:31. The people that try to twist the words of Paul to do away with the Law have their own evil reasons which I will not go into here.
To continue: Most people will agree that to do an evil act is a sin. Having said that let's look at another lesson Jesus gives us in Matthew 7:17. "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt (margin-bad) tree bringeth forth evil fruit." Note, Jesus is saying that, evil, bad, and corrupt are synonimous. So, if one agrees with the above statement "to do an evil act is a sin" we now are faced with the bold truth that to commit a bad act is to commit a Sin. The word 'commit' points to deliberate INTENT.
So, if someone deliberately plans to do something bad they Sin.
Animals can do bad thngs but it is not a sin for them because they have no moral conscience. We can have bad weather but the clouds are not evil. And we can have a bad dream and it might not necessarily be a sin. But, if a human does something bad on purpose , THAT is Sin. The point again is that ANY intentional bad act is a sinful act. Some will be quite disturbed to learn this, as was the listeners when Jesus was expanding the precepts of the Law, but if they refuse to listen and learn they are guilty of willful ignorance which is bad, which is Sin too.
ANY bad thing, sin or not ('just' bad), causes NEGATIVE consequences LONG after the fact. As long as this present world exists we will have Sin. A bad wave (Tsunami), a bad fall, bad weather, etc., these are bad and can cause pain, heartache, distress, etc. but they are NOT recorded in the Heavenly records as Sin, as God accounts Sin.
In Heaven there will be no more Sin because the people will CHOOSE to never, ever, do anything bad. Simple as that.
Some people believe that the "rod of iron" spoken of in the Book of Revelation will keep people in line so that there will be no more sin. What they forget is that the 'rod' will
not keep ANYONE from THINKING (evil, sinful, bad, things). And noted previously, Jesus CLEARLY teaches that the THOUGTS can be just as Sinful as the act itself, in God's eyes.
Hope this can help you some way in your thesis.
Take care mothers and fathers, don't call you mischevious child a 'bad' boy. It means much more than you might think.
