"Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way [unbelief and impenitence] will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (James 5:20). This doesn't mean we go around pointing out our neighbor's sin, but to preach the gospel (our commission) and let God make the seed of the Word grow, leaving the results to God.
Looking back on previous posts, I noticed that several of them deal with whether some practice, such as gambling, smoking, Sabbath-breaking, sex during a woman's period, shaving sideburns, tattoos, etc., are sin. "To his own master, he stands or falls...." It is not our job to convict of sin, ("Preach the Word") but the sole responsibility and burden of the Holy Spirit--"He shall convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment" (cf. John 16:8). If we faithfully preach the Word God, it will not come back void, but God will accomplish His divine purpose, according to Isa. 55:11.
"He flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin" (cf. Psa. 36:2). "...He commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong" (Psa. 36:4b).
Jesus came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (cf. Luke 19:1). God wants us to admit our guilt and sinful nature, not that such and such is a sin. "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?" (cf. Psa. 130:3).
"You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence" (cf. Psa. 90:8). Taking the beam out of our own eye, before trying to dislodge the speck in our brother's eye, as Jesus said. We should be so busy being convicted of our own sins that we don't worry about our neighbor's sins and be like Paul who saw himself as the "chief of sinners." Thank God, He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor reward us according to our iniquities (cf. Psa. 103:10).
We can miss the point and concentrate on "sins" and not the root problem of "sin" (I mean the problem of the sin nature or tendency to sin inherent in us). Paul exhorted the Romans to accept him who is weak in the faith, but let each be fully convinced in his own mind. It is a spiritual fact that something may be a sin to you, and not to others. Whatever is not of faith is sin, said Paul. ("He that knows to do good, and does it not, sins"--James 4:17) Christians have the Law written on their hearts and need no one to tell them right and wrong, for walking in the Spirit trumps all legalism.
Some believers strive to keep the letter of the Law but miss out on the spirit of it. "The Law of the Spirit has set us free from the law of sin and death" (cf. Rom. 8:2). In my opinion and experience, it is vain to debate whether something is a sin--we get nowhere fast, creating more heat than light! What matters most to God, is where the heart is, He looks at the motives, that we cannot judge or perceive. Note that there are so-called gray areas that we shouldn't let someone judge us in.
To conclude, virtually anything in excess can be a sin; the vital issue is whether you control it or it controls you. "...Sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it" (cf. Gen. 4:7). "For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him" (cf. 2 Pet. 2:19b). "'Everything is permissible for me--but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me --but I will not be mastered by anything" (cf. 1 Cor. 6:12). Case in point: C. H. Spurgeon said that he would quit smoking when it became a problem! Psalm 119:133 says, "Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me...." I have a good question: Did Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, sin, who lied to the officials? Soli Deo Gloria!
Looking back on previous posts, I noticed that several of them deal with whether some practice, such as gambling, smoking, Sabbath-breaking, sex during a woman's period, shaving sideburns, tattoos, etc., are sin. "To his own master, he stands or falls...." It is not our job to convict of sin, ("Preach the Word") but the sole responsibility and burden of the Holy Spirit--"He shall convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment" (cf. John 16:8). If we faithfully preach the Word God, it will not come back void, but God will accomplish His divine purpose, according to Isa. 55:11.
"He flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin" (cf. Psa. 36:2). "...He commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong" (Psa. 36:4b).
Jesus came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (cf. Luke 19:1). God wants us to admit our guilt and sinful nature, not that such and such is a sin. "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?" (cf. Psa. 130:3).
"You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence" (cf. Psa. 90:8). Taking the beam out of our own eye, before trying to dislodge the speck in our brother's eye, as Jesus said. We should be so busy being convicted of our own sins that we don't worry about our neighbor's sins and be like Paul who saw himself as the "chief of sinners." Thank God, He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor reward us according to our iniquities (cf. Psa. 103:10).
We can miss the point and concentrate on "sins" and not the root problem of "sin" (I mean the problem of the sin nature or tendency to sin inherent in us). Paul exhorted the Romans to accept him who is weak in the faith, but let each be fully convinced in his own mind. It is a spiritual fact that something may be a sin to you, and not to others. Whatever is not of faith is sin, said Paul. ("He that knows to do good, and does it not, sins"--James 4:17) Christians have the Law written on their hearts and need no one to tell them right and wrong, for walking in the Spirit trumps all legalism.
Some believers strive to keep the letter of the Law but miss out on the spirit of it. "The Law of the Spirit has set us free from the law of sin and death" (cf. Rom. 8:2). In my opinion and experience, it is vain to debate whether something is a sin--we get nowhere fast, creating more heat than light! What matters most to God, is where the heart is, He looks at the motives, that we cannot judge or perceive. Note that there are so-called gray areas that we shouldn't let someone judge us in.
To conclude, virtually anything in excess can be a sin; the vital issue is whether you control it or it controls you. "...Sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it" (cf. Gen. 4:7). "For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him" (cf. 2 Pet. 2:19b). "'Everything is permissible for me--but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me --but I will not be mastered by anything" (cf. 1 Cor. 6:12). Case in point: C. H. Spurgeon said that he would quit smoking when it became a problem! Psalm 119:133 says, "Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me...." I have a good question: Did Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, sin, who lied to the officials? Soli Deo Gloria!
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