A bad word these days. I know. No one wants to hear sin called sin, especially if what they believe or how they act is diametrically opposed to the Bible. I am also aware there are some who have written off the Bible as a standard to live by. I’m not going to argue that point. Sunday in my sermon I brought out three words used for sin and then ultimately three things God has done for sin. They are found in Psalm 32.
First word used is in verse 1- “transgression.” That word literally means “a going away” or “departure.” In this case “a rebellion” against God and His authority.
Second word used is also in verse 1- “sin.” The Hebrew word is the equivalent to the Greek word which means “missing the mark. ” It was an archery term for “falling short of the target.’
Third word us is in verse 2- “iniquity.” It literally means “corrupt,” “twisted,” or “crooked.”
But here is the good part! Along with those words David also includes what God has done for each of them.
For “transgression” he says “forgiven.” Psalm 103:12 says “he removes our sin as far as the east is from the west.”
For “sin” he says it is “covered.” This hearkens back to the OT sacrifice at the Mercy Seat (the covering of the Ark).
For “iniquity” he uses a negative. It describes what God not do. “He will not count your iniquity against you.” The word count is a bookkeeping term for keeping a ledger. God does not stand there with this huge ledger marking off the good and bad we do.
The best news of all? The slate is wiped clean. We are forgiven completely and immediately and it is never brought up again. I like that type of news. Do you?
Of course “Sin” has no meaning for a Deist. As for acting, I am diametrically opposed to the slavery, infanticide, murder, sex slaves, and other acts commanded by God and supported by Jesus in the Bible. I much prefer my idea of morality and right and wrong. I have my own idea of who occupies the higher ground.
I approved this last night before heading to bed and didn’t respond. I needed time and to not be so tired. I have allowed a lot of your comments, Jeff, whether I agree or not. Some have rankled me deeply; some not so. This one does. I do take umbrage at your blatant accusation of God and then Jesus supporting slavery, infanticide, murder, sex slaves and other acts. While there are some things in the OT I don’t understand, you have no proof that Jesus supported sex slaves, etc. He once said it is better for a millstone to be tied around someone’s neck than to cause a little one to sin. I believe His heart breaks for every girl, boy, woman or man caught in the sex slave industry. It is His people who are doing the most in trying to stop that industry. I’m allowing this comment so people will know my thoughts but perhaps even have a few of their own.
I can point out all of the words of God that back up what I am saying. Do you not understand the OT or are you just not able to reconcile what seems clear to me with what you would like to believe? If you consider GOD and Jesus to be the same entity then I think I am accurate. If they are different entities then Jesus may be off the hook for some of these accusations. They do seem to either be bipolar or two different entities.
There are things in the Bible (Old and New) I don’t understand completely. I know you don’t either. it is easy to put your spin on what you want to find. Culture of that day was totally different. But I just read this morning of God making a way for slaves to be set free if they so choose. I consider Jesus to be God revealed in the Person of His Son but Jesus still had a mind of His own. The Bible says “he was in all points tempted like we are yet didn’t sin.” That tells me He had the option of doing so but chose not to. I see time after time, including one of His own crew (Mary Magdalene) whose former lifestyle He forgave and then included her in His ministry. She was a sex slave, as were others. He didn’t turn a deaf ear to them. His anger and wrath was pointed toward the religious leaders who thought they were better than and above others. Bipolar? No. God revealing Himself to us as a man by becoming flesh? Yes. I find it incredible you don’t believe in God or at least in a God who is interested in us and yet you take a lot of interest in ripping Him apart.
Yes we can spin it to be whatever we like. I think it would take quite a spin to think the God that did all the things I listed above (As detailed in the Bible) is somehow setting a standard to live by. They are all things I am diametrically opposed to. ISIS is today doing very similar if not exactly the same things that their God is in favor of. My problem is with all crazy Gods encouraging crazy people to do crazy things. And those Gods I very much try to rip apart. I am just sorry if one of those Gods is your God.
Just because something is in the Bible doesn’t mean God approved.
Yep, that’s my kind of good news too. It sure beats the news of today. Everyone thinks they have the right and wrong of everything going on. In fact, I think the Bible spells it out pretty clear, everyone like to do or think what is right in their own eyes. It takes a wise man or woman to admit they are not God and their ways are just that, their ways, not God. Good to read someone who is not afraid to teach, preach and call sin sin. It sounds as ugly as it is. There is an old gospel song titles, Sin Will Take You FArther Then You Want to Go. It will take a person right to hell unless they turn from their ways to the Way, Jesus Christ. Keep spreading the good news Bill…
Doing what is right in our own eyes seems to be the moniker of the day…as it was in biblical days (Judges uses that phrase over and over). I do agree sin will definitely lead us where we don’t want to go.
