Sin Nature - Job 14:4

Job 14:1-4

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

3 And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Studying God’s word brings great peace. It is God’s way of revealing Himself to us. He withholds Himself from those who look at His word as another book and shows Himself to those who sincerely search the Scriptures with an open heart. God will reveal Himself to the person who takes his time reading and meditating upon His word especially in this topic of whether or not man has a sin nature. I am saddened when I speak out about what God’s word says on the issue, and I see people hardened to the truth of the Scriptures. What saddens me even more is to know of those who proclaim a sin nature when it benefits them and then claim that everyone has a choice to sin or not to sin. Recently I simply questioned the teaching that sin is passed to all by birth in an institutionalized “church.” Very quickly the response turned sour and I was accused of teaching some “dangerous doctrines.” It was at this very point that I realized the truth. When we speak the truth, we will often be misrepresented, labeled as a heretic, and accused of teaching outrageous things. In the past few months, I have gone through all of the above. I have spoken to several people who are given biblical support to continue believing in an inherited sin nature. Sadly, most of these people have some known sin that they are unwilling to lay aside and are simply looking for some excuse to continue in the same. For those who continue to insist that man inherited a sin nature from Adam, Job 14:4 “shuts the door” on the subject.

All one has to do to understand this passage is to read the book of Job from chapter 11-14 in its context. Unfortunately this is not done, because man runs to the Bible to only get support for his beliefs rather than going to God’s word to teach him what he should believe. Our world has taken on a sort of “fast-food” mentality where they want everything quick and at their fingertips. You can see this all over. The internet is a great example of the mentality. When the internet first came on the scene in the 90s, it was dial-up. Then came cable modems, and DSL, and now everyone has the internet at the palm of their hand by means of a cell phone. Although this is a luxury that I do take advantage of, it is sad to see this mentality of having things quick take hold of “Christianity.” People want an answer, and they want it now. When one has this mentality with sin nature, the end result will more than likely result in the belief that man has a sin nature. Instead of taking the time to read verses in their context and compare scripture with scripture to ensure that there is further support instead of contradictions, many will run to the Bible to attach a verse to their belief as if it was some confirmation of what they already believe or have been taught for generations.

Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

In Job 11, Zophar the Naamathite is busy trying to find the answers as to why Job had experienced such great loss and pain in his life. Like a typical Pharisee of today, he suggests that there must be some iniquity that Job has within his heart (“Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.” 11:6) Zophar had no concept that it could be the devil at work as an adversary seeking to devour Job (just like the devil is at work seeking to devour all those whom he equips with an excuse for their sin – sin nature). Before knocking Zophar too much, keep in mind that the purpose of Job’s suffering is recorded for us in the first 2 chapters. Zophar was not privy to the conversation God had with Satan. God had testified of Job that he was a perfect and upright man who eschewed evil. Satan had, therefore, gained permission to afflict Job with the intention of showing God that Job served only because of his temporal blessings. Job responded in a way that showed how much his heart was set on God – “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

In chapter 11, Zophar prescribes a method for Job to get right with God and to get out of the mess that Job was in. He says,

13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

Then the result, he says, will be:

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

Chapters 12-14 records the response that Job had to Zophar, and it is not a response of one who is submitting to the preaching he had just heard. Listen to Job’s language:

Job 12

1 And Job answered and said,

2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

In chapter 13, Job calls his friends (Zophar included) “forgers of lies,” “physicians of no value.” He asks, “Will ye speak wickedly for God? And talk deceitfully for him?” He tells them to “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.” One of the greatest verses on trusting God is found in the middle where Job says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” The whole chapter, Job is answering his accusers. The difference between Job and his accusers was that Job saw what really mattered – keeping his heart right with God. His accusers, on the other hand, thought that rest, security, and prosperity were marks of a blessed life.
His response is continued in chapter 14 where he asks several more questions to his friends and makes some powerful statements. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Trouble is not the equivalent to sin. Job was not filled internally with trouble, rather he was born into a world that was filled with trouble – just like all mankind has been since the fall of Adam and Eve. In 2 Corinthians 7:5 Paul tells the Corinthians that he was “troubled on every side.” Trouble is present in the world as told by Christ in John 16:33, but it is not implanted in the heart, flesh, spirit, life of every newborn child. He is born into and unto a world full of trouble. We can take great comfort knowing that the Lord will deliver us out of all trouble – Psalm 54:7!
Verse 4 is where all the complications start. Job asks, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” Instead of surmising that he is providing a doctrinal statement for all churches that would ever be established, remember the context. Job asks his friends, which included Zophar, if they can bring cleanness out of Job who were themselves unclean. Before you say, “Aha! I got you in a corner! You confessed that Job’s friends were unclean!” Job did not say they were unclean by birth but by the fact that they were liars, physicians of no value; while he attested to the fact that he was just and upright (Job 12:4 – which was validated by the Lord’s testimony of him in Job 1). Job here was asking a rhetorical question with the purpose of getting his “friends” to realize that he was just and upright before God and they were unclean before God.
For fun, let’s pretend this verse was all by itself in Job 14. Let’s make believe for just one moment that we can take this verse out of context and use it to teach that all babies around the globe and since the Garden of Eden were born unclean – with a sin nature. Since all have sinned and are thereby unclean by their sin, all that are born inherit the uncleanness (sin) from their parents. My question would be, then, what about the Christian and those born of a Christian? Christians are clean as attested to by many verses in God’s word. The following are just a few examples:
John 13:10 – Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
John 15:3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I Corinthians 6:11 – And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
A Christian has been cleansed through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. One can not claim the Christian is unclean. If Job 14:4 were to be teaching that an unclean person can only give birth to an unclean person (a sinner can only give birth to a sinner), then a person can rightfully deduce that a Christian (who is clean) can give birth to a Christian (another clean person). This is not my belief, and probably not the belief of a majority of those who are pushing sin nature. However, if you hold to the fact that sin is passed by conception, birth, intercourse, blood, etc. then you must also hold to the belief that a Christian is not clean. As horrible as it sounds, most do believe that Christians are not clean! They like to quote the phrase, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace!” Although it sounds pious and doctrinally sound, you can not find one reference in the Bible which describes a Christian as being a sinner. No doubt he can and will sin against God as he is still in a world of sin and oft tempted by the devil, but a Christian is a new creature. The passage in I Corinthians 6 calls a Christian a saint. Then for illustration sake, Paul describes the unrighteous: fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners. He plainly says that none of these sinners shall have part in the kingdom of God (righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost – what we call salvation). “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin!
After the above paragraph, I am often met with the response, “Well I guess you are perfect, then. And your children are perfect too!” This technique, known as the Delphi technique, is used by opponents to make it seem like I am completely out of sorts with reality, leaving any who are listening to conclude that the belief in a sin nature is the only logical explanation. I do not believe I am perfect, nor that I have attained anything other than forgiveness and a new life through Christ. This new life has new desires and has seen the old man crucified and old desires pass away. This new man is not at war with the old man, because the old man is dead! I can’t forget that Christ has exhorted me to be perfect and to strive for the mastery. Along the way, my lusts may conceive and bring forth sin, but to be controlled by sin is not what Christianity is about! Christ has saved me from my sins. That is he saved me from the sins I have committed and has saved me from the power of sin. I used to teach that Christ has saved me from the sins I will commit. No doubt, Christ will forgive us from any sin that we confess and forsake (including those committed in the future), but such an attitude should not be present in a Christian’s heart (the attitude that we will sin). Instead we should live freely knowing that He has saved us from the power of sin NOW!
Is it such a terrible thing to preach that a person can overcome sin in this life?! Do I really have to be labeled a heretic by believing in such a thing?! I expect to be called a heretic by the world, but the world tends to understand more about salvation than those found warming the pews listening to some hireling offer an excuse for his and his listeners’ sin. An unsaved person understands the cost of salvation. He understands that to be Christ’s means to no longer live fulfilling the lusts of his flesh. I would like to believe that I John 4:4 and 5:4 speak of a Christian being able to overcome the sin and trouble that is in the world through the power of Jesus Christ! I would like to believe that I can have victory now! It has been my experience that whenever you use these verses to show that a Christian can live in victory and overcome sin, that those who disagree cut these verses out of the Bible and paste them to a time in the future! Although the times of the Old Testament, Tribulation, Millennium, etc. did and will have some unique differences, one thing has not changed throughout time: the ability of believers to overcome sin (Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.)!
It can also be said of you that you DO NOT believe that the blood of Christ has cleansed you from all sin. You DO NOT believe that the words of Christ to His apostles, “Now ye are clean” applies to you! I would much rather believe what the Bible says on the issue. Sin is a choice that each individual makes. It happens when the devil tempts your God-given will to break God’s Law. Hopefully you will see that instead of believing that Job was claiming that all people that are born are unclean! 

