F-7. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE ITSELF CALL SIN?


SPELLING EDITED


F-7. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE ITSELF CALL SIN?


I have had many of my readers write to me asking if this or that is a sin. So the purpose of this study in God’s word is to list the sins that the Bible itself teaches us is a sin under the New Covenant written in the New Testament.

Let us begin this study in God’s word by reading the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:16-19 where Jesus is SPECIFICALLY asked the question concerning what we MUST DO in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. And here is Jesus’ answer to the specific question.


Matthew 19:16-19.


“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 

17.  And he said unto him, Why call you me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. 

18.  He said unto him, WHICH? (Or which commandments must I keep in other to receive eternal life in the world to come?) Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 

19.  Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”


Jesus listed six things that are sin which will keep us from receiving eternal life if we break any of those six moral commandments. But more important than the LIST of sins is Jesus’ last statement of what we must do in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. Jesus said to LOVE your neighbor as you LOVE yourself. Jesus taught his disciples to teach us that when we walk by LOVE then we FULFILL ALL the Law that God requires of us. Please read the following verses of Scripture.


Matthew 22:36-40.


“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 

37.  Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 

38.  This is the first and great commandment. 

39.  And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

40.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”


In other words, if you truly love God then you will obey the teachings of Jesus to love your neighbor. And by obeying the commandment to love one another you FULFILL ALL the law of God.


 Perhaps Romans 13:8-10 says it the best.


“Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. 

9.  For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

10.  Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

 


Galatians 5:14.


“For all the law is fulfilled in ONE word, even in this; You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.”


 But what about sins that do not affect others? Like is drinking alcohol a sin. Well, Jesus drank wine which is alcohol so having a beer or a glass of wine is not a sin. BUT being a drunkard IS a sin.


Please read 1 Corinthians 4:9-13.


“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 

10.  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must you need to go out of the world. (In other words, we are a LIGHT unto the world. We are to let our light shine to those living in sin but we are not to become a fornicator to win fornicators to Jesus. And the same is true with every sin listed in the Bible. We are not to become an idol worshiper to win idol worshipers to Jesus. Darkness does not lead darkness to the LIGHT)

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 a one no not to eat. (The early church gathered together to eat meals like the last supper and then they had communion together. So personally, I do not believe that Paul intended his words to mean to never eat any meals with our brothers and sisters in the Lord who are living in sin. We are never to excuse any sin. I do not believe that Paul is teaching us to SHUN our brothers and sisters in the Lord who are living in sin and making excuses for their living in sin as if it is not a sin. Being a drunkard or an alcoholic is, indeed, a sin. But if you ADMIT that you are sinning by getting drunk and you desire to STOP sinning that God will forgive you of your sin of getting drunk each time to REPENT and confess your sin of getting drunk. God knows your HEART and that you are working to OVERCOME the sin of getting drunk. I chose the sin of getting drunk because there seems to be some Christians who believe that getting drunk is NOT a sin)

12.  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not you judge them that are within? (Meaning that we are to warn our brothers and sisters in the Lord that they are sinning. And to the world, we are to preach the gospel of salvation. The world already knows that they are living in sin. So what they need to know is that they are condemned to the lake of fire BECAUSE they REJECT Jesus as their Savior)

13.  But them that are without God judges. Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”


And how do we put away a brother or sister without SHUNNING them like some Christian church denominations do which literally destroys the family and the local church fellowship? We treat them as being UNSAVED. We PRAY for them. We teach the word of God to them. We never give up on them. We shine as LIGHTS unto to them which means that we keep sin out of our own lives. We share our struggles with our own sins. We help them to SEE that they are deceiving themselves by excusing their sin. Please see the study “IS SHUNNING BIBLICAL?” But for now, let us continue to read the list of sins as listed in the New Testament under the New Covenant.


Galatians 5:16-26.


