IS THERE AN EXCUSE FOR SIN?
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In this study we will explore the other side of the spectrum of human creeds on sin, actual sin. In the previous study we covered the two sides of original sin- the corrupt body we inherit versus the alleged guilt we inherit. The study of actual sin is the study of sins that are charged, but in the scope of human creeds and traditions there are actual sins that “do not set us in direct opposition to the will and friendship of God.”[1] Sounds too good to be true? It depends on what you trust man’s word or God’s Word.
- The Catechism and Actual Sin.
Actual sin is defined in two subcategories; mortal sin and venial sin.
- “Mortal Sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.”[2]
- For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.“
According to the Catholic Catechism mortal sin must meet three conditions together.
- Grave Matter
- Committed with full knowledge
- Deliberate Consent
Paul writes that the nations “who show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience witnessing with them, and the thoughts between one another accusing or even excusing” Rom 2:15. Thus a full knowledge is not the only condition for sin but the law written in the heart and the conscience witnessing with us can accuse of sin or in some cases excuse us.
- VENIAL SINS we are told “weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul’s progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment.”
Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.
Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not set us in direct opposition to the will and friendship of God; it does not break the covenant with God.
We are told that, “While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins.” Then we are warned, “But do not despise these sins which we call “light”: if you take them for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession.”
Augustine wrote, “I do not tell you that you will live here without sin; but they are venial, without which this life is not.”
[1] http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6C.HTM
[2] http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6C.HTM
- Protestants and Actual/Original Sin: sin vs sins or Sin vs sins or SIN vs. sins
- “Sin” singular refers to the powerful nature of sin within us.[1]
- “sins” plural refer to countless acts of sinning as the fruits of this sinful nature within us[2]
Protestants connect mortal sin with original sin (a.k.a. total depravity) and the acts of sin are referred to as little “sins.”
Here is an example from a quasi-evangelical author,
“Eating cheese is not SIN
I figured most of you would agree with me on that point. So I’ll see if I can antagonize the rest of you. Eating rats, snakes, snails or even hogs is not SIN. Sabbath breaking is not SIN. Murder is not SIN. Theft is NOT sin. SIN is prior to all these things. They may be sins—maybe—but they are not SIN. SIN is love.”[3]
In summary this view teaches that total depravity, original sin leads to little actual sins, maybe.
ORIGINAL SIN –> VENIAL SINS
SIN –>sins
“It’s like a tree that produces its fruit—“sins.””[4]
Total depravity (a.k.a. original sin), the “natural body” blended with mortal sin is compared to the tree and the sins are compared to the fruit.
Jesus never compared trees to fallen nature
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by the fruit.
Luk 6:43 For there is not a good tree that produces bad fruit, nor a bad tree that produces good fruit.
Jesus compares good and bad trees to character and behaviors, not to the flesh or nature. How can Jesus say make a tree good or bad? Because He came to “…save His people from their sins.” Mat 1:21. That mission would have been an utter failure before it was even started if God charged sin to the human seed or to flesh and blood. Jesus knew what He could accomplish in anyone who is “generated out of water and Spirit” (John 3:5, like when he told the woman caught in adultery “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11
The only time that Jesus made any mention about our fallen nature is in relation to temptation
Mar 14:38 Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Jesus said the flesh is weak. However nothing in Scripture teaches that the flesh is charged with sin and that all we get is little sins that might need to be confessed, depending on how you feel about them.
[1] http://holdingtotruth.com/2012/03/03/the-difference-between-sin-and-sins-two-problems-two-solutions/
[2] http://holdingtotruth.com/2012/03/03/the-difference-between-sin-and-sins-two-problems-two-solutions/
[3] I Used To Be Perfect-A Study on Sin and Salvation by George R. Knight, 13
[4] http://holdingtotruth.com/2012/03/03/the-difference-between-sin-and-sins-two-problems-two-solutions/
- The Bible and Actual Sin
The Bible makes no such distinctions between mortal sin and venial sin or sin vs sins or Sin vs sins or SIN vs. sins. There is only one definition of sin…
1Jn 3:4 Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1Jn 3:5 And you know that that One was revealed that He might take away our sins, and sin is not in Him. 1Jn 3:6 Everyone remaining in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him, nor known Him. 1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one lead you astray; the one practicing righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous. 1Jn 3:8 The one practicing sin is of the devil, because the devil sins from the beginning. For this the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the devil. 1Jn 3:9 Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin, because His seed abides in him, and he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God. Jn 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God; also the one not loving his brother.
James really clarifies this further.
Jas 4:17 Therefore, to anyone knowing to do good, and not doing it, it is sin to him.
Cats for instance are good at catching mice, but they don’t just eat them. They torture the poor little things, letting it go and catching it injuring the little rodent with its jaws and claws. Cats kill and torture rodents every day, yet none of us has tried to press charges against the cruelty of cats. In fact most of us will feed, wash and house that little sadistic creature. Why don’t we take any punitive or remedial action against those furry monsters? Because they don’t know right from wrong.