Are We Born Sinners? - Part 7: How Does Original Sin Affect Other Important Bible Doctrines? by Mike Miller

I have always been shocked at the extreme reactions when people hear the doctrine of original sin questioned for the first time in their lives. Many even get rather violent in their defense of this tenant of the Catholic Church. You would think that to deny original sin was to deny one of the fundamentals of the faith.

I have also noticed that any doctrine that promotes the helplessness of sinners and makes excuses and explanations for their sin is very gently accepted with open hearts and minds. It doesn’t matter if it blatantly contradicts well-known Scriptures; there is no violent reaction and generally no resistance to such teachings. Doesn’t that seem a little strange?

What are the effects of denying original sin? What other doctrines depend on original sin? What Bible doctrines are put in jeopardy by rejecting original sin? Does throwing out the doctrine of original sin upset the whole biblical idea of forgiveness and atonement for sin? According to one reformed theologian everything depends upon original sin. He said, "Were this Article of faith (Original Sin) taken away, there would be no Original Sin; the promise of Christ would become void, and all the vital force of our religion would be destroyed." Wow! This doctrine really is the foundation for everything to him!
How can they look around them at this world filled with iniquity and say that there is no need of redemption and no need of a Saviour? Why must the doctrine of original sin, as prescribed by the Catholic Church, be true or there is no need for redemption? “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” is a very obvious fact, with or without the doctrine of original sin. Sin is a reality in the world we live in. It is pure absurdity to say that unless we accept the doctrine of original sin there is nothing that needs fixing. This world is full of sin and in need of a Saviour, but what it needs is a Saviour that will save them from sinning – not just give them a free ticket to heaven while they continue to live in sin, which is exactly what the doctrine of original sin makes provision for.

For some strange reason these people cannot see sin as a willful transgression against God. They see sin ONLY as something long ago and far away, of which they had no part or knowledge, but of which they are guilty in God’s eyes nonetheless. Their conception of sin is that it is some mystical unseen entity or substance that possesses their bodies and acts completely separate from their own will. This mystical, invisible evil is somehow passed from one generation to the next and is the real reason they commit their evil deeds. They had no choice at all in whether they wanted this evil thing in them – God himself made them with this inherent evil and now He blames them for it and intends to judge them and punish them forever for it. No wonder the educated skeptics mock Christianity! How could anyone with any sense of justice accept such a perverted idea of God? It is utter foolishness!

There are no true Bible doctrines that require that the doctrine of original sin be true. Without the doctrine of original sin ALL the major doctrines of the Bible, including sin, the Atonement, redemption, and sanctification, take on such a deeper and more clear meaning. The only doctrines that depend upon original sin are those that encourage or excuse sin. For example, without the doctrine of original sin the idea that sin is a calamity of nature rather than an act of the will against God must be disposed of. This puts the responsibility for sin on man rather than God, and this is exactly what the Scriptures teach:
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Rom. 14:12
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Ezek. 18:20
The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. Deut. 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Chron 25:4
In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. Jer. 31:29-30
The Bible couldn’t be clearer about this matter.

If you throw away original sin, the idea that Romans 7 represents the normal Christian experience must be discarded. Romans 7 then must be explained in light of Romans 6 and 8, as well as the rest of the Bible, instead of the man-made doctrine of original sin. This will present a completely different picture of the Christian walk. The only reason anyone would look at Romans 7 and believe living in sin and defeat to be the highest expectation of a Christian in this world is because he is clinging to the doctrine of original sin. Somehow, original sin so blinds the minds of people that they can completely put Romans 6 and 8 out of their mind while they wallow in self-pity and glory in Romans 7 as their experience. Many people are going to wake up in the pits of hell because they have believed a lie and been damned because of this matter. You better know that the Christian experience is not defeat and habitual sin! If you believe that it is, you have been deceived! What will you do with these verses?
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom. 8:37
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Pet. 1:4
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. Heb. 7:19
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 (speaks of continual, habitual sin)
If we get rid of the doctrine of original sin we will have to stop calling ourselves a sinner after we are saved. That would be a good thing, because that is an idea that is wrong, misleading, and leads to many other false teachings and misunderstandings about what salvation is and what it does for a person. We have all heard it a thousand times: “I am just a sinner, saved by grace.” People think it sounds more spiritual and humble to say that about themselves. Apparently, they don’t stop to consider how God feels about such a testimony. After all that He has done for them to save them and give them life and they wallow in self pity and phony humility! They should be giving God glory by rejoicing in the victory, thanking God for deliverance from the bondage of sin.

If you are saved, you are a saint of God – not a sinner! Nowhere in the Bible does God refer to saved people as sinners after they are saved! A sinner is a sinner and a saint is a saint. Again, we’re not saying that a saint cannot sin, but he cannot practice habitual, continual sin. He cannot be classified as a sinner. The only way you can justify such a thing is if you think we are physically, constitutionally sinful. You must think that the body is sinful in and of itself. You must think of sin as something besides an act of your will against God. You must think of it as something you cannot help. You must think of it as something beyond your control. This is the result of believing in the doctrine of original sin. Instead of being grieved for their sin they glory in it. “We are such sinners, yet God loves us anyway.” Hogwash! That is a total misrepresentation of sin, of salvation, and of God’s attitude and disposition! Sin is a crime – it is not an accident, it is not a tragedy, it is not unavoidable! God loves the sinner and desires for him to repent. God works in his heart to draw him to Christ so that he can see what God has done to redeem him. But if he continues in his sin and refuses to turn he will face the judgment and wrath of God. He is much more likely to repent when he understands his sin is HIS FAULT and not something that was imposed upon him without his consent.