I am blessed, we are blessed, those of us who follow Christ, are covered by Jesus. He paid the price for our junk. Blessed.
Can only say AMEN to that larry.
You offer grace here, Bill. You offer Jesus …
And for that comment, Linda, I thank you profusely.
Concerning Jeff’s comment…I once thought that God endorsed and even commanded the horrors myself and other women like me have experienced at the hands of men! But, I was also confused by the moments thru childhood when I felt like God was my only path to escape and justice at some point and clung to that desperate hope! Verses in Psalms and Isaiah were like breaths of oxygen that kept me alive in the midst of the terrors and hope…GOOD NEWS! God has truly heard my prayers and cries of childhood and since, He saw the desperate struggles as I wrestled thru the confusion of all the “why’s”, etc. Through His GENUINE children/family(there were many who claimed to be but I know now were not the real thing)who were Jesus and the Father “with skin on” I have come to know God as my “good, good Father” who never leaves me and have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams! Without my “good, good Father” I would’ve died long ago, and those occasions when doctor’s didn’t expect me to survive and I know without a doubt He (my good,good Father) intervened on my behalf cause He loved me even when I felt covered by the sewage of the stuff I’d experienced! Without God, who is my “good, good Father” I couldn’t be where I am today, there would be no hope, and I would still be a “robot” only surviving and wanting to die! Now, I am preparing to run a 5K on July 23rd as part of a fundraiser for victims escaping from the sexual trafficking nightmares, and long that everyone who has been caught in those nightmares can be blessed by having God’s family be “Jesus with skin on” and lead them to the “good, good Father” ….He is the best thing that has ever happened to me! Worth more than anything this world could EVER offer me! I AM BLESSED!
i am blessed as well and glad to know you found that “good good Father” after all the junk you went through. 🙂 I’m glad God allowed me the opportunity to share Him with you.
Bill, is it me or is Jeff almost always trolling with his comments? Just seems very similar to people I see in the sports message boards I frequent.
I have no interest in sports message boards so I’m not sure what kind of people go there. You I guess. I don’t intend for my comments to be sarcastic or put downs to anyone. I intend for them to make people think. And I think over time, in here, we have had some spirited thinking. I make no apologies for not being a theist and am always ready to explain my position. I am quite sure that defending the actions of the God of the old testament is very painful. I couldn’t do it. But if someone says they believe it and that people like me that don’t are somehow misguided or can’t stand to discuss sin or whose actions are not per the Bible and there is something negative about them, then game on. Thought you would like the sports metaphor.
Most folks on my sports message boards are pretty good people. Then there are the trolls that are always going to to contrary and you wonder why they continue to post. Most of the time you just shake your head and laugh at them because you can’t take them seriously. Other times you weep because the true misery within them just comes with each post.
Name calling is a lot easier than an intelligent response. Agree with you or be a troll. I would rather be a troll.
You say you come here to make people think, which is fine. The problem is that that when your name pops up there is a 95% chance that what you say to Bill is going to insult and demean what he believes and what the majority of what his readers believe. Forgive me if I think that makes you a troll. I, and I would say the majority on here, are not going to give what you say a fair shake because of the tone and tenor of your posts. You aren’t going to change what we think or even be given serious consideration because you come across as a troll.
I have no problem with what people believe and I am not trying to change anyone’s mind. Whether you are Christian, Jew, Mormon or Muslim is all the same to me. I make no distinction as the fantasy is the same. I study how/why people believe what they believe and they do what they do. I study human nature on a micro and macro basis. I think your 95% number is way off as well as other comments you make. Although I do admit to a polemic nature it is generally triggered by injustice or a judgemental disposition.
Again I have no interest in changing the way anyone thinks. Religion is a crutch and I don’t want to take a crutch away from someone who needs it.
And if Bill ever wants me to stop posting he only has to ask.
It is the best news of all time, Bill, because we, as humans, can’t help but sin from time to time. We need a loving, forgiving God to guide us and keep us on His path for the sake of His glory and honor.
Blessings!
That is indeed good news. It is the “willfully ignorant” that deny the need for forgiveness, but then that is the weakness of the fallen flesh.