Sin is..: Commandments Keepers

Sin is ....

(1 John 3:4) "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."

God gave humanity His laws to show us His way of love. His laws define how we demonstrate love to God and our fellow human beings. (Deuteronomy 30:15-16; Matthew 22:35-40; 1 John 5:3). Sin is violation of God's law of love. God showed us a way to live in peace and harmony with Him and with mankind, and He defined this way of life by His law. When we sin, we violate, we transgress, that boundary by breaking His law.

Our natural minds are not adept at discerning right from wrong. (Jeremiah 10:23) "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Therefore we must first learn God's ways, that defines right and wrong. (Hebrews 5:14) "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Gods' words are written in the Holy Scriptures for our benefit, to teach us the way of life. (Hebrews 4:12) "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

In Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, chapter 19:16-26, we read the story of a young man who came to Jesus with a question, which is on everyone's minds: How to have eternal life? (Matthew 19:16) "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

And Jesus answered him: (Matthew 19:17) "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Jesus told him to keep the commandments. In the Holy Scriptures (which we call the Old Testament) there are hundreds of commandments. This man, knowing he was a sinner, tried to justify himself by asking another question:

(Matthew 19:18) "He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness," (Matthew 19:19) "Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Here, Jesus recites some of the 10 commandments. Jesus knew, that by keeping the 10 commandments, all of the commandments in the Holy Scriptures would be followed.

(Mark 12:30) "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Deuteronomy 6:5) "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

(Mark 12:31) "And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Leviticus 19:18) "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."

But who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29) "But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?"

Jesus goes on in Luke 10:30, telling the man and all that would listen, that whomever you meet is your neighbor. So Matthew 19:17 (...if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.), says to keep the 10 commandments. But, you say, the 10 commandments were only valid for the Israelites or Jews. That's what the god of this world, satan, would like you to believe, and which many church leaders teach. If that were true then apparently only the Israelites and the Jews can enter the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 5:20) "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Saul of Tarsus, a devout Jew, who is called the apostle Paul, was bent on the destruction of the Christians. He obtained letters from the high priest, authorizing him to seize those whom he should find at Damascus, and bring them bound to Jerusalem. But our Lord had another purpose for Paul. (Acts 9:15) "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" (Acts 11:18) "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Romans 10:12) "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him."