Twelve years ago, I wrote an article posted on the ESN website entitled “The Sin Question.”
In the intervening years, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of this subject, and more.
What I have come to understand and realize with a greater degree of understanding is that we all were indoctrinated, not only into what we believed, but a methodology was instilled in us; a thought process that made us think within the confines of the “Sabbatarian box.”
HWA liked to say that it was harder to unlearn something than it was to learn something new. In this observation, he was essentially rubbing our noses in it, as we were conditioned in regards to the very thought processes that were used that reinforced what he wanted us to believe.
Few topics received the overall indoctrination on a number of levels as was carried out in regards to the subject of sin. Even quite a number of “mainstream” churches practice a degree of indoctrination regarding sin for the overall purpose of controlling and maintaining a congregation: “Cash cows.”
New Testament Scriptures declare Christians are dead to sin1, and freed from sin. Ancillary to this, they are also freed from the law; dead to the law; not under the law. Paul declares in Romans chapter 8 verse 1 that:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
If you are still suffering from “Sabbatarian Think” then your mind will automatically recite to you passages that appear to refute all this, and more. “We are not free to sin, sin being defined as the transgression of the law (1John 3:4) further pared down to mean essentially just the 10 Commandments with a heavy emphasis on the Sabbath.
“If we were freed from sin, and the consequences of sin, we could carry out murders and other atrocities without fear of divine retribution!”
This whole issue of sin boils down to one essential issue:
Who sins? To word it another way, “who goes about committing iniquities?”
One of the more common ploys of deception is distraction. You are drawn away from what is important and made to focus on something that appears to be a viable solution, when in fact it is not, and it is usually something that has the potential to compound the problem further, and this is how Sabbatarian and even many mainstream churches address the sin “problem” by focusing on the actions of sin, and not the genesis of sins.
The Sabbatarian solution is to keep the law; don’t sin. This is why Sabbatarianism focuses on the flawed translation found in 1 John 3:4. Not all transgressions of that law resulted in a charge of sin, and not all sins are a result of transgressing that law. I have a more in-depth article explaining this in greater detail. I will place that on Facebook with a link at the bottom, or you can email me.
Keeping the law does not solve the problem, but again, by being made to think inside the Sabbatarian box, other solutions do not enter upon the mind and heart.
Consider: Do we sin because we are sinners, or are we sinners because we sin? Furthermore, are you dismissing the question as a result of the indoctrination? For, when confronted by questions and issues we were not conditioned to deal with, we were taught to ignore them.
Who then sins? Or to word this another way, who produces bad/evil fruits? Conversely, who produces good fruits?
Where I am going here is to take Jesus’ explanations regarding “sin” instead of Sabbatarian’s views of sin, for the ultimate authority on the subject is Jesus; God Incarnate.
He tells us we can know who are His followers; those in possession of the Holy Spirit, and who are not His followers, being those devoid of God’s Spirit and thus still motivated by the flesh. The apostle Paul helps us in this regard, listing out some of the fruits of the flesh and Spirit in Galatians chapter 5. Note, for example, murder. It is a fruit/work of the flesh, and not a work/fruit of the Spirit. And if it is a work/fruit of the flesh, it is sin, as contrasted to the works/fruits of the Spirit where Paul concludes there is no law against those things.
Couple all this with what Jesus had to say about good trees and bad trees. Good trees produce ONLY good fruits, while the bad trees produce ONLY bad/evil fruits.
I know at this point I need to once again address the conditioned responses we were taught, where we were made to think and conclude that even Christians still “sin” or do things seen as evil and wrong. But before I continue, what does this response really do? It refutes Christ Jesus. Instead of looking to a rationalization designed to refute Scripture and Jesus, we should be looking for the understanding as to why this is true, for He is the truth, the life, the way.
God judges according to the heart; righteous judgment. Jesus contrasts this with unrighteous judgment, where one judges another according to appearance. When you truly understand these concepts, you might be embarrassed to realize that, within Sabbatarianism, that is all you ever did.
Upon faith; the “faith to be revealed” the believer is transformed – CONVERTED through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so that we are born again, of the Spirit, and now the children of God, and no longer the children of the devil and children of wrath. And it was Jesus who called the Jews, who had and boasted in the law, children of the devil, who do the will of their father.
This is the “why” Christians are dead to the law and dead to sin2, due to how God judges according to the heart, given that God gives the believer what is described as a “new heart” of flesh, which is His Spirit, and “HIS LAW” said in Scripture to be perfect that converts the soul (Psalms 19:7).
Sabbatarianism teaches and indoctrinates people into believing there is only one “Law of God” and that is the 10 Commandments law set. But that law never converted anyone’s soul, and only God is perfect.
God Judges righteous judgment, according to the heart, and He gives believers a new one. And this may well be a difficult concept to understand, but God would have to condemn Himself in order to condemn one of His children that now possesses His Holy Spirit, who now leads and guides the children of God, and not the law; any of it. That law led the faithless, stiff-necked and rebellious Hebrews, who God declared were doing evil “even from their youth” due to their motive of heart; the heart they were born with, and we were born with.
William Hohmann
Exit & Support Network™
May 21, 2022
My Facebook page (for the full article)
email: wmhohmann77 at gmail dot com
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them].
And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].” ~II Corinthians 5:29 (AMP)
Note by ESN: If we realize that God has forgiven us of all our sins and does not hold them against us anymore, then there is no place for the Law in our life anymore because the Law will have accomplished its purpose for which it was given, and that was to lead us to Christ. Therefore, the sin question is over. Listen to: Atonement and Propitiation (clear explanation of the two) [offsite link]
Footnotes by ESN:
1 Romans 6:2
2 “Christians are dead to sin but not dead to sinning. You are dead to God dealing with you on the basis of sin. It is abiding in Him and letting Him live His life through us.” (Quoted by Bob George of Bob George Ministries)
Recommended Material:
Christ’s Finished Work on the Cross (Explains I John 1:9; includes MP3 download on the verse) [offsite link]
Questions About the Law, Works or Salvation (from our Q&A)
The Law of Moses and the Grace of God
How Do I Receive Eternal Life?
Recommended Ministry:
Bob George Ministries with Bob George (1933-2018)
Timeless teachings on the complete forgiveness and unconditional love of Jesus Christ. Excellent Bible studies on the New Covenant.
Back to Grace & Law (many articles)