WHY?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by ForeverBlessed

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Exactly, to him that "knoweth" to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Some interpret this wide open. If you know that Big Macs are bad for you and you have heart disease in your family, if you so much as eat a Big Mac... you're backslidden and Hell bound.

But I was taught it a little differently. The implication is that one can KNOW what is right. It isn't arbitrary. So what is it that we can KNOW and OBEY to keep us out of sin?

It's easy really....the Ten Commandments.

If you can look at the Ten Commandments and with assurance say that you've not broken them today, you've lived above sin.

[ForeverBlessed]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Exactly, to him that "knoweth" to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Some interpret this wide open. If you know that Big Macs are bad for you and you have heart disease in your family, if you so much as eat a Big Mac... you're backslidden and Hell bound.

But I was taught it a little differently. The implication is that one can KNOW what is right. It isn't arbitrary. So what is it that we can KNOW and OBEY to keep us out of sin?

It's easy really....the Ten Commandments.

If you can look at the Ten Commandments and with assurance say that you've not broken them today, you've lived above sin.

I am one who does believe that we should take care of our body, and if Big macs will hurt it, just as smoking... then it is best to stay away and avoid them. Will you go to hell if you eat one or two... no, I don't believe that. I believe when we are living for God and striving to be pleasing to him, his righteousness covers us because there is nothing righteous about us. It is all in his righteousness.

However, for me to willfully and continually do something that isn't good for me, that is lacking self control, and that to me would be a sin because I know better to do that.

**only using Big Mac reference because you gave it.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by ForeverBlessed

I am one who does believe that we should take care of our body, and if Big macs will hurt it, just as smoking... then it is best to stay away and avoid them. Will you go to hell if you eat one or two... no, I don't believe that. I believe when we are living for God and striving to be pleasing to him, his righteousness covers us because there is nothing righteous about us. It is all in his righteousness.

However, for me to willfully and continually do something that isn't good for me, that is lacking self control, and that to me would be a sin because I know better to do that.

**only using Big Mac reference because you gave it.

I disagree.

We'll stick with the Big Mac example.

Yes, you might know how bad they are for you and you may indeed continually order them for lunch. Maybe it is a lack of self control and perhaps you will suffer from ill health and perhaps even die from heart problems relating to diet.

But here's the issue.... it wasn't a "sin". You might have an unhealthy diet that kills you, but you won't go to Hell over it. A "sin" is something that will alienate you from God when you die. Sin is a Heaven or Hell issue. There are many habits that aren't "sin", they are simply bad habits. We weaken the definition of sin by expanding it. In addition we blur the lines between what is sin and what isn't. As a result, people walk around with unnecessary condemnation and even question if they can live in victory.

I'm amazed at how vague a definition we give to sin.