What is sin?

[Rabbi james byers]

What is sin?

1. What are the boundaries, perimeters according to God?

2. What is the measuring stick by which man is accountable?

3. Once we have defined sin what is the next step?

4. If we are going to be judged by God for sin done in the body shouldn’t we know what sin is?

Gen 2:17 but do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall certainly die.”

Before the Flood of 1556 God say don’t eat don’t touch the tree of knowledge, they did and they died God preserved 8 people through obedience of Noah.
After the Flood He said the same thing, don’t eat don’t touch the carcass of the pig, this time it will not be of water but fire.
• Gen 3:3 don’t eat don’t touch
o Lev 11:7-8 don’t eat don’t touch

Adam lived to be 930 years does that nullify Gods command of obedience?
• After death comes the total sum of judgment.
• During life there are signs and wonders (issues of life, physical health, mental health, poverty, war etc...)

Death is the ultimate penalty of sin.
Just as Adam and Eve men have been deceived into believing his own made up opinions on what God requires (obedience). God said, a day as 1000 years. Adam did not life past 1000 years.

2Pe 3:8 let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with God one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Psa 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years

As we after the flood live an average of 70 years does that nullify Gods commandments if a man lives to be 71 and beyond? Or if that same man never reaches the 70 year mark do we now discount Gods word as antiquated?

Exo 34:7 watching over kindness for thousands, forgiving crookedness and transgression and sin, but by no means leaving unpunished1, visiting the crookedness of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” Footnote: 1This is confirmed in Num. 14:18, and in Jer. 30:11.

Gen 4:7 “If you do well, is there not acceptance? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should master it.”

Adam sin his first born Cain killed his bother, sin perused him.
God said he will visit the sins of the fathers to the 3rd &4th generation after we died and gone the penalty of sin is still seeking out the children of your seed. What ever a man sow he shall reap. Man was placed here to till the ground we are farmers if we sow bad seed to our wives we and our children, their children, & their children’s children get the penalty.

Sin needs a host, God said its desire is you, it needs you to live, and it wants you, but you can and should master it. So what is sin?

Adam lived on grace for 930 years today we don’t get that long. As we age and die we enter into individual judgment as the rich man, but a time is coming that grace will run out and the world will enter judgment again. This time it won’t be water but fire. This is what John spoke of Jesus will baptize with (Holy Spirit or with fire) fire.
Luk 16:24 “And crying out he said, ‘Father Aḇraham, have compassion on me, and send Elʽazar to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering in this flame.’

Amo 5:18 Woe to you who are longing for the day of יהוה! What does the day of יהוה mean to you? It is darkness, and not light,
Amo 5:19 as when a man flees from a lion, and a bear shall meet him; or entered his house, rested his hand on the wall, and a serpent shall bite him.

Mat 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the being. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both being and body in hell.

[Eccl. 12:13]

There is ONE and ONLY one definition for sin found in the bible:

1John.3
[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Now as far as how we will be judged let's read the following:

Rev.20
[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
[14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
[15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Now let's read what James has to say about 'works':

James 2
[17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
[19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
[20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
[21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

And just how was Abraham justified by his works, or actions? By drawing back the knife to kill Isaac. Surly Abraham had faith all the way up the mountain, but it was not until he performed the act of drawing back the knife was his faith proved.

[22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
[23] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
[24] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
[25] Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

And how was Rahab justified? She took in the messengers without fear of her own life. Once again her actions proved her faith.

[26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The one thing ALL of the saints of God had in common was 'OBEDIENCE'!

1 Sam.15
[22] And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

A VERY wise man summed it up like this:

Eccl.12
[13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

He went on to say the following:

Eccl.12
[14] For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Keeping God's laws is what will give us salvation. And keeping God's laws require 'Works'!

So according to the inspired word of God, Faith AND Works are needed for salvation!

[Rabbi james byers]

Well said