Romans
1:32 “Though they know God's
righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they
not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”
I
have always taken great interest in the doctrine of justification by faith
alone – “sola fide”. Not being raised in the Christian church, I believed in
God but had the misconception that by being good I would go to heaven. I had no
means by which I could be explained why justification is necessary in the first
place. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “justification” as: the remission of sin and absolution from
guilt and punishment; or an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner
and accepts him as righteous, on account of the atonement of Christ. The
word “righteous” is defined as: Just;
accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is holy in
heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous man. The
reason we need to de declared righteous before God in the gospel is because we
are unrighteous in our sin before him without it. As my old mentor Bill Stiles told
me, “The default is Hell.” How many do not know that it is a life or dearth
matter?
Romans
1:18-19 “For the wrath
of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known
about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”
Definition
of terms is so important in our understanding and life application. I grew up
never knowing what “sin” really was. It was clearly defined in that 1828 Webster’s
dictionary, but not discovered until I heard about it on the Coral Ridge hour
one Sunday. Sin is defined as: The
voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty,
prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation
of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in
which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a
positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin
comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts
purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. Sinners
neither enjoy the pleasures of nor the peace of piety. Among divines, sin is original
or actual.
Actual sin, above defined, is the act of a moral agent in violating
a known rule of duty. Original sin, as generally understood, is native
depravity of heart to the divine will, that corruption of nature of
deterioration of the moral character of man, which is supposed to be the effect
of Adam's apostasy; and which manifests itself in moral agents by positive act
of disobedience to the divine will, or by the voluntary neglect to comply with
the express commands of God, which require that we should love God with all the
heart and soul and strength and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves. This
native depravity or alienation of affections from God and his law, is supposed
to be what the apostle calls the carnal mind or mindedness, which is enmity
against God, and is therefore denominated sin or sinfulness.
Unpardonable sin,
or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is supposed to be a malicious and
obstinate rejection of Christ and the gospel plan of salvation, or a
contemptuous resistance made to the influences and convictions of the Holy
Spirit. Sin differs from crime, not in nature, but in application. That which
is a crime against society, is sin against God. Sin is serious business.
Why do we take it lightly? God doesn't take it lightly.
Let’s
continue this vital message on Sin and Salvation in our next post.
In
Christ, Brian
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