(this is another one of those incomplete ramblings and such a large subject it can not get done in this lifetime)
The concept of living “sin free” would seem to be another inner driving of the human existence and “a” (if not the) gauge by which we exercise our conscience, judging ourselves, as well as place our stamp of approval or disapproval on our fellowman.
Question #1). What is Sin?
Answer #1): Breaking of Gods Laws
Question #2). What are Gods Laws
Answer #2): The 10 Commandments
2a): While the observance of the 10 Commandments seems to be the standard (as it should be) for they are by no means obsolete. These Commandments were (and are) the Law of the Old Covenant.
2c): Many of us Christians seem to forget that, for us, the Old Covenant has been fulfilled and that the New Covenant is intact. Forgetting this seems to cause our hearts to attempt to live somewhere in-between the two, which can actually be living outside of either.
Question #3. Aren’t covenants and laws the same thing?
Answer #3): NO Laws stand separate from Covenants.
3a). Covenants are promises / “deals” / agreements, offered by One with the power to make good on the Deal, Promise, or Agreement…..
3b). Laws are parameters which the “other party” must stay within to be the beneficial recipient of the Deal, Promise or Agreement
3c). In more common terms … the breaking of a Law can in no way diminish the value of the covenant “offered”, but will cause the Law Breaker to forfeit any privileges of partaking in the benefits of the covenant.
THE NEW COVENANT (This old man likes to think of as an “amendment” to the Old just to keep some things straighter in my head)
While the Old and New are based on each other, the New is so radically different, from the Old, because of the personal (incarnate) involvement of The One offering the “deal” that it by all means needs to be call NEW.
While delivering the New Covenant, Jesus was often confronted with the same questions that perplex us today. Partially because of the “clause allowing the Offer of Forgiveness of Sin” seemingly for Free.
This Offer just didn’t make sense to those who’s eyes, mouth, and heart are living (contently) within the Law and their bank accounts are able to cover the needed requirements for forgiveness of sins committed. The Heart of the Old Covenant NEVER WAS to “buy” your way into forgiveness when one breached the law, but THIS was NOT being understood. The idea of changing the Heart to safeguard ones self from the need to make sin offering, well that just shouldn’t be needed. Although that IS the “New OFFER” ….take it or leave it….
When asked the direct question about which of these laws was the greatest (possibly meaning “most important”) and (the laws being asked about were more then likely the 613 mitzvoth (Jewish laws) which was what the “interested” parties were responsible to and the “613” cover the 10 given to Moses in detail ) Our Lords answer was ( Matthew 22: 35-40 ) and His answer IS the Laws of the New Covenant.
We all seem to have different observances of that which actually constitutes a sin. (This is where the 613 mitzvoth really shine in laying out most details)
Without proper Judgment, which only God has and readily offers to all, the freedom of the New Covenant, allows us to become self sanctified – mistakenly judgmental – and often lazy in our quest to live a sin free existence.
Example of part of the life of one days Sin.
Three men (or women) are sitting in a Casino: (that was possibly the second or third mistake: but anyway) …
Person (a) lost $2,000.00…and…
Person (b) lost $60,000.00…and…
Person (c) won $60.00…
Person “a” went home to the family and informed them that they now need to move out of the house and into a smaller home in a crime ridden part of town.
Subsequently the influence of the new environment brought about peer pressure that 2 daughters gave into and became prostitutes and the only son of the family became a member of a local gang and is now living in prison.
Person “b” went home, felt really stupid, and transferred $700,000.00 from another bank account into the account that the $60k had been taken from … (deceiving the marital partner in an effort to cover the shame of the stupidity) but all in all life went on much like 2 years ago when the same thing occurred.
Person “c” went home and shared the story of winning with the family and superficially feeling bad for persons “a & b” shared of how tragic it was to view such irresponsible behavior. Retold the story at work and again at the family picnic the next week, building on the details each time, until the memory of it was replaced by the threat of a world wide virus caused by an irresponsible scientist.
How have they sinned?
Person “a” has sinned against God in being out of control in the areas of precious needed worldly resources (in this case money and the stewardship thereof) as well as sinned against the family in the loss of the money and the inability to influence family members to make proper decisions in their maturing lives.
Person “b” may have had a well deserved entertaining day at the casino. Then sinned against God and the spouse when pride driven jostling of the books took place, in the successful effort, to deceive the spouse. Laying the groundwork (if it already hadn’t been laid) for degeneration of both relationships and exposed an indicator of not being trustworthy with abundant gifts.