“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (This is the KEY to living without sin. Simply OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit who will NEVER lead you to live in sin. But until you learn how to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit from the lying voice of the enemy then you need to follow and obey the written word of God under the New Covenant written in the New Testament)

17.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. (So the things that you LUST after is what your flesh and Satan is leading you to do. And the OPPOSITE of what you are LUSTING after is what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. The TRUTH is pretty simple when you think about it. Is your FLESH lusting after drugs, alcohol and tobacco products? Then do the OPPOSITE. We all know that those things are harmful to our bodies. And the Bible teaches us that we do NOT have to obey what our flesh is begging us to do)

18.  But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Simply meaning that the Holy Spirit will never lead us to commit sin. It is Satan, the Devil who deceives us to make excuses for our sins. It is the devil who lies to us to twist the Scriptures to our own destruction. So if you find yourself trying to interpret the Scriptures in such a way to show that what you are doing is NOT a SIN then there is a real good chance that you are deceiving yourself)

19.  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

21.  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, (Partiers to get high on drugs or to get drunk. Revelling means to carousal) and such like: (Which means that every sexual immorality that is not specifically listed in the New Testament is still a SIN including consensual sex between adults) of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (But what if I give in to the temptation to commit one of these sins? Does that mean I lose my reward of eternal life in the world to come? NO! It simply means that you sinned and you need to repent and CONFESS your sin. Paul is talking about returning to living in a lifestyle of sin. For example, if you are single and before you were saved you lived as a fornicator because you saw nothing wrong with having sex outside of marriage. After all, practically the whole world sees nothing wrong with having sex outside of marriage. But AFTER you got saved and you learned that shacking up with your girlfriend is a SIN then you need to OBEY the Holy Spirit and the word of God to stop having sex with your girlfriend or any other casual sexual relationship. And if she is not alright with you to stop fornicating with her, then get her saved first and then marry her. And if you lose a girlfriend it is far better than losing your eternal life)

22.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

23.  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

24.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

25.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

26.  Let us NOT be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” 


1 Corinthians 6:9,10.


“Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, (All things associated with homosexuality, cross-dressing, and having sex changes) nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (Wife beaters, husband beaters, child abuse, rape, sodomy, slavery, and the such like) 

10.  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”


1 Peter 4:1-5.


“Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; (Meaning that it is SUFFERING while we are RESISTING a temptation to give in to sin, And as long as we are suffering or enduring a temptation to NOT sin we are not sinning because temptation itself is NOT a sin)

2.  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

3.  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, (Or drunkenness, getting drunk on any type of alcoholic beverage or drugs) revellings, (Or carousal which is partying to get drunk or to get high on drugs) banquetings, (Just a fancy name for a party to get drunk. Paul is not talking about banquets like a family thanksgiving banquet where the intended purpose of the banquet is NOT to get drunk, The meaning for banqueting here is to carousal, a drinking bout which means that the intent of the banquet is to have a lot of alcohol for the quests to get drunk) and abominable idolatries: 

4.  Wherein THEY (Speaking of NON-Christians and CARNAL-Christians) think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 

5.  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”


 Ephesians 5:15-18.


“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 

16.  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 

17.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

18.  And be NOT drunk with wine, wherein is excess; (In other words, it is not a sin to have a glass of wine or a beer so long as you do not drink to get DRUNK) but be filled with the Spirit;” 


God desires us to be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory which is having so much joy it is hard to explain to others that level of joy in the presence of God who has not experienced that joy of the Lord for themselves. To the world, the Christian life looks boring and unappealing. And part of the reason is that not enough Christians are continually being FILLED with the Holy Spirit to have a GOOD TIME in the Lord. Paul is comparing getting drunk with alcohol to being FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Most people get drunk to get happy so that they can forget about their problems which still LEAVES them with their problems PLUS a hangover. Whereas being filled with the Holy Spirit often SOLVES and fixes the problem WHILE you are praying in other tongues to God plus you have NO hangover after coming back down from being filled with joy and happiness from being filled with the Holy Spirit. And it is FREE.


Romans 13:13,14.


