Romans 14:23c for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

I get in more trouble with my Christian friends over my standing on God’s Word over the definition of sin. Most Christians want to define sin as missing the mark. You have a target of love and if you miss the target, that’s sin. They have a difficult time accepting my definition of sin, everything which is not of faith. They find that harsh and demanding.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If you are living by faith, what does it matter how sin is defined? If God says that I should not, then I should not. No one has the right to substitute their own judgment above what God has instructed me to refrain from.

Is it a sin to have a sense of humor? No, but if your brand of humor hurts others, then God just might say “Stop that!” If the goal is to love, then anything that hinders love might be called upon to be sacrificed. I once had a wicked sense of humor, emphasis on wicked. He didn’t stop my sense of humor but changed how I use it. His warning came like this, “Not everyone appreciates your humor.”

Chastening doesn’t have to be harsh, if you will pay attention to that “still small voice”. It gets louder and harsher when you do not heed His warnings.

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

One of those social media questions was posted asking, what would you do if it were not illegal? The question poses an interesting dilemma for Christians in that there are a multitude of things which are leggal in which we do not participate.

For Christians behavaior is not a matter of legality but rather character. Who we says more about what we do and do not do in this world. Our insistence in not participating in certain legal behaviors has garnished us some unsavory titles and even broken some friendships.

Here Paul is saying that the law has ended as the determining factor for righteousness. This issue of lawfulness is not a legal matter but rather a relational matter. Our right standing before God does not change because of what we allow ourselves to do.

Then why restrict ourselves in anything if it doesn’t matter?

The consequences of sin do not change just because our eternal salvation is secured. But it’s legal! Maybe so but being legal does not mean it isn’t still sin.

Romans 14:4-5 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

The conversation at hand was over esteeming days as being sacred or not. That is a spiritual distinction, not a legal distinction.

Romans 14:22-23 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.