Part 4 in the series “Knowing the Truth About Sin Will Set You Free”

• Part 3

Message delivered to ZChurch.life August 19, 2023

In part one of this series, we learned that Christ offered one sacrifice for all sin for all time and that there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in him. If you really get that message, it might leave you wondering, “why not just go ahead and sin then?” In part two, we’ll answer that question. Learn a New Testament definition of sin and discover how to walk free of the corruption and calamity in this world.

PREFACE

The Old Testament law system is based on works.

New Testament Christianity is based on a free gift.

Most of Christendom has unwittingly mixed the two, receiving salvation by grace, then thinking we have to keep it by works. It’s nothing new, Paul dealt with it in his day too (Galatians 3:3).

In part one of this series we learned that:

• Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10:12).
• That sacrifice so paid the price for all sin for all time that there’s nothing left that can ever again condemn anyone who is in Christ (Romans 8:1).
• Therefore, the Old Testament law system has been made obsolete (Hebrews 8:13), nailed to the cross, and taken out of the way (Colossians 2:14).
• There is no longer a works based system in effect under which men can be judged.
• We are either condemned for not believing in Christ (John 3:18), or there is no condemnation to us if we are in Christ (Romans 8:39).

Does that mean there is now no such thing as sin?

A NEW TESTAMENT DEFINITION OF SIN

Most of us subconsciously think of sin as meaning the Ten Commandments, a performance based system of dos and don’ts, and the associated condemnation for infractions of that system.

The primary definition of the word translated sin is “to miss the mark.”

For all of humanity since Adam, missing the mark has meant not measuring up to the glory of God (Romans 3:23) due to being dispossessed of the divine nature.

Under the Old Testament works system, missing the mark meant any infraction of the law.

The New Testament believer has been restored to sharing in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) and is no longer under the Old Testament law (Romans 6:14), so neither of those definitions of sin is applicable to us. Yet the New Testament talks about sin. So what sin, or “missing of the mark,” would New Testament believers be engaging in?

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…

Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin…

The New Testament mark is the rightness, goodness, and glory of God. New Testament sin is unrightness that misses the mark of God’s right ways of being and right ways of doing.

Even when we miss the New Testament mark of God’s rightness, we’re still not judged, condemned, or penalized under a system of works. We have right standing in and through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

So, why not just go ahead and sin?

WHAT A MAN SOWS HE WILL REAP

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

The terms sin, flesh, carnal, and carnally minded all refer to the same general concept on unrightness. Principalities and powers under Satan (Ephesians 6:12) minister to the inhabitants of this planet demonic wisdom (James 3:15) that teaches our minds to think, our tongue to speak, and our flesh to lust to do that which is contrary to, or outside of God’s right ways of being and doing.

Sowing to “unrightness” misses the New Testament mark. It does not bring us under condemnation nor earn us a penalty, but it does cause us to reap corruption.

God loves us, but he would be unjust to suspend the law of sowing and reaping.

THE SENTENCE ON SIN

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It has been said that death is sin’s limit – its limiting factor. Unrightness – that which is contrary to God and His kingdom’s right ways – is under a sentence of death in order to limit, or restrain it. Without such a sentence, sin could go on to prosper and spread forever.

Death causes decay, decomposition, or “corruption.”

The death sentence on sin is akin to the nuclear decay of a substance that is dissembling at the atomic level. It becomes radioactive and destructive to anything that gets near it.

Sowing to Satan’s system of unrightness connects us his radioactive corruption and we’ll get burned. “Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27)

Under the New Covenant, God is not personally judging people or punishing people, but neither is he lifting the sentence of death on sin, nor is he suspending the laws of sowing and reaping.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORD OF FAITH COIN

The word of faith message of believing for and receiving God’s blessings and promises is true and it works. However, it doesn’t matter how hard you believe, how much you confess, or how much you actually receive blessing, if you sow to the flesh you’re still going to experience corruption on some level.

Blessing and prosperity are wonderful and are God’s will for us. However, it’s just as important and just as good to have a life free from the corruption and calamities of this world.

BOTH MORAL CONDUCT AND SPIRITUAL LAWS MATTER

We tend to think of sin as a moral matter having to do with physical conduct – drinking, smoking, stealing, adultery, etc.

However, I would spiritual laws and principles of the kingdom are even more important. Sowing to spiritually unright ways like anger, strife, bitterness, unforgiveness, hate, fear, etc, can invite more potent corruption to come in on an even deeper level.

SUMMATION

• We’re not under the Old Testament law.
• We’re not under any kind of performance based system.
• Sin no longer has dominion over us to bring us under any kind of condemnation (Romans 6:14).
• We’re free – free as if there was no such thing as sin or if it didn’t matter.
• Nevertheless, sowing to unrightness opens the door for corruption to come into our affairs.
• At every turn and in every matter of life, ask God to show you by His word and His Spirit what His kingdom’s right ways of being and doing are so you will make your way prosperous, have good success, and not reap any corruption with it (Joshua 1:8).