“Let us walk HONESTLY, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, (Or carousal-ing and drunkenness. But rioting also means letting loose. Sometimes Christians may do things when following a crowd that they would not do without the INFLUENCE of that crowd) not in chambering and wantonness, (Or shacking up and sexual sins) not in strife and envying. (Or having anger to hold a grudge to seek revenge. The Bible says to be angry and sin NOT. So get control quickly when you get angry. Do not allow the sun to go down and still be angry)

14.  But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” 



1 Timothy 6:4-10.


“He is proud, (Having the pride to boast that you are better than another Christian is a sin because it is God who saved you and not yourself who saved you. But being proud of others is not a sin. And being proud of yourself for your self is not boasting to others. The pride in this verse is talking about boasting in being right and when you think you are right)

knowing nothing, but doting about questions (Meaning you can not quit arguing until you have the last word) and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (Meaning that you take pleasure in arguing. You live to argue so to speak. You enjoy others losing. And jumping to wrong conclusions)

5.  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself. (Speaking of all false teaching but Paul zooms in so to speak on the prosperity teaching of getting rich is god’s will for every Christian. While it is true that all the wealth of the world is laid up for Christians those verses, according to Isaiah 45:3, are speaking of the world to come when Jesus will decide how that wealth will be used)

6.  But godliness with contentment is a great gain. 

7.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 

8.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

9.  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

10.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”


God is not opposed to any Christians being rich. It is the LOVE FOR money that God is against.


1 Peter 3:8-12.


 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 

9. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 

10.  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 

11.  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and follow it. 

12.  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.


1 Peter 2:21;23. 


For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: 

22.  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 

23.  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 


Hebrew 6:12. 


That you are not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.


1Timothy 5:8. 


But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.


Colossians 3:19-25.


Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them. 

20.  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. 

21.  Fathers provoke not your children to anger, lest they are discouraged. 

22.  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 

23.  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 

24.  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 

25.  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.


Romans 1:18-32.


For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

19.  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

20.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

21.  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

22.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

23.  And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

24.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 

25.  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 

26.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 

27.  And likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 

28.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

29.  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 

30.  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 

31.  Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 

32.  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them.


Ephesians 5:1-14.



Be you, therefore, followers of God, as dear children; 

2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. 

3.  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 

4.  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 

5.  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 

6.  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 

7.  Be NOT you, therefore, partakers with them. 

8.  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 

9.  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 

10. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

11.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 

12.  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 

13.  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 

14.  Wherefore he says, Awake you that sleeps, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 


And that LIGHT is God writing his word upon your heart when you become a new creation created in Jesus Christ where you just KNOW what is a sin and what is not a sin even before you are tempted to sin. God leads us through peace. So when there is no condemnation then chances are you are not living in sin. BUT if there is condemnation then there is a good chance that you ARE living in sin. However, at times we can be wrongly taught that something is a sin when, in truth, it is NOT a sin. And thus our own heart will condemn us of sinning when we are NOT sinning in the eyes of God. But rather we are sinning in the eyes of men who have misguided you to believe that something is a sin when it is not a sin, according to the whole word of God.

For example, some Christians teach that it is a sin for a woman to teach men in the church but that is NOT what the Bible itself teaches us. Some Christians teach that it is a sin for women if they leave their homes without their heads being covered with a veil or some type of head covering. But that is NOT what the Bible itself teaches. Please read all the studies under the heading >>>CAN WOMEN BE PASTORS?<<<

Then there are other Christians that wrongly teach that something is NOT a sin when, in truth, it IS a sin in the eyes of God. For example, some homosexuals sincerely believe and teach that they are born as homosexuals and the homosexuals who love each other are NOT living in sin. But that is NOT what the Bible ITSELF teaches us. Please read the studies “CAN A CHRISTIAN BE A HOMOSEXUAL?” and “IS GOD ANTI-HOMOSEXUAL?”

Some Christians teach that getting a divorce is a SIN no matter what the reason may be for getting a divorce. But that is NOT what the Bible itself teaches us. Please read the study “IS DIVORCE A SIN?” And believe it or not, some Christians teach that Polygamy is NOT a sin. But what does the Bible itself teach us? Please read the study “CAN A CHRISTIAN HAVE TWO WIVES?” There are many things that some Christians claim as being a sin but they are not sins specifically stated in the Bible. And at the same time, there are some things that are claimed to not be a sin because they are not SPECIFICALLY STATED in the Bible as being a sin BUT they know deep inside that they do not WANT those things to be a sin. So any reason to ease their mind works for them.

And then there are a few things that I would have to say, Work out your OWN salvation because I can not tell you one way or the other on some things if it is a sin or if it is not a sin. For ME, if in doubt, throw it out. It is not worth losing your eternal life over.

Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue seeking the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.


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