We could go on and on about the false teachings and doctrines that encourage sin and how they all depend upon the false doctrine of original sin. But let’s take a look at another aspect of this matter. Is the doctrine of original sin in harmony with the other major doctrines of the Bible? Absolutely not! Here are a few examples to consider:

Salvation is by grace through faith.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph. 2:8
Salvation is available because “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God has no desire to see anyone perish, but neither does He owe salvation to any man. God didn’t provide the means for us to be saved out of obligation, but out of love, mercy, and goodness. It is such an obvious fact to anyone who is acquainted with the Bible that it would be a waste of time to keep laboring to prove this point.

If the doctrine of original sin is true then salvation cannot be of grace, but of justice. If God formed us in the womb and so constituted us that sin is natural and righteousness is unnatural, then He cannot condemn us for sin and still be just. The only way He can maintain his justice is to offer salvation, and if man takes it, well, but if he rejects it, then God is clear in the matter. Salvation then is based on justice rather than grace, and one of the major doctrines of salvation is turned on its head.

Another major doctrine that is fundamental to the faith is the sinlessness of Christ. The doctrine of original sin necessarily makes Jesus a sinner or it denies his humanity. If it is a true doctrine then at least one of these major fundamentals of the faith must be denied. To deny the humanity of Jesus Christ is a serious error that the Bible mentions in particular. The person who denies that Jesus is come in the flesh is marked as “antichrist” in the Word of God.
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 2 John 1:7
Allow me to explain: Original sin says that flesh is evil, and that this evil is passed from generation to generation. Defenders of this doctrine use these verses out of Job to prove that a sinner always produces another sinner naturally:
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Job 14:4
What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Job 15:14
The humanity of Jesus Christ is very plainly taught in the Bible. Without the humanity of Christ all the promises of God concerning salvation are empty and meaningless.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Jesus was made flesh – the same flesh that we are made of. His was not some special kind of flesh that was invincible to sin, but the same as ours in all points.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Heb. 2:14
Jesus didn’t just lower himself a little and become an angel – He came all the way down to where we are. He didn’t have the nature of an angel, but of a normal man.
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Heb. 2:16
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Heb. 2:17
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15
The Bible teaches plainly that Jesus was in all respects a man. He had a human body and was born of a woman, who offered her sin offering as prescribed by Moses after He was born. He hungered, He thirsted, He wept, He laughed, He grew weary, He rested, and He slept. He was angry, He felt compassion on others, He loved, and He lived and died just like other men live and die. Just as we are partakers of flesh and blood, “he also himself likewise took part OF THE SAME.” He was IN ALL THINGS …made like unto his brethren.” Now, either Jesus was born with a sinful nature, just like we are – or we ARE NOT born with a sinful nature. He was made like us IN ALL THINGS. The defenders of original sin refuse to give up the idea that we are born with a sinful nature, yet they say Christ was not. In order to do this they must deny the humanity of Christ. According to them, his body was NOT like ours. Besides contradicting all the above Scriptures they are clearly guilty of what 2 John 7 warns - that people who promote this teaching are antichrist.

Baptist and others outside the Catholic Church who believe in the doctrine of original sin have no answer to this dilemma. The Catholic Church realized the corner they had painted themselves into long ago and came up with the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Somehow, Mary was born without a sinful nature and that is how Jesus could be born without one. Never mind that no such thing is found anywhere in the Bible, but original sin MUST be protected and defended.

There are those who try to say that since Jesus had no earthly father his blood was God’s blood. There are many problems with that, the first one being that God is a spirit and a spirit has no blood. God is not flesh and blood – He is spirit. (John 4:24) He BECAME flesh through the virgin birth of Jesus. God doesn’t have 46 chromosomes – that is flesh, and God is a spirit. GOD WAS MADE FLESH and dwelt among us. He WAS MADE like unto his brethren in all things. Nothing about the fleshly body of Jesus was different than anyone else ever born on the earth. We have heard a lot about the sinless blood of Jesus, but the fact is, He was entirely sinless; his hands, his feet, his eyes, his tongue, He was the sinless Saviour, but it wasn’t because his flesh was somehow different than ours. He was tempted “in all points” as we are, but He overcame temptation with the same things available to us – the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The big difference was that He was GOD in a body of flesh – just like the body you and I have. The virgin birth was simply the means for God to become flesh – not a miracle to produce some different kind of fleshly body for God to live in.

He was the “second Adam.” He came to undo what Adam had done – in all points. Where Adam failed Jesus succeeded. Adam brought sin into the world and death because of sin. Jesus brought life by overcoming sin and the world, while living in a body of flesh.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Blood always represents life in the Bible – not death. Jesus shed his blood (and gave his life) so that we might have eternal life. That blood represented the sinless, victorious life that Jesus lived while on earth in a body of flesh just like ours, and the resurrection proves it.

Hallelujah!

Away with a doctrine that would take away the humanity of Christ! Only the devil could be the author of such a dishonor to our Saviour!
 

Next Part - How Does Original Sin Affect Other Bible Doctrines - Part 2

Tithing - Malachi 4

Malachi has been building to a climax. For the tithe advocator, the climax was Chapter 3:8-10; however, for the prophecy the climax is assuredly the fourth chapter.

4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

This verse is talking about when the earth will be destroyed as by fire, according to God’s promise. He will leave nothing left as righteous, holy judgment is poured out upon the earth.

4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Christ will be the one giving out punishment, and He will also be the One to bring healing to those that fear His name. Compare this passage to Revelation 19 when the saints return with Christ to conquer Satan and his followers.

4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

God is calling the reader to remember the Law. It would be right to regard the Law as it was written. Do not add to or change anything in the Law, compare to Revelation 22:18. So doing a curse will be added to that person’s life. God promised that Elijah would come before that great and dreadful day. Christ revealed that John the Baptist was Elijah during His first coming. It may be that Elijah is one of the prophets mentioned in Revelation before the Second Coming. What is certain is that Elijah will be preaching a repentance message based upon the Law. If those do not repent, then will the earth be cursed. Notice the progression of the Tribulation plagues. Each section – seals, trumpets, vials – becomes increasingly more harrowing. Notice also why this happens. It is because
man does not repent of his sin, further, they increase in wickedness against God. All of this applies to Malachi 3, and nothing about the “Christian’s” giving money to any church is mentioned. To sum it up, the context is Jewish, and God’s desire for the Jew to follow the Law. If they do not, then judgment will come. One might say, but we’re not under the Law, but under grace. This is even more of a statement against tithing than for it. The Law required the tithe. Grace requires our all – that is 90% more than the tithe asked. However, the Law will be reinstated during the tribulation and the millennium, notice that there is a temple once again. Notice that sacrifices are being done in that temple, and that Christ is on the throne regulating the temple’s workings. Therefore, none of this passage could ever apply to the church age in context.

