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Is it Really Sin?
Joe R. Price
Are we able to know with
clarity and certainty that something is sin? The answer to that question is
easy and instant when the Bible is consulted and applied.
To sin is to “miss
the mark” of God’s law, His revealed “will” that is “good”: “Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of
the law” (1 Jno. 3:4, kjv);
“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is”
(Eph. 5:17); “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it,
to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17).
Simply stated, we
sin when we do what God says not to do, or when we do not do what God says
to do.
The subtlety of the
serpent corrupts minds from “the simplicity that is in Christ,”
convincing many that things are just “not that easy” when it comes to
understanding (and obeying) the word of God, including knowing what is sin
(2 Cor. 11:3-4).
Our ability to know
what is sin bears on whether God has revealed His will in an understandable
way that we can obey. We believe that He has: “when you read, you may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). And
again, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jno.
8:31-32). By not doing the word of Christ we sin against Him and His word
will judge us in the last day (Jno. 12:48). If we can understand “the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” we can also
know sin and that its wages is death (Rom. 6:23).
Important questions
arise about sin that we must ask ourselves: Do I want to know what is sin?
Do I want to stop sinning when I discover it in my life? How serious do I
take the whole issue of sin and what it does to me?
Some refuse to say
that un-baptized believers are lost in sin. One person says it is
“heretically wrong” to teach un-baptized believers are lost. This anonymous
author wrote:
“…for many years
before I had seen things just as he did. I, too, had believed that it was
only when one’s faith led her to the point of being baptized for the
remission of sins that she was saved. I no longer do.
“What changed my
view?
“The simplest
answer is that I finally realized that any question having to do with the
fate of an unbaptized believer is an abiblical question. In other words, the
bible never contemplates such a question. If we seek an answer to a question
about whether or not God commands obedience, the bible speaks directly to
that. (Matthew 28:20, Jeremiah 11:4) If we ask whether God commands
baptism, there is plain scripture that shows He does. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Even if we question the fate of a person who doesn’t have faith while
claiming that he does, we find a direct answer (Hebrews 11:6, John
3:16-18). However, when it comes to looking for a verse that speaks about
the fate of a person that believes in Jesus but hasn’t been baptized, there
is no scripture that addresses the subject. The New Testament never
considers the situation. It’s not in the bible. It’s abiblical.” (“Are
Unbaptized Believers Lost?” by “A Student of the Word,” page 2, see
www.nicocstudy.net/).
Our author is wrong
to say the Bible does not address the subject. In Acts 22:16 an un-baptized
believer, Saul of Tarsus, was told to “arise and be baptized, and wash
away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” He was lost before
and until he did so (cf. Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38). If believer Saul saved
before he was baptized, then he was saved before his sins were washed away.
Yes, it is very much a biblical question to ask whether the un-baptized
believer is lost. The Bible answer is, “yes.”
Notice how the
author appeals to the silence of the Scriptures to justify his false
teaching. He says “the bible never contemplates such a question.” He wants
us to believe that without the exact verbiage of the question, the Bible has
nothing to say on the subject. Yet, the Bible does tell us how to be saved
(hear, believe, confess faith, repent and be baptized, Mk. 16:15-16; Rom.
10:9-10; Acts 2:38), thus teaching us sinners are otherwise lost. Our
author is “heretically wrong” when he assumes the Bible does not address the
condition of the “is the un-baptized believer. Do not be deceived.
Then again, the
silence of the New Testament is used by some to say instrumental music in
worship cannot be called a sin. For them, Biblical silence does not
restrain, it grants divine consent; or at the very least, human tolerance.
The fact that God said “sing” is not enough to restrain them from
adding “play” and/or accepting those who do so (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16-17).
Then, some brethren
cannot bring themselves to say instrumental music in worship pleases God,
but neither can they say it is sin. They have created a hermeneutical “safe
zone” in which sin cannot be identified, assigned or rebuked. Their view of
God’s “thunderous silence” turns it into a whimper. We know singing pleases
God (Eph. 5:19). We know adding to God’s word is a sin (Rev. 22:18).
Therefore, adding “play” to “sing” displeases God; it is a sin. It adds to
the silence of God’s word, thus missing the mark of revealed truth (Jno.
4:24; Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:11).
Sin really
is sin. We can know what sin is; the Bible tells us. We must lay every sin
aside to be unencumbered to run the race set before us (Heb. 12:1). (How
can we do that if we cannot say what is really sin?) Look to Jesus and live
for Him, in whom victory over sin is assured (Heb. 12:2; Rom. 6:5-14).
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You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
A Study of Bible Authority (#9):
Individual Action and Local Church Action, Part 1
Scripture Reading:
Acts 4:32-37
This
lesson helps answer the fallacy of “whatever the Christian may do the local
church may do.”
I.
CHRISTIANITY EMBRACES EVERY AREA OF LIFE.
A.
Social Relationships (community), Matt. 5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:12; Rom. 13:8.
B. Economic Relationships (business), 1 Ths. 4:11-12; Col. 3:22-4:1.
C. Family Relationships (the home), Col. 3:18-21 (Eph. 6:1-4; 1 Pet.
3:1-7).
D. Civil Relationships (government), Rom. 13:1-7
E. Spiritual Relationships (the church), Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22;
3:20-21(4:1-16)
II.
INDIVIDUAL DUTIES OF CHRISTIANS EXIST THAT CANNOT BE CARRIED OUT BY THE
LOCAL CHURCH (collective).
A.
The Above Duties are Concurrent, Gal. 6:5.
B. No Bible Authority to “Funnel” Personal Duties of Other Relationships
through the Local Church. For instance: 1. Civil: Vote (1 Pet. 2:13); 2.
Family: Educate (Eph. 6:4). 3. Economic: Provide living (1 Tim. 5:8). 4.
Social: Entertainment (1 Cor. 10:31). 5. Spiritual: Bear burdens (Gal.
6:2; 1 Tim. 5:16).
III.
CLEAR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL (his
Duty & Action) & LOCAL CHURCH (its
Duty & Action).
A.
How we Deal with Personal Sin Shows the Distinction, Matt. 18:15-17.
B. Separate Treasuries Show the Distinction, Acts 4:34-5:4.
C. Separate Reasons & Places to Eat Shows the Distinction, 1 Cor.
11:20-22, 34.
D. Helping Needy Christian Widows Shows the Distinction, 1 Tim. 5:16.
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