The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-01-07

- -Af--J Bible gives OF sin;
in the light OF
these may we see ourselves and seek
him who knows the way out-"A God
on cross. that is all my theology"
Unrishteousness.
1. All righteousness Is sin, John
5:7. This is the most comprehensive
term. and in the Bible is placed in op-
position to truth" (Rom 2:s) God
Is true. and anything which departs
one hairs 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 be a visible
| reflection OF the mind OF God Man
was to glorify God In his body. soul
aid spirit, but, alas, what a failure
there has 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. AN have sinned and come
short OF the glory OF God" Even our
righteousness is as filthy rags" In
this sense sin ia amy lack OF conform
ity TO the will OF God
Trsnssresslon.
2. SIN is the transgression of the
law. q John 3:4J From the state OF
he days OF the dispensation OF con-
science and before the giving OF the
law, sin was against the character OF
God. II was unrighteousness. or un.
godliness. and not. strictly speaking.
transgression; and yet. there was sin.
because death came, which IL the
wages OF sin. the result OF Adams 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 do
ing 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
line OF Gods sinless life and his holy
law. and you must cry out. God be
merciful to me the sinner" You may
look good 20 yourself. you may appear
good to your neighbors. but In Gods
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, false
hood, deceit, Islander, repeated refusal
to obey some clear command OF God
say. do you not need to cry out, I'm
clean, unclean'"
Omission.
3. To him that knoweth TO do good
and doeth II not. II Is sin. (James 4:l7)
Many a man defends himself because
he is not an outbreakins sinner. he
does not commit any fragrant crime,
he is outwardly decent and moral. But
what about Gods estimate OF you?
Man looketh on the outward appear
ance, 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 fel-
lows unselnshly? II not, and he knows
all these things, he Is a sinner Re
fuse to use medicine when you are
sick, and you will die. and that with
out the use OF the knife or poison.
When we sit alone with our con-
sciences we find sins of omission to be
a large item In the account against US.
unfaIth.
4. Whatsoever is not OF faith is sin.
(Rom. 14:23) Here we enter the do
main OF questions OF conscience, the
things which may be right for others,
but which would be sin In us; for
there is a difference between things
wrong In themselves and things wrong
under certain circumstances. This
question OF conscience was raised In
Pauls day about the eating OF meat
which had been offered to idols and
afterwards offered for sale In the mar
kets OF the city. Paul says that every
man is to give an account OF himself
unto God, and sets forth the principle
that II anything seems TO you to be
sinful and wrong, then for 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 him
self in that thing which he alloweth.
And he that doubteth 10 condemned
II he eat, because he eateth not OF
faith; for whatsoever IL not OF faith
u sim