To sum up what the Old Testament has stated about the tithe and its workings

1. It is food.

2. Only food producers could tithe.

3. Money was used, but only to buy food after a journey.

4. Only Levites could collect and regulate the tithe.

5. The tithe was brought to a storehouse, which was not the Temple.

6. The tithe was collected AFTER the farmer was blessed enough to have 10.

7. There is only a curse placed upon the Jews who were unlawfully tithing.

8. The blessing mentioned in Malachi 3 refers to Christ Himself.

9. Money was never an accepted tithing medium in the Old Testament.

10. Abraham did not institute the tithe before the Law.

11. The Bible records that Abraham only tithed once.

12. Abraham tithed from the spoils of war, not income. He returned the remaining spoils to the king of Sodom.

13. Jacob did not tithe, but tried to make a deal with God.

Tithing - Malachi 3

Understanding that Malachi 1 was written to the nation of Israel, and that Malachi 2 was written to Israel’s priesthood is key to properly comprehending Malachi 3. To this point, Israel was worshipping, but not according to the Law. The priesthood, those who were entrusted to maintain the Law, was corrupt. A redeemer was needed, one who was pure and holy, one who would straighten the crooked paths, and Malachi 3 prophecies of His coming.

3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

These first five verses of Malachi 3 are rather clear. They prophesy Christ’s coming, and what He will do when He arrives. This is second coming in context, because the judging, purifying, and refining of Levi have not yet been done. When Christ corrects Levi’s errors, then and only then will the Levitical offerings be pleasant unto the LORD. As there are no offerings presently, and past offerings cannot fit context, only future offerings done by Levi are foreshadowed. Connecting this passage to the previous Levitical passages shows that the offerings mentioned are food for sacrifices. Certainly many pastors do fit much of the sin mentioned in verse 5, but this passage is not against them, it is against the wicked priests and Levites. Nothing has changed in context from Chapter 1:1, so why would it all of the sudden change now? Malachi 3:6 answers this flatly. It is still the sons of Jacob, and the Lord has not changed, therefore, His Doctrine and Law are the same yesterday, today, and forever more.


3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

God is bluntly stating that He has not changed, but the sons of Jacob have even from their father’s time forsaken God’s ordinances. Israel did not keep them. But wait, weren’t the Jews doing sacrifices and tithes? Yes, they were, but they were not doing them lawfully as prescribed in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. God wants them to return to the Law. Israel responds “Wherein shall we return?” In other words, “Why do we need to return to the Law? We’re already doing all of this stuff.” The first question in verse 8 actually tags onto the last question in verse 7. “Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God?” This was a straw man argument posited by the unlawful Jew. God responds, you have robbed me. And the astonished Jew’s response is basically, “How?” Tithes and offerings.

Now at this point a faulty doctrine is created. It states thusly:

1. God demands the money tithe from everyone.

2. God demands a money offering over and above the tithe.

3. God will bless the money tithe.

4. God will bless the money offering.

5. God will curse those who do not tithe or offer money.

6. This passage applies to the local New Testament Church.

Can these positions scripturally fit the Old Testament Law of tithing? Absolutely not.

3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Comparing previously quoted tithing scripture with this passage, the reader should already know that the tithe had specific laws, referring to specific people – those who grow food and the Levites, was a specific commodity – food, and was given a specific time of offering – one and three years. Verse 8 reveals that the Jews were robbing God in both tithes and offerings. These were both under the Levite’s supervision. Offerings were for sin, restoration, fellowship, etc… Tithes were to praise God for His provision. The priestly corruption stopped what God had asked to be done, which is why God answers that these commands were not being fulfilled. Also, it should be noted that the Jewish question, “Will a man rob God?” is such a foolish question. Of course God cannot
be robbed. He owns it all, and knows what’s happening at all time.

Verse 9 points out that the command is still levied upon Israel “…even this whole nation.” Do not divorce this from context! It is in flow from 1:1 to the end of the book. This was a Jewish issue, not a modern church issue. God does curse Israel for not continuing in the Law. But this curse only applies to Israel, not the church. The curse was actually mentioned previously in the Law, when God promised blessing for keeping the Law, and cursing for breaking the Law. This was something that the Jews should have fully understood.

As for verse 10, the modern idea is that when one tithes, God will give an immense monetary blessing. Has this been the case across the board? Personally, I know of many on a practical level who have tithed and are in severe debt, lost homes, been in bankruptcy and on and on. Where’s this blessing? Is God lying? What about those who are unsaved and immensely wealthy? Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Muslim oil sheiks? They have vast sums of wealth. Do they tithe? Why are they so rich, but so many tithers are poor? Something seems wrong. Did God not promise to open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing that there won’t be room enough to receive it? In one word, yes. He did promise that, but there is not enough wealth in the world to fill up the world to a point where more cannot be received. Should we assume that aliens or a meteor bearing gold will strike the earth and make us richer? This is a silly notion. So, what was God saying then when He promised His fabulously rich blessing? Refer back to the context as stated throughout the book, and then the immediate context beginning in Chapter 3:1. The blessing is, was, and can only be a spiritual blessing found in Christ. Christ came
from Heaven, and all of creation cannot contain his infinite blessing. To put a monetary figure on this blessing is to materialistically limit the greatest blessing from God ever.

God commanded all of the tithes to be brought into the storehouse, which again is a barn, not the local church as is asserted. This will be covered in more depth later, but please refer to the verses previously mentioned concerning the Biblical definition of a storehouse. God’s main command is this, follow my Law, and watch what I can and will do! This is the Old Testament Law given to Israel, and no new command or revision of those commands was ever given. To tell the Jew of this time that his tithe was to be money and brought to a church building would have been foreign to him, because the Law stated otherwise. Why should we in the church believe it to be otherwise today? What changed? God, His Law, or our traditions?

3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Notice verse 11 still refers to food growing in the land. NOTHING CHANGED! It was still food, not money.

3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

This is a nation of Israel blessing, not the church. It has not yet occurred, as presently Israel is despised and fought over.

3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against
thee?

Israel remained stubborn. Her stubbornness was judged and cursed by God, and Israel is still struggling with Salvation found only in Christ. The nation simply refuses to believe God at His Word.

3:14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
Walked mournfully!? The tithe was to be a rejoicing time, not a mournful time. They’ve missed the point completely, and because they were doing the tithe unlawfully it did become a burden – much the same that it has become today through unlawful means.

3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

The remaining four verses seem to be separate from context, but they are not. These are dealing with issues of lawlessness. When the Law is forsaken, sin abounds.
Such sin destroyed the priesthood, and then subsequently destroyed the nation of Israel. They needed help from God to fix the problem. Only those who desired to serve Him properly were spared from God’s wrath and the curses mentioned in the passage. Those who did not want to hearken to God’s Word missed out on God’s greatest blessing when Christ came the first time as is poignantly illustrated in the Gospels. Man’s tradition kept the Pharisees and other Jews religiously lost in spite of the Word having dwelt among them. How sad. Please do not add tradition to this passage, read, re-read, re-study, and compare scripture in context to break from the faulty modern tithe concept. Malachi 4 completes the Messianic prophecy of this book in amazing language.

In context the tithing challenge has no legs, and cannot stand alone. The contest is over, and the challenger will not make it to the fourth round. That round is left for the amazing victor's proclamation, that Christ is the Messiah, who will overcome sin, death, the world, and Hell! Tithing is not even an afterthought.

