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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Nature of Sin, continued
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)
The laws of eternal life proceed from and are an integral part of the Father's very Personality. Christ came from Heaven so that through His atoning death and living Virtue we may be able to obey the laws that bring God's Presence and blessing to us.
Sin, which is the transgression of the three laws of the Kingdom, always keeps us under the authority of the second death. We can be injured by the second death until we have overcome Satan and our own personality and are walking in Divine Fire and Life (Revelation 2:11).
Practicing sin (attempting to live by bread alone without faith in God, breaking the moral laws, and living according to our own impulses instead of according to God's Life in us) proceeds from a condition that brings down the wrath of God on us. That condition is neglect—the neglecting of God's plan and purpose for mankind.
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)
"How shall we escape, if we neglect . . . ?"
We may not view the neglecting of God's plan as a grievous sin because we are apt to think only of the sins against the moral law, such as fornication and stealing.
It indeed is true that transgressions of the moral law are sin. But it also is true that God is displeased when we are engaged busily on the earth and are not looking constantly toward Him.
We may ask God, "What am I doing wrong?" God may ask us, "What are you doing right?"
Our minds turn to the Word of the Lord concerning the days of Noah and of Lot:
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (Luke 17:27,28)
Eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, buying, selling, planting, building—in themselves these are not sinful behaviors. The sin is in occupying ourselves with the business of the world and not with God. This is the sin of neglect. And, as often is true, those who neglect to seek God fervently, spending the better part of their time and strength on eating, working, and playing, are soon engaged in wicked, immoral behavior.
The members of the nations will be cast into everlasting fire if they neglect to assist Christ's brothers.
Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41—NIV)
To be continued.