Unlike cats all humans have a conscience, but not all humans are capable of knowing good from evil.
On December 31, 2014 a 29 year old mother is fatally shot in an Idaho Wal-Mart by her 2 year old son.[1]
On April 27, 2016 a toddler 2 1/2 years old in Milwaukee shoots his 26 year old mother.[2]
Are those toddlers guilty of murder crimes? No, no matter how tragic the situation may be the toddler did not know good from evil.
God does not hold to account those who do not know good from evil. But for those of us who do know good from evil, our “conscience witnessing with us, and the thoughts between one another accusing or even excusing us” (Ro 2:15)
Furthermore Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is no mortal sin that requires the sacrament of reconciliation and venial sin that requires confession to an earthly pontiff. There is no big SIN or little sins or sin vs sins or Sin vs sins or SINàsins. All of this is a morass of confusion to secure more rebels on Satan’s side, enslaved to sin and free from righteousness.
The only sin that is charged to us is actual sin. Sin in thought, attitude or action and every sin is mortal.
Mat 5:22 But I say to you, Everyone who is angry with his brother without cause shall be liable to the Judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca, shall be liable to the sanhedrin; but whoever says, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of Hell.
Mat 5:27 You have heard that it was said to the ancients: “Do not commit adultery.” Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18 Mat 5:28 But I say to you, Everyone looking at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Mat 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to offend, cut it off and throw it from you, for it is profitable to you that one of your members should perish and all your body not be thrown into Hell.
Sin is charged by the law of God, known to us or written in our hearts.
Rom 5:13 For sin was in the world until Law, but sin is not charged where there is no law;
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/30/us/idaho-walmart-shooting-accident-mother-toddler/
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/04/27/mother-fatally-shot-by-toddler-who-found-gun-in-car-sheriffs-office-says/?utm_term=.4e1ba06959e4
I am going to read this quote and I ask that you judge to see if it is consistent with Scripture…
It is impossible to so explain the origin of sin as to give a reason for its existence. Yet enough may be understood concerning both the origin and the final disposition of sin, to fully make manifest the justice and benevolence of God in all his dealings with evil. Nothing is more plainly taught in Scripture than that God was in nowise responsible for the entrance of sin; that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, no deficiency in the divine government, that gave occasion for the uprising of rebellion. Sin is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it, is to defend it. Could excuse for it be found, or cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be sin. Our only definition of sin is that given in the Word of God; it is “the transgression of the law;” it is the outworking of a principle at war with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government. {GC88 492.2}
Speaking of the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men Paul says…
Rom 1:20 For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, both His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.
There is no excuse for sin. No excuse in our bodies sown in corruption, sown in weakness and dishonor. No excuse in our ancestry, no excuse in our circumstances, no excuse in our family or friends. In fact there is no excuse even if you commit a sin in ignorance.
Lev 4:22 When a ruler sins and has acted against one of all the commands of Jehovah his God, which is not to be done, through ignorance, and is guilty; Lev 4:23 or his sin which he has sinned shall be made known to him, then he shall bring his offering, a buck of the goats, a male, without blemish;
No need for goats or bulls…
Heb 10:4 for it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
1Co 5:7 For also Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.
Heb 7:27 …For He did this once for all, offering up Himself.
So what can I do if I commit any known sin, in a bad thought, in a bad attitude or in bad behavior?
1Jn 2:1 My little children, I write these things to you so that you do not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Do not go running to an earthly pontiff, mediator, psychologist, or shrink it’s a deception and if you do it knowingly you commit a sin that cannot be forgiven. It is a sin against the Holy Spirit. You have a heavenly pontiff, a heavenly mediator, the heavenly Physician, the only “Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
The intercession of Christ alone is able to do a complete and thorough transformation…
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Overcoming sin in our lives is pre-requisite to maturating and perfecting Christian character.
Jesus said…
Rev 3:5 The one overcoming, this one shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not at all blot his name out of the Book of Life; and I will acknowledge his name before My Father, and before His angels.
Paul admonished the Corinthians…
2Co 7:1 Then having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and of spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Peter urges us…
2Pe 1:5 But also in this very thing, having brought in all diligence, having fully supplied in your faith virtue, and with virtue knowledge, 2Pe 1:6 and with the knowledge self-control, and with the self-control patience, and with the patience godliness, 2Pe 1:7 and with the godliness brotherly love, and with brotherly love, love. 2Pe 1:8 For these things being in you, and abounding, they will make you not idle, not unfruitful in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Pe 1:9 For the one in whom these things are not present is blind, being shortsighted, taking on forgetfulness of the cleansing of his sins in time past. 2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brothers, rather be diligent to make sure of your calling and election; for doing these things, you will not ever fall.
Only those who are diligent to make their calling and election sure will escape corruption at Christ’s return…
1Co 15:49 And as we bore the image of the earthy man, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. 1Co 15:50 And I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 1Co 15:51 Behold, I speak a mystery to you: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed. 1Co 15:52 In a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet; for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