Tithing - Malachi 2

2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

2:3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

2:4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

2:5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me,
and was afraid before my name.

2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

2:8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

2:9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

2:11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

2:12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

2:13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand

2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

2:17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Malachi does not change his focus from Chapter 1. The audience does, however, become more specific. Priests are now singled out from the nation of Israel. Priests are not pastors. A priest was always someone who offered sacrifices – note the Roman Catholic use of the term. (The Catholic priest still offers a sacrifice, which is the body and blood of Christ at mass during the Eucharist according to tradition). When Christ offered His own body as the sacrifice, all further sacrifices were finished. When Christ conquered sin, death, and Hell, He then took up his rightful position as our Priest according to Hebrews 4 and 7. Now, we have no need of any other priest, and for a Pastor to assume that he is that priest is in no way Biblical. Regardless, let’s look more closely at the passage

In the opening verses, God pronounces a curse upon the priests because they do not honor and worship properly, that is according to the Law established centuries earlier.

God then mentions a Levitical Covenant. His promise was to take care of the Levites, and that the Levitical inheritance was God Himself, no land or anything else that was promised to Israel’s other 11 tribes. The Tithe was absolutely part of God’s provision for the Levite, as was already illustrated in previous chapters. Again, would it be proper to correlate Levite with Pastor? Absolutely not. There are no commands that the New Testament pastors should uphold any portion of the Levitical priesthood. Nor did any pastor deign to try. The Levite did not maintain proper teaching or practice of the Law, which resulted in the curses that God was pronouncing. The reader knows that the Levites and priests were failing in this important command, Nehemiah was written only 100 years before Malachi, and the commands were not being upheld even then. What happened when Nehemiah was no longer on the scene, and no one followed his leadership? The Temple was again forsaken, the Levites did not follow God’s commands, and then a new invasion occurred under Alexander the Great in the 330’s BC. Alexander wanted to be deemed the Son of God, and the Jews did not stand in his way. It would be a further 140 years until the Maccabees famously revolted against Greek tyranny. During that time period Josephus informs that the priesthood was a revolving system of intrigue, certainly neither a godly institution nor one following God's Law.

Offerings were still being given, but God ceased accepting them. Tears are even seen, but not tears of repentance, because the priests continued in their own
way, not God’s. God even cut off these faulty offerings, and placed a curse upon them.

Beginning with Verse 14, God introduces a common theme seen in Old Testament prophecy, that of marriage. He is no doubt speaking literally, but also symbolically. (Cross reference Hosea for more detail). God is telling the Jews that they have put away Him, and He’s using the marriage picture to illustrate the seriousness of the situation. The response is “wherefore”, that is they are not taking responsibility, but making an excuse, and disagreeing with God’s assessment. This wearies God, and He then sets up the next prophecy, the one where the remedy is offered. The prophecy of all prophecies, that the Messiah is coming, and He will straighten the crooked. Now, the reader should be ready for Malachi 3 in proper context.

By this point, the tithing challenger is barely standing, and  about to be knocked out.

Nota Bene –  I realize that I have glossed over so much material that is in this prophecy, but my purpose is not prophecy, but the tithe.

Tithing - Malachi 1

A number of challengers have been vanquished en route to engage the “heavyweight champion” of tithing passages – Malachi 3. Though I am in no way a heavyweight Bible scholar, I am prayerfully seeking the Spirit to guide me as was promised in I John 2:20, 27. I trust that the scripture given speaks more loudly than do I in these sections, and that Malachi 3 will do the same. “ding, ding – round 1.”

First, Malachi was written very explicitly to the Jews. Malachi 1:1 states -

1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

Second, Malachi was written to the Jews for a specific purpose as God illustrates throughout the rest of Chapter 1, beginning in verse 2 and following:


1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

1:3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

1:4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

These verses date all the way back to Jacob and Esau. They in no way can allow for “the church” to be inserted here. The passage is prophetic, and Malachi was the prophet being used by God to illustrate an amazing prophecy pertaining to the Jews. As for Esau, or Edom, Obadiah sheds further light on Edom’s haughty spirit and subsequent judgment by God. He destroyed the Edomites and fulfilled these prophecies.

1:5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

This is another prophecy, but it has only partially been fulfilled. It can only be fulfilled by Christ Himself. Christ partially fulfilled this when He became an obedient man and lived upon this earth, was crucified, buried, conquered sin, death, and Hell, and then rose again. This aspect of the prophecy, however, references Christ’s coming Kingdom, which will be set up after the Tribulation, and Israel’s borders will then be magnified. Again, reference the previous unconditional covenants made in Genesis 12:1, II Samuel 7, Jeremiah 31, and Hebrews 10. This can only refer to Israel, not “the church.”

1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master:
if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

1:7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

1:8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

In this section, God asks a series of questions concerning offerings. The Jews certainly knew the Law regarding offerings, and they were not giving the offerings properly. God was sorely displeased, and related his displeasure through pointed questions to prove guilt, a guilt which Israel did not believe they had. Notice the “Wherein” questions. Jews were giving offerings, so they thought they were fine, because they were doing their religious duty, but their duty was not being done according to God's Law (cf. Leviticus 1-7, 9, 14, to name a few).

1:9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.

1:10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

God so wants to be merciful, but he cannot be merciful to those who continue arrogantly in sin. Sin being a transgression of the Law according to I John 3:4, Israel was guilty. Who could remove this guilt? That’s what Malachi is all about. Israel’s transgression of the Law, God’s response, and then God’s answer – Christ. Because of Israel’s sin, God states in the remainder of the chapter, that he will make His name among the Gentiles
(cf. Romans 9-11).

1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
1:12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.

1:14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

One final note from Malachi 1, the offering is still food, though this offering is not the tithe, food being offered, as required by God in Leviticus, was the standard. However, this statement in no way is meant to imply that the offerings mentioned here were tithes. They were completely separate entities, one for sin, and the other for praising God’s provision as already stated in previous chapters. Properly comprehending Malachi 1 is vitally important to Malachi 3's context when read as it was intended to be read, that is as a whole, and not randomly selected verses.

Round 2 of 4 to follow, unless either I or the traditional tithing doctrine be knocked out before such time be reached.

A brief round recap -

1. Malachi was written to the Jews.

2. God was upset, not because they were not giving offerings, but because those offerings did not follow God's explicitly established laws found in Leviticus.

3. These offerings were food.

4. The prophecy that Malachi illustrates refers to Jesus Christ; the fulfillment of the Law; the Jewish Messiah, the conqueror of sin, death, and Hell; the Savior of mankind.

5. To this point in Malachi, money has never been mentioned.

Sin Nature - Part 6: Are you Teaching "Sinless Perfection"? by Mike Miller

Fifth Most Common Objection:Are you teaching "sinless perfection"?
Answer: No!

