What Decides what is sin?

jwsiii · Jan 2, 2004

How is it determined what is sinful and what isn't? Is it whether or not it is foribdden by the Bible? How you feel after you do it? Common sense?

preston08 · Jan 2, 2004

Hmm.. a tough one... one that I have no business trying to give an answer

But I'll give it a go..

God?

The Bible?

reformedfan · Jan 2, 2004

God determines what is sin & what's not. When people try to, they are legalists, or Pharisees.

1John5:3 · Jan 2, 2004

reformedfan said:
God determines what is sin & what's not. When people try to, they are legalists, or Pharisees.

Our only definition of sin is that given in the word of God:

"Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." 1 John 3:4

Sin is the outworking of a principle at war with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government.

Christ gives no liberty for any man to pass judgment upon others. In the Sermon on the Mount He forbade this. It is the prerogative of God. But on the church in its organized capacity He places a responsibility for the individual members. Toward those who fall into sin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. "Reprove, rebuke, exhort," the Lord says, "with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2 Tim. 4:2. Deal faithfully with wrongdoing. Warn every soul that is in danger. Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by its right name. Declare what God has said in regard to lying, Sabbathbreaking, stealing, idolatry, and every other evil. "They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:21. If they persist in sin, the judgment you have declared from God's word is pronounced upon them in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disown Christ; the church must show that she does not sanction their deeds, or she herself dishonors her Lord. She must say about sin what God says about it. She must deal with it as God directs, and her action is ratified in heaven. He who despises the authority of the church despises the authority of Christ Himself.

bjh · Jan 2, 2004

"Sin is lawlessness" and "All unrighteousness is sin" 1 John 5:17.
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17.

jwsiii · Jan 2, 2004

I've just been wondering lately how to know for sure whether or not any given thing is a sin. It seems to me that Satan causes more damage with the "God doesn't want you to have fun." lie than the "It's not a sin, so it's ok to do it." lie.

bjh · Jan 2, 2004

I misunderstood the original question. I thought you were looking for simple definitions for sin. I didn't realize you were looking for lists of sins.

Obviously the Bible has lists of "do"s and "do not"s. Exodus 20 (the Ten Commandments). The Greatest Commandment "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength...and love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:30-31).

If you're familiar with the fruit of the Spirit, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal 5:22-23), there is also a longer list of deeds of the flesh just prior to that list (Gal 5:19-21) "immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these"

Note that last "catch-all".

Are these things not sin?

armothe · Jan 5, 2004

Anything done not out of love is sin. Simple.

-A

Yalith · Jan 5, 2004

armothe said:
Anything done not out of love is sin. Simple.

-A

Axver · Jan 10, 2004

armothe said:
Anything done not out of love is sin. Simple.

-A

That doesn't mean everything done in love is not sinful, though.

bjh · Jan 10, 2004

I guess it all depends on where one's love is directed. Someone once observed that the ten commandments could either be rephrased as expressions of love either for God or for one's fellow man.

The sin, I think is when love for ourself takes priority over either of the other two.

I'd like to throw what I think is a wrench in the works of some of the other posts. Isn't everything we do done out of love (however misdirected that love may be)?

armothe · Jan 12, 2004

Axver said:
That doesn't mean everything done in love is not sinful, though.

Example, please.

-A

harmmony · Jan 16, 2004

This is a tricky one. The bible is definitely clear about certain things being sinful and there are plenty examples where it is not. I personally don't put a great deal of stock in what the Old Testament describes as sinful, but the Ten Commandments would all be considered sin according to God's commandments of the New Testament - 1. Love the Lord God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength - Mark 12:30 NKJV and 2. Love you neoghbour as yourself - Mark 12:31 NKJV.

But I understand your confusion about the other stuff and I don't think it can all be covered by any idea about sin and love. An example - I have been reading here and elsewhere the raging debate about the sinfulness (or not) of masturbation, another is having a drink, drunkeness is a sin, but is having a drink a sin, some would say yes and some no. I don't think the New Testament commandments make it clear about these or many other issues.

Personally I think that there is no definitive answer, but I have a belief. Here it is. Whether these extra things are a sin or not is an individual determination and between you and God. God knows our inner workings, thoughts motivations etc. and so He knows if a certain thing is sinful for you. An example - I used to have a face full of piercings which God instructed me to remove. Do I think piercings are a sin - no I don't. Was it a sin for me - definitely yes, because my motivation for having them was based in a deep rebellion and my identity was wrapped up in them instead of God. These things were coming between God and I and were sinnful in my case.

My advice is to be in close communication with God and be open to His convictions, if you are not sure if a specific thing is sin - ask Him and I also think it helps to get advice from a spiritually mature Christian if you can.

thereselittleflower · Feb 7, 2004

I find this simple guide to be very simple:

Rom 14:23

. . . . . for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

But one must be careful that their faith is right, that their understanding of the Christian faith is right . .

