What is not Sin

We have already discussed what sin is. However, there are many "gray areas" out there. The confusion is 100% because of man. People twist scriptures to mean whatever they want, then go around talking about their perversion as if it were gospel truth.

Spreading manure.


Law of Moses
The Law of Moses is fulfilled. So what are the sins a Christian might commit? Simply put, a Christian sins when he/she fails to show love to God, or to his/her neighbor.

Similarly, Christians are not required to live according to the Law of Moses in order to show their obedience. Since Christ fulfilled those requirements, they no longer apply. For example, Christians are not required to offer sacrifices in order to wash away their sin - Jesus did that on the cross.

The Law of Moses did not apply to the people who lived for many years before Moses. The Law of Moses had a distinct beginning point - when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (which determined what is sin and not sin for all mankind), and then later when He gave what is known as The Law of Moses. The Law of Moses also had a distinct endpoint - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

The Law of Moses was finite - it had a beginning and an end.

Because it is finite, it is not a measure of sin, but rather, a set of guidelines for the Jews - God's chosen people. God set forth the Law of Moses so that the Jews could be set apart - distinguished - from the other peoples of that time and the nearby areas. 

Because the Law of Moses was fulfilled, it does not apply - even in part.

In fact, most Jews say that Gentiles should not attempt to keep the Torah, as it was only given to the Jews for the Jews to demonstrate how they are set apart by Adonai (God)!


Other commands & suggestions that are not law
God gives many commands & suggestions in the Bible that are not "law" - in that, when broken, one has not sinned. On the contrary, these are character-building activities and good rules to live life by. For example:
- Tithing is not a sin / salvation issue. It is a character-building issue.
- Owing money (debt) is not a sin / salvation issue. It is a a good rule to live life by.

This list is way too long to go into great detail on. Suffice it to say that for the modern Christian, the "Greatest Commandments" as stated by Jesus in Matthew 5 mark the definition of sin or not sin. The Ten Commandments surely elaborate. Going any further than that is wide open to debate and opinion.


Commonly stated as being "sin" without Biblical support:
- Drinking alcohol. Even "in excess."
- Smoking or otherwise using tobacco.
- Use of marijuana, narcotics, or other mind-altering substances.
- Gambling.
- Anger.
- Being uncircumcised.
- Sex before marriage.

The ones on alcohol and drugs actually make me laugh - because these same people think it perfectly OK to take prescription medications that accomplish the same thing. (Funny story: my own mother was strongly against cocaine, yet was administered cocaine by a doctor during a medical operation).

To be clear, it is good practice to avoid allowing any of these, or the dozens of commonly misconstrued-as-sin activities from dominating your life. Similarly, if one were to be doing one of these things, and as a result, harmed another, then that would have been a contributing factor to the sin. 

I was once of the opinion that all of the things on this list were sins. Now I know that many are simply like the life advice given in Proverbs: good advice.



Seven Deadly Sins
What about the list of so-called seven deadly sins? This list, more commonly kept by Catholics, is an intriguing one. Let's examine in light of the Two Greatest Commandments (as stated by Christ Jesus in Matthew 5) in light of the Ten Commandments:
Lust (A type of Coveting)
Gluttony (shows a lack of self control, but not a sin)
Greed (Love your neighbor)
Sloth (a character issue, but not a sin)
Wrath (love your neighbor)
Envy (Covet)
Pride (Love your God, love your neighbor)

Not all sins, but not a bad list to live by.


The Seven Laws of Noah
Sometimes these are called the Noahide Law or Noahide Code, sometimes they are referred to as the Noachide Law or Code. According to Judaism, the keeping of these laws is for all children of Noah - all mankind. According to religious Jews, any non-Jew who adheres to these laws is a righteous Gentile.  Are these laws indicative of sin?
1. Prohibition of idolatry (Love your God)
2. Prohibition of murder (Love your neighbor)
3. Prohibition of theft (Love your neighbor)
4. Prohibition of sexual immorality* (Love your neighbor)
5. Prohibition of blasphemy (Love your God)
6. Prohibition of eating flesh of a live animal (cannot classify as either, but maintains humaneness)
7. Establishment of justice systems to enforce 1-6 (again, cannot be directly classified, but is directly related to the others).

I'll go out on a limb here. Given the observation of the Talmud to the specifics here, particularly with definitions of sexual immorality, and insistence upon being humane (Laws 6 & 7), I'll say that this is a very good list of sins to avoid. In my opinion, it is a stronger statement than the one made by the apostles in Acts 15...


What the Apostles had to say about New Covenant and sins:
From Acts 15: 28-29 -

The Holy Spirit has led us to the decision that no burden should be placed on you other than these essentials: refuse food offered to idols, blood, the meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid such things.

Again, these are not listed as being sins, but as common sense things to avoid. Clearly also, the Apostles wanted Christians to show love for God and for other people.


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