As long as there is temptation there will be the possibility of sin. Until we leave this world of sin we will be subject to temptation and there will be a continual battle. To say that we will never lose a battle is to be presumptuous. However, with the Holy Ghost of God living inside us sin shall not have dominion over us. We are no longer slaves to our lusts and the pressure of a sinful world. “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

The GREATEST difference that sets true Christianity apart from ALL the other religions of the world is the deliverance from sin and its guilt. None of the eastern religions offer true forgiveness or deliverance from sin. Islam certainly does not offer deliverance from sin. None of the pagan religions even seriously consider the matter of sin. ONLY Jesus Christ, through repentance and faith in Him offers genuine forgiveness and deliverance from sin. It is a mystery to me why people who claim to be true Christians would want to give up the major thing that testifies to the truth of our gospel? When you remove true deliverance from sin in THIS PRESENT WORLD from your system of beliefs you are left with nothing more than all the other religions offer.

You may say, “Jesus rose from the dead, and that is what sets Christianity apart.” Yes, He rose from the dead, but if He isn’t risen in your heart and reigning in your life those are empty words to an unbelieving world. The PROOF that He is risen is the new creature you become when you are born again and have the resurrected Lord living in your heart. Otherwise, his resurrection is of no consequence or value as far as you are concerned.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Cor. 5:17
We are not teaching sinless perfection, and those who continually make this accusation against us are simply being dishonest. But anyone who would consider living without sin to be somehow wicked is off their rocker, in my opinion, and in light of the Bible. Certainly their thinking is twisted and affected by some ideas that are plainly contrary to the overall teaching of the Word of God. Living without sin should be the desire of every person who is truly born again.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. – Prov. 4:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. – 2 Cor. 3:18
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; – Phil. 2:15
This is the point of contention that should shock at least some people to their senses about this matter. The doctrine of original sin has so warped their thinking that I have heard some say with a smirk, “Well, according to what you believe it would be possible for someone to be born, live a life without sin, and not need to be saved!” That is simply a straw man argument because the Bible is clear that ALL have sinned – there is NONE righteous, no not one. The only one who ever was born on this earth and lived a sinless life was the Lord Jesus Christ. We are standing on the Word of God here and people who make statements like that are just in a mental merry-go-round and can’t seem to get out. Their thinking is not sound because it is so affected by the deception of the doctrine of original sin.

Stop for just a moment and consider what they are really saying! Do they really think that NOT SINNING would be the most wicked thing that anyone could do? Do they really think that God would be DISPLEASED with someone for NOT sinning? They certainly have a distorted idea of the way God views sin! Sin has wrecked God’s creation and He HATES it! God did not create man to sin! In spite of this fact the people who believe in the doctrine of original sin have concluded that we MUST sin so that grace may abound, and they are fully convinced that they have ascended to a higher level of spirituality because they believe this way. In order for God to be glorified they MUST sin. The more we sin, the more grace abounds, and the more God is glorified when He forgives us. Is it any wonder then that the churches are filled with all types of sin and immorality where this doctrine is sown? You can’t teach people that sin is natural, unavoidable, and something that God expects from you, and then expect them to live pure, holy, separated lives!

All that Jesus did was designed to deliver us from our sins. Teachings like original sin and all its offspring doctrines work to have exactly the opposite effect. Therefore, you are working against God and the Holy Ghost when you teach such unbiblical heresy as the doctrine of original sin! How can anyone imagine that teachings and doctrines which encourage sin are of God? Any teaching that lessens the load of guilt and sin while you continue to live in it is a lie! Any doctrine that gives you an excuse to sin, or allows you to blame your sin on something or someone else is a lie from the devil! Sin is YOUR fault and if you will find forgiveness you must be convinced of that. How many souls are being deceived and led into a false hope by this damnable teaching from hell?

“Oh, so you think you can live without sin?” We hear this accusation often. They go so far as to say that if you say you can live without sin for one moment you are totally deceived. They really appear to believe that we live in continual sin and are unable to do any better even after being washed in the blood of Christ and filled with the Holy Ghost. My, what a powerful gospel they have! People can do better than that without God! There are drunks who give up their drinking, smokers who give up their tobacco, drug addicts who quit taking drugs, and others that overcome any sin you care to name – WITHOUT GOD or his help. They simply decide to quit and they quit – with no Holy Spirit living in them and without any influence from the Word of God. I’m saying sinners can and do quit particular sins simply because they decide to do so, and get victory over the bondage that they were held in by that sin. They do it because they have some selfish interest in abandoning their sin. They want to live longer, or they see it is destroying their family and they forsake that particular sin in order to avoid that trouble in their life. They do not get forgiveness from God because they quit a certain sin, and they do not rid themselves of the guilt for the damage their sin has caused. There is no saving power in overcoming their addictions, but they do it anyway. Then along comes someone who says they have been born again of the Spirit of God and made a new creature in Christ and they say they can’t live a moment without sin. To claim to have victory over sin – even for one moment, would be the ultimate wickedness they can imagine. How can you get any further off base than that?

I have known many people who teach these loose doctrines of sin but do not live according to them. They are simply being hypocrites! They have quit sinning in some areas of THEIR lives. If you were to ask them what their sin was most of them could not tell you because their conscience is clean. They make allowance for sin in the lives of others, but not for themselves in their own life. They will defend some fornicator and say he is saved because he made a profession of faith, but they could NEVER allow such sin in their lives and they know it

If you can never be free from sin then how can you ever have a pure heart? How can you ever lift up holy hands? How could you possibly be greeted in heaven with “Well done, thou good and faithful servant?” Are you saying that Jesus is going to say that to people who lived in continual, habitual sin? Ridiculous! Those who hear the Lord say that to them will have purified their hearts, cleansed their hands, and lived and walked in holiness.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. – Psa. 24:3-5
The old doctrine of the Wesleyans and Nazarenes known as “sinless perfection” speaks of a second work of grace whereby you are freed from the possibility of sinning ever again. That is so preposterous I don’t understand how anyone could believe it. As long as we are in a world of sin, we are subject to temptation. As long as we are subject to temptation there is the possibility of sinning. We do not teach “sinless perfection” and those who make that accusation know we do not. They are trying to deceive others about what we believe. They know very well how “sinless perfection” is understood and they know what people assume when they tell them that we are teaching that doctrine.

We do not teach or believe that a second work of grace fixes things so you cannot ever sin again. But we do believe that you are not obligated to sin. We do not believe that you HAVE to sin. Every time you sin it is because you choose to! It is not caused by some “nature” you have that you cannot resist.

Why would you be against someone who preaches against sin? Wake up and realize how far off base you are when you are defending sinners and their sin and attacking someone who is preaching holiness! You may think you are more spiritual, but the Word of God doesn’t agree with you.
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? – 1 Cor. 5:6
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2For men shall be …despisers of those that are good, – 2 Tim. 3:1-3
Jesus said about the Holy Ghost:
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8
The first work of the Holy Spirit is to reprove the world of sin. If what you are preaching and teaching has the opposite effect you are working against God! How can you expect God to work on sinners while the message you are preaching is contradicting what the Holy Spirit is saying to him? You should be doing all you can to discourage men from sinning. Of course, when you do that others will say you are preaching “sinless perfection.”
 

Next part: Romans 7

Sin Nature - Psalm 58:3

Sin Nature – Psalm 58:3

 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Another verse which is commonly referred to in support of a sinful nature is Psalm 58:3. This verse presents a difficulty for some as attention is drawn to the references to birth. The verse is clearly speaking about one select group of people – namely “the wicked.” There is no reference whatsoever to all of mankind.