Paul was speaking of the liberties we have in Christ, but if one's conscience is weak, then for them to partake in something because of our liberties, when they did not believe we are at liberty, then it would be sin for them for they did not do it in faith . .

But the general principle is there and ever present . .

The 10 Commandments are part of the natural moral law . . the commands Jesus gaive to love God with everything in you, to love your neighbor as yourself . . everything is in there . .

If you find yourself trying to justify doing something, then that is warning sign number 1 ! Heed it!

Peace in Him!

JesusInMyHeart · Feb 12, 2004

The book of Proverbs is a wonderful teaching....

Proverbs was written for knowledge and discretion. To make the wise wiser and to know how to avoid pitfalls of folly will lead to health and success. Although Proverbs is a book dealing with the art of living, it bases wisdom solidly on the fear of the Lord. Here you will find wisdom that works and insights that will not wear out.

Read:

Proverbs 1: 1 to 7

GOD BLESS

Staind · Feb 12, 2004

I've had problems with this issue too. The conclusion I came too is that it's really between you and God, specifically in the gray areas.

For example, the Bible never does fully condemn masturbation, but it does condemn lustful thinking which in theory can be associated with masturbation. The problem is, I don't see visually thinking about having sex with someone as lust (see the actual definition) so I believe it is not a sin while other Christians might. This is in a way a convenant between God and I. I may be wrong and masturbation may be a sin, but if God was to punish me for something I truly believed was OK (truly believed) then I don't see how people could say he loved us.

Now, the Bible clearly states that murder is wrong. So, murder is a sin because it's clearly stated in the Bible while masturbation is not. As a result, I think when it directly states something it can be taken as a sin while a lot of things are left for interpretation. The main problem I have is "what if I'm wrong and God sends me to hell?" The answer to this is if you live a good life and repent you shouldn't really worry. If you honestly believe something which turns out to be wrong, God will not punish you for ignorance.

Oh I see harmmony basically said exactly what I said. Sorry about that.

Dominus Fidelis · Feb 13, 2004

jwsiii said:
How is it determined what is sinful and what isn't? Is it whether or not it is foribdden by the Bible? How you feel after you do it? Common sense?

Who did Jesus give the power to "bind and loose" and the power to "forgive or retain" sins?

Answer that and you will know who determines what is sin.

Start with Matthew 16:18

Peace in Christ Jesus

Andry · Apr 2, 2004

It should be very clear:

Romans 14:23
"...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

Let's make it a little more serious:

1 Cor 10:31
"Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Is it sin to disobey this Biblical commandment? Yes.

So I draw this somber conclusion: It is sin to eat or drink or do anything NOT for the glory of God. In other words, sin is not just a list of harmful things (killing, stealing, etc.). Sin is leaving God out of account in the ordinary affairs of your life. Sin is anything you do that you don't do for the glory of God.

What do unbelievers do for the glory of God? Nothing. Therefore everything they do is sinful. Everything an unbeliever does is sinful and thus unacceptable to God. So apart from saving grace, all we do is morally ruined.

Neil · Apr 3, 2004

I've had problems with this issue too. The conclusion I came too is that it's really between you and God, specifically in the gray areas.

For example, the Bible never does fully condemn masturbation, but it does condemn lustful thinking which in theory can be associated with masturbation. The problem is, I don't see visually thinking about having sex with someone as lust (see the actual definition) so I believe it is not a sin while other Christians might. This is in a way a convenant between God and I. I may be wrong and masturbation may be a sin, but if God was to punish me for something I truly believed was OK (truly believed) then I don't see how people could say he loved us.

Now, the Bible clearly states that murder is wrong. So, murder is a sin because it's clearly stated in the Bible while masturbation is not. As a result, I think when it directly states something it can be taken as a sin while a lot of things are left for interpretation. The main problem I have is "what if I'm wrong and God sends me to hell?" The answer to this is if you live a good life and repent you shouldn't really worry. If you honestly believe something which turns out to be wrong, God will not punish you for ignorance.

Oh I see harmmony basically said exactly what I said. Sorry about that.

masturbation is not mentioned anywhere in the bible. it isnt refered as a different act. it isnt paraphrased. nothing anywhere in the bible says that masturbation is bad. some guy said up there that people who make things a sin when it isnt is a pharisee so that means any christian who says masturbation is a sin is a pharisee.... think about it.

kel32 · Apr 20, 2004

andry said:
In other words, sin is not just a list of harmful things (killing, stealing, etc.). Sin is leaving God out of account in the ordinary affairs of your life. Sin is anything you do that you don't do for the glory of God.

What do unbelievers do for the glory of God? Nothing. Therefore everything they do is sinful. Everything an unbeliever does is sinful and thus unacceptable to God. So apart from saving grace, all we do is morally ruined.

Exactly...each and every time we 'rebel' against the will of God, it is indeed sin.

'Thy will be done'...

~peace~

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