The epitome of sin?

[CoreoAF]

What exactly, is God's standard of "pure evil"?
Is there some being that is the epitome of sin?
Does Satan sin?

By Christ's standard, I beleive that most people have disobeyed each of the Ten Commandments. Is it even possible for Satan to do this? (Thanks to bible.com) (Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.)(Romans 5:13bBut sin is not taken into account when there is no law)
Is Satan (an angelic being) under the Law? Is it possible for Satan to sin? It seems to me more likely that a common sinner would be considered the "epitome" of sin.

 

[Buzz Dixon]

Sin is literally falling short of the mark, it does not have to involve an actual act, nor does it have to have a malicious intent.

Ideally, we should be so full of love for God and love for our neighbors that we are incapable of sin. The reality is that while we love God and our neighbors, selfishness and self-importance often distract us from doing what is right.

 

[CoreoAF]

Ideally, I agree, but in what state of being are we as sinners?

 

[CSMR]

The reality is that while we love God and our neighbors, selfishness and self-importance often distract us from doing what is right.

In that case we appear to be part good and part evil. How can good and evil coexist so? Wouldn't we really be two individuals not one? As Jesus said, you cannot serve both God and Mammon.

 

[kedaman]

What is not of faith is sin. Satan's sin is rebellion against God. There's no such thing as pure evil, because all evil does serve good.

 

[CoreoAF]

What is not of faith is sin. Satan's sin is rebellion against God. There's no such thing as pure evil, because all evil does serve good.

Satsn's sin is rebellion.....but all evil does is serve good? Hmm. Perhaps I misunderstood you. Would you please clarify what you mean? And then, would you say how that ties in with the Law? That's the point where I'm confused; does the law extend over satan?

 

[Te_Adoro_68]

Somewhere in the Bible, it says that Blasphemy is the worst sin...I'm pretty sure it calls it an "unforgivable sin", so I'd say that if anything is pure evil, that would have to be it.

 

[CoreoAF]

Somewhere in the Bible, it says that Blasphemy is the worst sin...I'm pretty sure it calls it an "unforgivable sin", so I'd say that if anything is pure evil, that would have to be it.

Mark 3:28I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." (thanks to bible.com)

he is guilty of an eternal sin. How do you blaspheme the Holy Spirit? I beleive to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to claim your life on earth as your own, and not accept the truth of God and be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Since it is an eternal sin, it's not like you do it once. It's a constant state of being. But yes, I think you're right.

 

[Te_Adoro_68]

Thanks for the reference. I'll write it down, so I don't sound so uninformed next time I use it...

 

[CSMR]

Somewhere in the Bible, it says that Blasphemy is the worst sin...I'm pretty sure it calls it an "unforgivable sin", so I'd say that if anything is pure evil, that would have to be it.

Blasphemy against the holy spirit (note the qualification) will not be forgiven. That doesn't make it more evil than other sins.
We know that Christ came to save the most evil people. There is nothing so evil that it is not forgiven through faith in Christ. Paul for instance is the worst of sinners 1 Timothy 1:15-16 but is forgiven - so if you want to find out what the worst evil is like, look at Paul. Or look into yourself for that matter. Blasphemy against the spirit is unforgivable not because it more evil than any other sin but because it is incompatible with faith.

 

[Te_Adoro_68]

Oh, and Blasphemy is defined as a hostile attitude or hatred towards God...so, I would say that an outright hatred of God is the unforgivable sin.

 

[CSMR]

NO NO NO!
Any sin indicates a hostile attitude of hatred towards God. That is why Jesus put love of God and man as the central commandments, because if we have such love we will obey God and serve our neighbour, while if we do not we will not. Any sin comes from the heart where it is spawned by a fundamental hatred of God.

This is what people are like (Rom 1):
filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Nevertheless such people are forgiven in Christ!

 

[kedaman]

Satsn's sin is rebellion.....but all evil does is serve good? Hmm. Perhaps I misunderstood you. Would you please clarify what you mean? And then, would you say how that ties in with the Law? That's the point where I'm confused; does the law extend over satan?

Think of it this way, evil is by definition impurity, because it cannot exist without good, good stands on its own, which is purity. However since evil must also do what is necessary to accomplish what is unnecessary, it will to a degree but not fully achieve what is good.

 

[CoreoAF]

kedaman, thanks for clearing that up. I get you now.

CSMR, if one blasphemes the Holy Spirit, does he not also cling to all of the other desires of his sinful nature? Romans 8:5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.)

I wasn't saying that blaspheming the Holy Spirit has a higher quality of evil, but that nobody repents of it, because you are only guilty of this sin if you do not repent of it. It is an eternal sin.

And I am not guilty of this sin, because Christ died and payed for my sin, bringing me into His grace. And I never was guilty of it. So one who blasphemes the Holy Spirit is also one who is eternally a slave to the sinful nature, and "those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God". Hmmm.

Just an idea! God bless you all.

 

[CSMR]

CoreoAF, that sounds like a very good understanding of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. You will be controlled by the sinful nature if you do not accept the authority of God to condemn sin or the power of God to give a new spiritual nature.

 

[CoreoAF]

Ok. So does the same Law extend over Satan as extends over us?