SIN

I wrote an earlier blog called “Mr. Oscar” about a friends grandfather. In it I shared with you how Mr Oscar used Paul’s statement about men having long hair being shameful, to accuse me of the sin of having (slightly longish) hair. I grew up in a small town that was full of religious folks. As I grew up and became a little more rebellious in my teen years I noticed that almost anything outside of the social norm was looked on as sin by the older folks. Mini skirts were sin. Makeup was a sin. Rock and roll music was a sin. Marrying outside your race was a sin. Shopping on a Sunday was a sin. Dancing was a sin. Alcohol was a grevious sin. Anyway, you get the idea. If you asked one of your elders where some of that stuff was in the Bible they would usually give you some vague answer or scold you for questioning them. I once got the answer “It might not be specifically in the Bible but I know sin when I see it”.

So, I grew up with a vague understanding of what was sin. It appeared to me to be almost anything an adult didn’t like. This lead me to an almost constant state of worry about everything I did. I was constantly repenting for things that were perfectly normal activities. That is a terrible way for a kid to grow up. I really don’t think that that mindset died out completely with the last generation. There still seems to be a lot of confusion. I still hear people calling things sins that are not. 

What is sin? 

John 3:4 says,

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 

Another translation reads,

Anyone who commits sin violates Torah, for sin is the transgression of the Torah.

John, the author of this statement and Apostle of the Messiah Here defines sin as disobeying YHVH’s commandments. When sin is discussed by Yeshua or one of his Disciples it is always a discussion about one of YHVH’s commandments. It is extremely important to have an understanding of what sin actually is. We do not need to guess and we do not get to redefine what sin is. I recently had a conversation with someone that said they would rest or worship on any day they pleased or not at all because they thought it was okay. I reminded them that the Torah says,

Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

YHVH’s expectation for us is that we obey His commandments. Disobeying YHVH’s commandments clearly defined for us in the Torah is sin. 

Yeshua said,

Matthew 5:19-20 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

He also said

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin”.

Clearly, Yeshua taught that the law was not abolished. But, there is good news.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

A word from the prophet Hosea speaking for YHVH,

Hosea 8:12 I spelled out my law for him in great detail, but they regard it as something totally unknown to them! 

Sin is not some vague idea. It is clearly defined for us. YHVH expects us to do our best to obey His commands. If we do He has promised to bless us.

Deuteronomy 15:4-6. “There should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.

Sin deprives us of our promised blessing from YHVH.