Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 267, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1914 — What Is Sin? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

What Is Sin?

By REV. PARLEY E. ZARTMANN. D. D.

SeccUrjr c< Fttiwina Department Atflodjr BU( Institute, Oiingf

TEXT—The crown is fallen from our head; woe unto us that we have sinned.— Lam. 6:16. i ' .?■“

Sin is not a popular word in the modern vocabulary, nor a popular theme in many pulpits, for there are so many sinners in the modem congregation who object to the preacher dealing with t h i n g s a o near home. But let us consider four of the definitions which the Bible gives of sin; in the light of

these may we see ourselves and seek him who knows the way out—“A Qod on a cross, that U all my;theology* Unrighteousness. L All unrighteousness is sin, I'John 6:7. This is the most comprehensive term, and in .the Bible is placed in ops position to "truth.” (Rom. 2:8.) God Is true, and anything which departs one hair’s breadth from that standard is unrighteousness, or sin. Therefore, in this definition we have to do with sin as a state of the soul, the original purpose of which was to he a visible reflection of the mfnd of God. Man was to glorify God in his body, soul and spirit, but, alas, what a* failure there haß been; and this failure is sin. Man has failed to hit the aim or object of his being.’ His body is sinful, his mind is diseased, his soul is warped by sin. “All have sinned and dome short of the glory of God." Even our “righteousness is as filthy rags.” In this sense sin is “any lack of conformity to the will of God.” Transgression. 2. Sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4.) From the state of the soul we pass to the overt act. In the days of the dispensation of conscience and before the giving of the law, sin was against the character of God. It was unrighteousness, or ungodliness, and not, strictly speaking, transgression; and yet, there was sin, because death came, which is the wages of sin, the result of Adam’B sin* disobedience to a positive command. But when the law has come, when the commandment has been given, then sin passes from the unrighteousness to positive transgression. God has put down a line, and by deliberate choice man steps over the line —transgresses —and becomes .a sinner by commission —or “violation of the will of God.”

- You say you do not sin, you are'doing the best you can. Yes, but you have a very low idea of sin. Bring your crooked life, which seems so good to you, side by side with the/ straight iine of God’s sinless life and his holy law, and you must cry out, “God bamerciful to me the sinner.” Jou majT look good to yourself, you ma} appear good to your neighbors, but in God’s sight you belong to the wicked. Think of your many sins against God —lack of perfect love, some Idol in your heart, neglect of his Sabbath, hateful or angry feelings, lack of forgiveness or apology, misrepresentation, falsehood, deceit, slander, repeated refusal to obey some clear command of Godsay, do you *tot need to cry out, “Unclean, unclean?”

Omission. 3. To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, it Is sin. (James 4:17.) Many a man defends himself because he is.not an outbreaking sinner, he does not commit any flagrant crime, he is outwardly decent and moral. But what about God’B estimate of you? “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart" Does that man have the love of God in his heart? Does he love the Word and prayer? Does he serve his fellows unselfishly? If not, and he knows all these things, he is a sinner. Refuse to use medicine when you are sick, and you will, die, and that without the use of the knife or poison. When we sit alone with our consciences we find sins of omission to'be a large item in the account against us. Unfalth. 4. Whatsoever is not eg faith is sin. (Rom. 14:23.) Here we enter the domain of questions of conscience, the things which may be right for others but vyhlch would be sin in us; tor there is a difference between things wrong In themselves and things wrong under certain circumstances. This, question of cohscience was raised in Paul's day about the eating of meatt whiqh had been offered to idols and afterwards offered for sale in the markets of the city. Paul says that every l man is to give an account of himself j onto God. and sets forth the principle that if anything seems to you to be sinful and wrong; then f6r you to do such a thing is sin In you. In this category must* be placed questionable* amusements, etc., and Paul says: "Let. not your good be evil spoken of . . happy is he that condemneth not hinn .self in that thing which he sllowethj And he that doubteth Is condemned 1 if he eat, because he cateth not otj faith; for whatsoever Is not cf faith Is Bin.* *