What Is Sin?

By Brother Jermaine Horne

   What is Sin? Well we know that “sin is the transgression of the Torah” as, stated in Yochanan Alef (I John) 3:4 “Whosoever commit sin transgress also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” “O.K. Brother the sins we count as small ones. We tend to brush it off, as dust, but even at that thought, if you continue to brush dust off, the dust will build up somewhere else!!! “So Bro. Jermaine what are you trying to convey to us?” What I’m saying is. Like dirt, trash, and unnecessary objects (obstacles) are cleansed out of a dwelling place, so must sin be cleansed out of our levim (hearts)?

   The Scripture in Yochanan Alef 3:4 states sin is the transgression of the law (The Torah). We need to understand what transgression is. Transgression is simply to step forward, or rebel, the condition of one without law; either because of ignorance, or because of blade violation, contempt of law, iniquity, wickedness, it is saying I am going to lie, cheat, steal, etc… even though in your heart you know it is wrong. Your mind is set to do wrong. Ecclesiastes 8:11 “because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of man is fully set in them to do evil. See we think that because we are getting by (we think) we will do it again and again. Then you are sinning willfully. Because you have set your heart to do evil. Yaakov (James) 4:17 “Therefore to him that know to do good, and do him not, to him it is a sin.” There are many examples in scripture concerning a transgressor, transgress (transgression). Just to give you a few, lets go to Apocrypha Sirach 10:9 They that fear YAHWEH are a sure seed, and they that love him an honorable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonorable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed. Tehillim 17:3 Thou has proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth not transgress. David is saying that he has been tried, proven by YAHWEH, I am purposed, planning, I am watching diligently that I not sin (transgress) with my mouth. That is one way to discern a transgressor when he, or she allows transgressions (blaspheming) to come forth out of their mouth. Mishle (Proverbs) 28:21 to have respect of persons is not good: for a piece of bread that man will transgress. You know that is so true. Men will transgress for a morsel of bread just as Esau did Bereshith (Genesis) 25:33 And Yaaqob said, swear to me this day; and he swore unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Yaaqob.

   Bereshith 25:34 Then Yaaqob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Yermeyah (Jeremiah) 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou sadist, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, play the harlot. Have we done that: we gone out after we have delivered from habits, sin, and have gone as dog to his vomit, as swine to our wallowing, as an harlot to her old deeds. Even after we have repented and said we will not transgress. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 48:8 Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time (that) thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and was called a transgressor from the womb. GalutYah (Galatians) 2:18 for if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. Yaakov (James) 2:11 for he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. Divre Hayamim Alef (I Chronicles) So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against YAHWEH, even against the word of YAHWEH, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; Divre Hayamim Bet (II Chronicles) 29:19 Moreover all the vessels, which King Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and behold they are before the altar of YAHWEH. Tehillim 36:1 to the chief Musician, a Psalm of David the servant of YAHWEH. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of YAHWEH before HIS eyes. That is such a true statement about the wicked. There is no fear of YHWH in their heart. So we must judge and search our levim for any leaven of transgression that we: not be over taken by sin. Not only must we sin not, we must also flee sin.

   Did you know that sin hunts? In Bereshith 4:7 it says, “If you do well, shall you not be accepted? And if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And unto thee shall be HIS desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” The Torah in Bereshith 4:7 reads, “If you do well, is there not acceptance? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should master it.” Think about this. Are you mastering sin; is sin a pet that you can play with? Sin is a man-devouring killer. It is like a lion (a man eater). See what we have done with sin is took it in as a cute little pet. We feed and nurture it (with lies, things that are against the ordinances of YAHWEH), and what happens is it gets so big and greedy you cannot control it. It begins to call the shots. Then you find it commanding and demanding you, like a bad drug addiction. Then when every thing is done, the time you thought you where going to have, the fun, the thrill, and all you have when it is finished is death. I know that this sounds far of but scripture is full of metaphors (examples). Look at this in the Apocrypha Sirach 21:2 flee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest to near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men, and Sirach 27:10 as the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity. What I am endeavoring to show you is that sin is more than “oops I lied” or “I will steal this.” It is deeper than drinking, smoking, snuffing etc. It is what takes hold of you when you are not walking in the paths of MessiYah, obeying the law, the commandments of YAHWEH. When you do not do the things that bring honor, then you get, or start to produce the exhaust the byproduct of sin which is the things that produce death, smoking, excessive drinking, drugging yourself, loving the lust of the flesh which are, GalutYah (Galatians) 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, GalutYah 5:20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, GaluYah 5:21 envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH.

   Let us look at Dani’el (Daniel), you know the story of “Dani’el in the Lion’s den” in Dani’el chapter six the scripture reads about him being preferred, because he had an excellent Ruwach (spirit) and was without fault, and he was found faithful. Dani’el 6:3 then this Dani’el was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent Ruwach was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Dani’el 6:4 then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him in few words he was with out sin. Why? That he may be devoured. Was he eaten of the lions? No, he was delivered because had a pure devotion to YAHWEH and he trusted in HIM. The ones that wanted him dead, them and their families were thrown in den of lions and devoured them before they touched the floor of the den. Because they had sin and weren’t faithful to YHWH. Dani’el 6:4 and the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Dani’el, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

   We cannot hide sin from YAHWEH. In the Apocrypha Sirach 39:19 it says, “The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.”

   So my bothers and sisters do not get entangled with sin no matter how cute it may seem, or the advantage it may offer you it is a trap to devour, and damn your soul!!!!

 

Brother Jermaine Horne