It is said of the wicked that they are “estranged” from the womb. This word is found five times in the Bible. Advocates of sin nature point to the fact that man is separated from the womb as a sinner. This word does mean “separation,” however, it has an even fuller meaning than just separation. All five times this word is found in the Bible, it teaches separation by means of an action. The first time “estranged” is used is in Job 19:13. Job who was under much grief, looked around and noticed that all had “estranged” themselves from him as if Job had some horrible sin for which God was punishing him. Their estrangement was a literal action that was performed by their separation from Job. The next verse is Jeremiah 19:4, which is perhaps the best verse to define “estranged.” The Israelites were guilty of idolatry. They had profaned the very place designed by God to be the center of worship to Him – the Temple. They forsook God and their idolatrous practices “estranged” the temple from being a place designed for God, into a place designed for offering incense unto their idols. Their actions led to separation. Ezekiel 14:5 shows that the people “estranged” themselves from God through their worshipping of idols. The last verse where the word “estranged” is found in Psalm 78:30. In this verse, the Israelites did not separate themselves from the lust of their flesh, namely fulfilling every desire they had despite the instructions given by God (example: hording mannah). Therefore, as can be seen in Scripture, the wicked are not passively “estranged” from the womb or from birth, but estrange themselves by the very actions they perform.

The second half of this verse is in agreement with what is said above. Focus is often drawn to the end of the verse, and the phrase “go astray” is overlooked. In order to “go astray” from anything, one must have been in the right way to begin (2 Peter 2:15). This is congruent with other verses which teach that man was made “just and upright” (Ecclesiastes 7:29), “fearfully and wonderfully” (Psalm 139:14), “beautiful” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), “for his pleasure” (Revelation 4:11), etc. There is nothing wonderful about a sinful nature. There is nothing beautiful in an inherited fallen nature. It would bring no pleasure to God to simply condemn all mankind to hell simply because they were born. Man will not give an account to God for his being born, because man had nothing to do with his birth. He will instead give an account of every action he performs on earth after he is born (Romans 14:12). Imagine the scene, there is man standing before God. God says to the man “Depart from me for you never asked me to forgive you of the sinful nature with which you were created.” The man looks at God and says, “But God, it is you that made me this way.” What blasphemy! This is not justice! Man is condemned to hell because he breaks God’s commandments (“sin is the transgression of the law” I John 3:4).

Psalm 58:3 is using figurative language to discuss how wicked the wicked are. In fact, there is figurative language throughout the Psalm. The first example of this language is in the phrase “they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” A newborn child does not have the ability to speak the moment they are born. They do not know or understand the words of the people around them. This is something they have to be taught. Unfortunately, many philosophize that when a child is in a crib crying and screaming at the top of his lungs as if they were about to die, that they are lying to their parents. They surmise that the child has deceived his parents into thinking something was completely wrong, when all they wanted was to be held. Sadly, the same people who teach this excuse all kinds of gross sin in their lives and their churches as it being the outworking of the old man/sinful nature. The child is using the only means of communication available to him at that moment to communicate a need to his parents – crying. To teach that their crying is the sin of lying, is to charge them foolishly. On this topic, we quote from Mike Miller who has written ten articles on this very subject:

“The zealous proponents of this doctrine of devils try to prove it by pointing to an infant crying for its mother and calling that sin. Wow! That should bring up a red flag to anyone who is thinking! That child is innocent and as pure as the driven snow. He has no evil thoughts! He has no depraved thinking! He is not lying there and thinking about how he can deceive his mother! He is simply reaching out for help in the only way available to him – crying. There is nothing sinful about wanting to be in the arms of his mother. There is nothing sinful about being hungry or needing a diaper changed! What kind of a mind calls this sin? Think about it!

“Allow me to point something out to you. The same kind of mind that calls this infant’s crying a sin will call other things in adults simply “Christian liberty.” Isn’t that amazing? We have no right to call things sin when Christ gave us “liberty” but they charge an innocent infant with sin and he has no defense. We’re to the point now where fornication is considered “Christian liberty” by many. Hellish music is “Christian liberty.” Dirty habits that abuse your body, ruin your testimony, and dishonor God are “Christian liberty,” and a baby crying for his mother proves that we are born sinful and uttering lies. How can anyone possibly believe such as that?”

A popular Christmas song indicates that Christ did not cry when He was born (Away in a Manger). Although a nice song to sing, we can not be so sure that Christ did not cry – the Bible does not clearly teach this. In fact, we learn that Christ grew and increased in stature. We even learn that later in life that Christ wept. Some may falsely charge me of being blasphemous with what was stated above, but on the contrary, it shows just how much Christ humbled himself when he “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” As pointed out previously, to deny that Christ had the same human characteristics that we have is to have the spirit of antichrist (I John 4:3). Crying isn’t a sin. It is the result of pain or great joy in one’s life. For every child, it is his way of communicating a specific need to his parent. Our duty as parents is to minister to that need.

There are other examples of figurative language in Psalm 58. If verse 3 is taken literally, then so also must be the rest of the Psalm! v.4 – “Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear.” The wicked do not literally have poison like a snake. v.6 – “Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.” If the wicked are born speaking lies, then they must also be born with teeth – not just regular teeth, but the great teeth of young lions! v.7 – “Let them melt away as waters which run continually.” v. 8 – “As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away.” The danger in using one verse without regard to its context is that you lead yourself into teaching things that are completely beyond reason (example: the wicked are a poisonous snail with teeth like a lion who speak lies from their birth). This idea is completely ridiculous! However, if one of the passages used to support an inherited sin nature lead to this foolishness, how many more significant and damnable ideas are introduced?! (These ideas will be discussed later)

As mentioned before, if this verse were teaching that all mankind are born liars and estranged from the womb, then it is in outright contradiction to Psalm 51:5 which man supposes supports the teaching that man is sinful from conception. When is a man considered sinful – at conception or at birth?

Man is not born astray, rather they “go astray.” Man has to be reconciled to God because he went astray. He has broken God’s commandments and for that he is guilty before God. God has created all mankind with a knowledge of the right way (Romans 2:15 – “the law written in their hearts”), yet man chooses to go astray. This is why man needs to repent and turn back to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t necessary if a crime hasn’t been committed. A crime was committed by all, however, and forgiveness is more than necessary. Some have tried to downplay the importance of taking a stand against the teaching of an inherited sin nature. Because this “doctrine of devils” has so marred the glorious message of salvation is reason enough to take a stand in these latter times.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Let us be mindful of the fact that the devil is a deceiver. He has ministers that are transformed as ministers of righteousness proclaiming many damnable teachings contrary to Scripture. The very works of these ministers reveal that they are deceitful workers. If their preaching and teaching provides excuses for sin and leads people to think that they can never overcome sin, then they are not ministers of Christ, but of the devil.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Sin Nature - Psalm 51:5

Psalm 51:1-5

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Often the first verse used by proponents of “sin nature” teaching is found in this passage. The context of Psalm 51 is David crying out for mercy after he came to himself about the sins he committed in association with his adultery with Bathsheba. Strong language is used in this Psalm, and it is no wonder as the two major sins that David committed – adultery and murder – were worthy of death (Leviticus 20:10; Genesis 9:6). The only hope for David was that God would be merciful to him for these sins – there was no sacrifice available. David’s initial response when confronted by Nathan was “I have sinned against the LORD” (Numbers 12:13). No excuses were given by David then, and no excuses are given in Psalm 51. Simple reasoning will lead the reader of Psalm 51 away from the dishonouring teaching of “sin nature.” Unfortunately, this passage is incorrectly understood by the proponents of “sin nature” when verse 5 is read apart from the rest of the Psalm and the Bible. Had David seriously excused his sin as being a result of how he was born, God would hardly have shown mercy.