Person “c” suffers from prideful insecure self reliance (or the love of money). This makes it impossible to attain a reasonable amount of anything for earthly contentment. And more then likely told the spouse of winning $20.00 in order to be sure of keeping the other $40.00 for a rainy day … as well as could have inflated it to $120.00 at work and back to $20.00 at the picnic ( just in case the work version got back to the immediate family the $100.00 discrepancy could be called a verbal typo) and NONE of this really matters, until those careless- lying- deceiving government officials and members of the scientific community quit ruining the near sin free existence that person “c” has managed to eek out regardless of the attempts of destruction made upon it.
IN JUDGMENT Can we spot the greatest “Sin”? Even if WE scenario this, until the cows come home, we can NOT “spot the greatest sin”, in that we will always be missing additional needed factors. Those needed factors are seen by God and a part of what He uses to do the needed “repairs” and help us in becoming humble enough to ask for His forgiveness, allowing the setting up of defenses, in the effort that we may gain Virtues to bypass future sins and become Graced.
ALTHOUGH we CAN see that all three have sinned as far as to what extent, ultimately this can only be left up to the One that was truly sinned against. The ONE that knows how to weight the extent to which the Covenant has been breached by such sins. And HAS THE POWER to make all things right by His Word if He so chooses.
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Certain aspects of the repairs to the effects of our sins, through Scripture and Tradition and Common Sense, have been made known to mankind. As follows: AND THESE ARE ONLY SOME OF THE 7X7 POSSIBILITIES.
Person “a” has been humbled and the continued downward spiraling of the daily workings of life, should cause the eyes, mouth and heart to easily turn to God. Possibly by praying alone or with the family, in a room of the undesirable home the family is now in. Or possibly by needing to go to a Church for assistance with basic needs, where the Lord will be trying to verbally speak through another human. If the voice of God is heard and responded to it will be the best $2,000.00 the family has even spent.
Person “b” may have a harder time ever recognizing such venial flaws. Even if the $60,000.00 isn’t ever missed the deceptions will always be exposed, by their own nature, maybe though the IRS, or other humans. The exposing of which is usually the workings of God in the background allowing the opportunity for realization of the flaw and reconciliation. Or by these deceptions escalating into larger ones which will eventually do serious harm thereby exposing themselves. AND THEN with the humility needed for reconciliation, the eyes, mouth and heart can more easily turn to God.
Person “c” already has one foot in the grave of spiritual death. In that superficially caring for the fellowman is an indicator of superficially caring as to whether the eyes look toward God. Person “c” would seem to be the one that is being cried out to by God. Being given the constant awareness of all the evils around. Although pride is not allowing the mouth to answer the “call to arms” God is sounding. And because of the desire to “not stray from the center line” has allowed the speck in the eye of others to be more visible to the heart then the beam in its own. This is generally the type of human that is truly blessed when major tragedy enters their life, in that it is the needed opportunity to turn to spiritual things and put away the modest comforts that are being the substitute for heavenly peace and contentment with ones self and ones fellowman.
Bottom line on sin in general (certainly nothing new)
1). Small sins are not harmless. Whether personal (thought to be hidden) or social (obviously exposed) All acts of sinning are offensive to God, a breach of the New Covenant and in need of His repairs.
1a). The seed of sin WILL GROW and does need to be uprooted. Uprooting can be painless or painful, none the less must be done. Once it dies (like any manure) it makes a most fertile spot for the flowers of Virtue to flourish.
1b). The Seeds of Virtue WILL GROW, from that spot, and are the natural produce of a cared for spiritual garden.
2). All forgiveness, healing, atonement, and the graces needed for everything else, are made possible by the Eternal Jesus and the Mercy and Love of The Father, although brought to us in many forms, The Holy Spirit of the Triune God is the initiator of it all .
3). All past and present sins have been or are being combated by God in the effort to Forgive the one who has brought them to life, He yearns for our co-operation.
4) All future sin is being combated by God in the effort to cause us to willingly STOP before they take place.
5). The only sinner that can not be forgiven and the only situation that can not be made into a blessing is that which DOES NOT turn its eyes, mouth, and heart toward God for the grace needed to do so.
6) While some sins are obvious and need be avoided like any plague. It is not easy for humans to judge the sin of others correctly and therefore should attempt to stay away from doing so.
7) Once confessed and forgiven, past sins need not be feared, and should only be remembered if needed to cause Humility or in Thanksgiving for Forgiveness or to give Glory in testimony. Even then some sins should not be mentioned as they are too hideous and, the mentioning of, can become the seed which regenerates in the next persons garden. ALL sin should eventually disappear from sight of the minds eye, as HE accounts them NO MORE…today has enough problems of its own without remembering yesterdays. Only future sins need be considered (or feared) and dealt with.