This was first written at the Delphi "Truthseeker" forum under a topic about
sin.
Sin is a transgression of the law (1 John 3:4) be it known or unknown. I
respectfully disagree that Christians may wilfully continue in known sins and
yet somehow enter heaven, having "crucified the Son of God afresh."
(Hebrews 6:6) Paul never murdered Christians after he was saved. David never
committed adultery after he repented. And yes, both of them will be in heaven.
A large problem is this: A mistake is not a sin (contrary to popular belief),
however injurious it may well be to anyone else's feelings. A "sin of
ignorance" (Leviticus chapter 4) does incur some guilt, but obviously and
logically not so much as a known sin. There may be millions of things about
which we remain ignorant for some time after becoming a Christian, but
breaking a rule unintentionally cannot justly be rewarded with an eternal
punishment. This is undeniably unfair, even to God. God's point is that
everyone does know that they are responsible to Him and that He does exist,
as evidenced by creation itself. Evolutionists have the greatest difficulty
maintaining their credibility as scientists while they repeatedly and
continuously deny a "first cause." Denying the law of "cause and effect,"
(which is unprovable) by saying we have a massively complex effect (the
universe and its contents) with absolutely no cause is absurd and ridiculous,
and as such is doomed to fail in the end of time as a valid science. This is
well summarized in Romans chapter 1. I know I veered a bit off topic, but if
there is a God, then there is sin.
There isn't a person alive that has ever not wanted (if even for just a
moment's time) a life free of responsibilities and consequences to their
actions. What we should do is just simply grow up and face them rather than
to childishly deny their existence.
Sin is also a decision. It wasn't absolutely the devil in the snake which
brought sin into the world; but rather Adam's bad decision to follow into the
sin that both it and his wife presented to him. He could have turned them
both down instead of turning God down as he did. But since that didn't
happen, we must deal with who we are where we are. That involves repentance
from sin, admission that God is indeed the Lord, and a refusal to ever choose
it again. Hence the command oft repeated by Jesus to "Go and sin no more."
Would He command us to do that which He knows we can't do? If so, He is
mocking us, not helping us. But the devil wants us to feel guilty for our
mistakes, so don't do it. Feel guilty for sin -- known transgressions.
Correct and work on the mistakes. That's all we can do, even if God expected
more of us (which He doesn't.)
In the mind of God, sin is not merely ideological; it is visible.
In the mind of God, sin is not negligible; it is palpable.
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