Mercy in David’s situation was shown by God as David did not receive his due punishment for his sins. Mercy was given because David acknowledged his transgressions and asked the Lord for cleansing. Mercy is undeserved, and for David, it was very much so. The Lord will have mercy upon whom He will have mercy (Romans 9:15). He will have mercy upon those who turn from their sin and unto Christ (Isaiah 55:7) even though those who do so are still undeserving of His mercy. God will not, however, have mercy upon those who die in their sins without Christ or who offer an excuse for their sin (ie – sin nature).

David took full responsibility for his sin and offered no excuses. Eight times in this passage alone did David refer to his sin as being his own (“my transgressions...mine iniquity...my sin”). His language corresponds to Numbers 12:13 where he says “I have sinned.” One phrase in this passage that will help in understanding is where David says, “my sin is ever before me.” The word “before” explains the relationship of David to his sin. His sin was “before” him and not “within” him. The sin of adultery and murder were at the door and he opened up his heart to their knocking and willingly let them in. Adultery and murder were not there from his birth, they were there from his choices and actions.

Why then did he say in verse 5, “I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”?

A quick survey of all the verses in the Bible that contain the word iniquity will reveal that iniquity is not something that is inherited, but is something that is performed. Christ used the word iniquity in Matthew 7:23 where He says, “Depart from me ye that work iniquity.” Iniquity is an action that is worked. Webster defines iniquity as “gross injustice; a wicked act or thing.” The workers of iniquity eat up God’s people as they eat bread (Psalm 14:4); speak peace when mischief is in their hearts (Psalm 28:3); lay snares (Psalm 141:9). The money that Judas received when he betrayed Christ is referred to as “the reward of iniquity” (Acts 1:18). It was the reward of his betrayal of Christ. All of these define iniquity as an action. For David, the iniquity he was “shapen” in was the iniquity of adultery and murder. Both were actions that were not the result of his being born with a “sin nature” but of him yielding to the temptation. He was not conceived or born an adulterer, but he became an adulterer. He was not conceived or born a murderer, he became one. Both transgressions were the result of his lust conceiving (not his mother conceiving) and bringing forth sin (James 1:15).

The second part of the verse states, “in sin did my mother conceive me.” The prepositional phrase, “in sin,” could be referring to David’s mother, how David was conceived, or David himself. Those who hold the sin-nature position believe that at the very moment David was conceived in the womb, he was with sin. There are no other verses found in the Bible which offer support to this doctrine (unless you read the NIV – “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”).  In fact, many of the other verses that are used to support a sin nature (which will be discussed later), refer to the birth of a person and not conception. Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Is mankind conceived in sin or born in sin? It cannot be both (see also Job 5:7; Job 14:1)!

David in this Psalm is recognizing the awfulness of his sin and how it shaped him as an adulterer and murderer. David is testifying that as his mother was shaped by her actions of sin, so also is he now shaped by his sin. Another position that has much support is that David is testifying that he was conceived into a world filled with sin. This is more of a testament to how awful and powerful sin in than as an excuse that he sinned just like everybody else. He was conceived in a sinful world, not in a sinful body.

Psalm 51 is clearly not teaching that sin was passed to him at the moment of conception. If this phrase is teaching that sin was passed down to David from his mother, then serious heretical teachings follow. The most blasphemous is that as David received a “sin nature” from his mother, so also did Christ receive a “sin nature” from his mother. The Bible clearly states that Christ was “made of a woman” (Galatians 4:4) and made “in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). A  Catholic believes in “original sin” which is their equivalent to “sin nature.” There is absolutely no difference between the teaching of “original sin” and “sin nature.” To go one step further, the Calvanist believes in “total depravity.” This is also the equivalent to “sin nature.” A Catholic, understanding the ambiguities of the “original sin” issue, develops the teaching of “Immaculate Conception” in order to answer the question as to whether Christ was born with a “sin nature.” A Calvanist declares that man is totally depraved from birth and his only hope is if he is one of the chosen (unconditional election). Many self-designated “Bible-believers” also come up with an answer to the ambiguities by saying that the father is the one who passes down the “sin nature” (ie – Adamic nature, Headship of Adam). Since Christ’s Father is God, then it is not possible that he would inherit the “sin nature” they say. If it is the father who passes down the sin nature, then this verse is rendered null and void to support their belief (“in sin did my mother conceive me”). This also contradicts Ezekiel 18:20 – “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son.” It also leads to the denial of Hebrews 4:15 – “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” If we are tempted to sin by our “fallen nature” then so also would Christ have been tempted to sin by His “fallen nature.” Otherwise the word “all” doesn’t mean “all.” This surely touches the nerve of many as the Calvanist is ridiculed for teaching that “all” means something different than “all.” Christ was subject to every desire and temptation of the flesh as mankind. If you deny this, then you have the spirit of antichrist (I John 4:1-5). The only other option is that you consent to the fact that Christ was made just like us, and therefore also had a sinful nature (and was therefore destined for Hell like everyone else who is born). The only way to avoid either of those blasphemous teachings is to believe that God made man upright, but he sought out many inventions (ie – sin) – Ecclesiastes 7:29. What made Christ different is that He did not yield to sin as all of mankind yields to sin. That is what makes him the PERFECT PROPITIATION for our sin!

Some writers explain that this verse is written in figurative language. This can be supported by the other phrases throughout the same Psalm that are also figurative – “purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean” “the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” This explanation does little to satisfy the mind which is stuck on believing such a blasphemous “doctrine” however.

David was simply stating that he shaped his own life and way in iniquity, just like his mother, and all who lived before him shaped their life in iniquity. He is not talking about his fleshly desires prior to his birth. Rather he is talking about how when he committed his transgressions how that he was shapen in iniquity rather than in righteousness. That is why he requests that the Lord “renew a right spirit within” him.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that man shapes his life in iniquity and sin, for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Man doesn’t need help to sin. Satan was created by God and dwelt in Heaven by the throne of God, yet he used his God-given will and desires to sin against God. Adam was created without a “sin nature” and yet he chose to disobey the ONE law that God gave. Like Adam, man is made without a “sin nature” and he chooses to corrupt his own way and sin against God. All choose to sin, and as all chose to sin, much more should they choose to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We like Adam, have a law to follow. Our law is the 10 commandments. From the very moment we are born, we are influenced by a world of sin to break these commandments. It is when a person breaks God’s law willingly that he is separated from God. If he dies physically in this condition, his soul will be damned eternally in hell. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God will show us mercy, and will wash us from our iniquity if we obey His command to repent and believe.