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PilgrimToChrist

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Mortal sins are those which cut us off from our last end, in committing them, we turn away from God and, if not reconciled to God before our death, we will be damned.

Venial sins (from Latin, "venia" = "pardon") impede our spiritual progress and are not to be taken lightly, however, they will not ultimately keep us from Heaven.


In civil law, some crimes are deserving of capital punishment (e.g. murder, treason) while others are much less grave. Likewise, some wounds are mortal and unless treated promptly, will cause the person to die; but other wounds do not lead to death but simply leave the individual injured. Following that last analogy, a wound that is not directly mortal may become infected and lead to the person's death. So to can venial sins so corrupt our relationship with God, such that they greatly reduce our ability to overcome mortal sins and thus lead to spiritual death.
 
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98cwitr

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mortal sin is a sin that cuts you off from Gods saving grace
a mortal sin is of a serious nature, is done with freedom, and is done with the information that it is a sin

Matthew 12:31
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
 
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boswd

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Matthew 12:31
And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.


I would venture to say a Mortal sin could be any sin that is not repented and we have turned away from God.

for example I would find it hard for someone who murdered a child to still have Faith in Christ but would refuse to repent that sin.
 
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Frogster

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No good thing lives in our flesh. Some peole sit around bemoaning their flesh all day. Then they have the priest "obsolve them", only to get back on the same merry-go-round the next day, of staring at their flesh all day, only to have the priest.....
 
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98cwitr

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I would venture to say a Mortal sin could be any sin that is not repented and we have turned away from God.

for example I would find it hard for someone who murdered a child to still have Faith in Christ but would refuse to repent that sin.

w3rd
 
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Frogster

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Same as the jewish priesthood, it was just a reminder, and ineffectual.

2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
 
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razeontherock

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- MOD HAT ON -



Howdy folks, this thread has been moved from the General Theology Forum to the Hamartiology Forum.


Carry on.......

- MOD HAT OFF -

Is that Father Guido Sarducci? I'm actually glad not to see a simple list of "the 7 deadly sins," but nobody wants to get specific?

The confusion here to me is "the law of sin and death." How can any sin be anything other than 'mortal?'
 
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MrPolo

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The confusion here to me is "the law of sin and death." How can any sin be anything other than 'mortal?'

By mortal is meant that it kills the grace in the soul that brings a person to heaven. In a sense, you are right that the wages of sin is death, so all sin in a certain sense is deadly---just like 1 or 2 stab wounds are deadly but won't necessarily "kill," especially if you treat the wounds in time. From an eternal standpoint, not all sin will deserve hell. As John says, "There is sin that is not deadly" (1 Jn 5:17).

Sins that "kill" in a non-eternal sense are something like:
James 1:15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
You see how a sin of lesser stature is not said to bring forth death, but a so-called "mature" sin does bring death.

Paul gives examples of the kinds of sins that prevent one from eternal life:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.​
 
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Hillsage

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What are they?

I notice that no one is even quoting the scripture which deals with this issue.

1JO 5:16 If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.
17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.


I believe that in this verse "brother" means a 'brother in christ'. So those who think a brother in Christ can commit an unforgivable sin, obviously don't believe in the 'eternal security' of a believer. Do you?

Personally, I believe that we're talking about the temporal punishment for sins according to the laws of man. I came to this belief when a murderess in Texas made national news when she was converted to Christianity and it became a big deal within the Christian community. Many thought that she should be released since she now had this big testimony for Jesus. George Bush was the 'Christian' governor at the time and many Christians thought he should pardon her based upon becoming a believer....but he didn't.

As I prayed about it all seeking God's POV, I felt like the above scripture was the one that He gave me. I was impressed with the 'a word' that she had committed a 'mortal' sin warranting the death penalty. And we weren't supposed to pray for her release. So if you want to know which sins I now believe are 'mortal' or 'unto death' it is any sin that man has determined to be worthy of the death penalty.

The context of the above verses are God granting anything according to his will if we pray for it. In these verses I think He's telling us what not to petition for with prayer because it isn't in His will. But this is only a temporal punishment, and I believe that the woman, if she was truly born again, had nothing to worry about before God.

OOPs Been writing on and off for a while and I just posted and realized that MRPOLO did put the verse in...Sorry.
.
 
