Tag Archives: right and wrong

What Is Sin?

Posted on by under Culture, Doctrine

 

     If you ever want to bring a conversation to a screeching halt, just talk to someone about the issue of sin! In our politically correct, nothing is ever wrong, who are you to judge me world, the topic of sin or of pointing out that something is morally wrong has been equated with hate speech. Thus we are left with an “if it feels good, do it” society that does not understand the difference between right and wrong.

arrows missing target

     Just what is sin? The first mention of sin in the Bible has to do with Cain’s undesirable sacrifice. God says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7, NKJV). The word ‘sin’ in this passage carries with it the idea of a crouching beast, waiting to pounce on its prey. In archery, the term ‘sin’ is used when the archer misses the mark and fails to hit the target. With regards to us, we sin when we miss the mark and do not live up to God’s desire for us. Sin is breaking the law of God. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). These are sins of commission (something that we did). There are also sins of omission (failing to do what is right). “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

     How then do we judge between what is right and what is wrong/sinful? It is not according to our own wishes and desires, for we are mere men. Who are we to determine what is right or wrong and to be the judge of it? We need a higher standard than what man deems right or wrong. Solomon has said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Jeremiah prophesied that it is not in man to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). Thus we need to turn to God’s word, and His Holy Standard in order to see what is right and what is wrong. Paul wrote that he would not have known what was sin had God’s law not revealed that to him (Romans 7:7).

   We have an obligation to check these things out in the Bible. Let us allow God’s word to give us our direction regarding what is right and wrong. Let us not lean upon man’s understanding and end up in sin. Sin leads to death (James 1:12-15; Romans 6:23). Obedience to God will lead us to life (Romans 6:16). Let us reject sin and live!

Does Moral Law Demand a Moral Lawgiver?

Posted on by under Christian Evidences

right-way-wrong-way1     Have you ever wondered about how we know what is right or what is wrong?  For instance, in most of the civilized societies around the world it is illegal and considered immoral to murder another person, or to steal from them.  How is it that different groups of people, separated by geography, all came to the same realization that these activities are wrong?

     Perhaps the sense of right and wrong is nothing more than the majority opinion within these civilized societies.  Most people just think that these activities are the wrong thing to do.  Is that it?  If that is the basis for right and wrong, then what if a society decided by a vote that it was okay to kill off people from a certain race?  Or that it was okay to enslave people who have a different skin color?  Would the majority approval for such behavior make that behavior “right”?

     It would seem clear that just because a majority of people say that something is right does not make it so.  The civilized society of Nazi Germany made the determination that it was “right” to try to exterminate the Jews as a lesser race.  While much can be said for how they arrived at that conclusion, at this time let us just notice that they felt they were right in what they were doing.  At their war crimes trials after World War II many Nazis claimed that they were simply following orders and obeying the laws of their land.  However, the prosecutors appealed to a higher law, a higher power, which made what these men did clearly wrong.

     Where did that higher law come from?  It had to have come from God.  Since mankind is not capable of determining what is right and what is wrong on their own (Jeremiah 10:23), then a simple majority vote is not sufficient.  In the argument of morals many will say something like, “who are you to decide what is right and what is wrong?”  They are correct in that statement.  It is not up to you and me to decide what is right and what is wrong.  That is up to God, and He has specified right and wrong within His moral law.  Paul said that he would not have known sin (what was wrong) without the law of God (Romans 7:7).

     Since we as humans lack the authority to mandate moral law, let us then turn to God and to His law to determine what is right and what is wrong.  Let us then speak with regards to morals as God’s word directs us to (1 Peter 4:11).

Choose Ye This Day

Posted on by under Article

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In Joshua’s farewell address to the nation of Israel he urges them to make a choice.  In Joshua 24:15 he says, “. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (NKJV).  We can boil down Joshua’s challenge into two possible choices.  Either choose to follow God, or choose to not follow God.

We today have the same choice before us, in a manner of speaking.  While it is unlikely that we would choose to follow the gods that the ancient Egyptians or Amorites worshipped, there is no shortage of false gods within our society today.  Many choose to follow after riches, whether in the form of money or the possessions that money can buy.  Many choose to follow after fame, whether in sports, movies or popular music industries.  Many choose to follow their own way, and in that sense become their own god in determining what they think is right or proper.  However, it is not up to us to determine what is right or wrong, for who are we to make that determination.  The ultimate determination of right or wrong has to come from a higher standard, which we find in God’s holy word.

Joshua is not challenging Israel to follow him because of any righteousness that he himself possesses.  He is, however, challenging them to follow his example in serving the Lord and following what He has said to do.  We then need to set our selfish desires aside and leave the desire to serve riches, fame, and ourselves in order to set our minds on that which is above and serve God.  We cannot have one foot in both worlds, because in serving God we are to give Him our all (Joshua 22:5).  We cannot give God our heart, mind, and soul while trying to still keep one foot firmly planted in worldliness.  The choice still stands before us this day.  Are we choosing God, or are we choosing something else?