The Problem (2)

And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.” Genesis 18:20 NASB Sin – What is sin? According to the Hebrew word, hatta’h, sin means “to commit an offense against someone with whom one stands in an institutionalized community relationship.”[1] Notice that sin assumes a set…

The Problem (1)

And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. Genesis 18:20 NASB Sin – Sin is a problem. It’s not just a moral problem or a spiritual problem or a theological problem. Sin is an etymological problem. Why? Because the meaning of the terms used…

Pay Day

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NASB Wages – opsonion. “What is appointed for purchase.” H. W. Heidland provides the following insight: “the use of the word brings out three important points: a. that sin is a deceiver,…

Blinded by the Light

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. Genesis 3:7 NASB Opened – Your eyes are opened! What do you see? If you were in the Garden, you would see that when your eyes were opened…

Center for Disease Control

You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. Leviticus 19:17 NASB Incur – The most infectious disease the world has ever known is sin. To this day there is no cure for the spread of the virus. In fact,…

Fence Lines

Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God. Numbers 22:18 NASB Contrary to – How far are you willing to go? Where are the boundaries,…

Relative Ethics

TRINITY note:  We have had some great discussion – and debate – about the previous study of the idea of the Trinity.  So many comments!  Wow, we are thinking!  Now a little break while the ideas rest a bit.  By the way, no one said we were going to SOLVE this problem.  But we do…

End of the Line (2)

“And you, son of man, say to your fellow citizens, ‘The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he will not stumble because of it in the day when he turns from his wickedness; whereas a righteous man will…

Eternal Frustration

My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;  1 John 2:1  NASB May not sin – Seriously now, can John actually mean this?  Does John really think it is possible to not sin? …

Bull’s Eye

See my affliction and suffering and forgive all my offenses.  Psalm 25:18  Robert Alter translation Offenses – hatta’t is the predominate Hebrew word for “sin.”  It is a picture of missing the mark, as if we each were shooting arrows at God’s target and missing the dead center bull’s eye.  Livingston notes the following insight:…