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Hillsage

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Can you quote any verse that substantiates the above? "Killing grace" sounds like a good rebuttal, but it doesn't sound biblical to me. What is your definition of grace BTW?


Sins that "kill" in a non-eternal sense are something like:
James 1:15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
That's not what this scripture says. It says "SIN BRINGS FORTH" DEATH...period. The second half of the verse just tells you that the death isn't birthed immediately, or prematurely.

But let me deal with your analogy from your post. A bout with adultery may cause the death of your marriage, but that certainly doesn't happen before zipping up your pants the first time. Or cancer from cigarettes might kill you, but which cigarette was 'the' mortal one? Can you see my problem with your view. Repetition does not minimize the mortality of the FIRST 'stab'...to use your analogy. One mortal stab in the heart kills soon. 20 'non mortal/venial' stabs which allow you to ultimately 'bleed out' doesn't mean the first 19 stabs were venial and the last one mortal. You just bled out sooner. And attempted murder sure isn't treated venially by the government of man. And I doubt that God will say "You had murder in your heart, but it was a venial stab since he didn't die...well done my good and faithful servant."

You see how a sin of lesser stature is not said to bring forth death, but a so-called "mature" sin does bring death.
That's not what this verse is saying. You are putting a value judgment on sin that this verse in James doesn't support IMO.


So are you saying that all of those catholic priests who had their way with boys are hell bound with 'mortal' sin? If so, then why didn't the Church turn them over to Satan? Are you sure your theology would line up with the pope's?

Personally I think these verses are talking about God's kingdom on temporal earth and not the one in heaven in the hereafter. If that isn't what these verses mean, then I know a lot of "greedy", "swindling", "slanderers" in the church today. Shoot, I'm even guilty of those sins occasionally. I sure hope they aren't unforgivably 'mortal.
 
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Meredith0414

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Personally I think these verses are talking about God's kingdom on temporal earth and not the one in heaven in the hereafter.

I have never thought of it that way, but it certainly makes a lot of sense. I have always been a little confused about "mortal" sins, but using that interpretation seems logical. Is this just how you interpret it or do you have any verses that could point the same way?
 
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Hillsage

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If I say it's just the way 'I interpret it' does that mean you think 'I can't be right?'

I do know that I am in a minority with 'that belief', and there really aren't just 'single verses' out there to pull out and 'seal the deal' scripturally. But I do believe that scripture supports what I'm saying. If it didn't I wouldn't believe that way.

But let me first ask you a question...do you think that sin has only eternal (hereafter) consequences or does it also have temporal (here and now) consequences?
 
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Hillsage

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Meredith,

Here are a few verses that infer a kingdom manifestation temporally here and now.


MAT 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.


MAT 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Does this say 'SHALL go' or is it present tense?

MAT 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruitsthereof.


Are these "fruits" he speaks of, produced in this age...this side of eternity? If yes then the kingdom is also this side of eternity. If this kingdom of God shall be taken from the Jews and given to another nation does that mean the Jews aren't going to go to heaven in the hereafter?

MAR 4:11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outsideeverything is in parables;

Those "outside" of what? I think that the Kingdom of God her and now is implied.

LUK 9:27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

I personally don't think that this means they will see it with physical eyes...but with spiritual ones.

LUK 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.




Meredith I hope that some of these verses help you to see that the kingdom of God has a temporal as well as an eternal connotation. I hope they help you.
 
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razeontherock

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I have never thought of it that way, but it certainly makes a lot of sense. I have always been a little confused about "mortal" sins, but using that interpretation seems logical.

I agree w/ the young lady, who agrees with Hillsage I realize Catholics won't like this definition, but Hillsage has adequately represented my own inability to conceive of the Catholic position I've seen stated on mortal sin. And surely any good Catholic would like to see their own Priests who have wounded so many, forgiven? And not to single them out, look at the list of things "those who will not enter the kingdom of God" do. Every one of us is guilty!

I've thought through Hillsage's take on this, and I can't fault it. And here I thought I could find fault with anything?

"[As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the LORD [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him." 1 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 18:30

I would like to see both the stated opinions on this kicked around some more, and if anybody else has any other angle?

[Off-topic: what's presented in that last post is what I'd call "my strength." That's the sort of thing the Lord has always revealed to me, so yes I see that point. I find it odd I've never been able to read the passage of a "sin unto death" with that understanding - thank you.
 
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