The Mainstream Christianity Preacher’s Biggest Paradox

Mainstream Christianity has a fairly large paradox in its doctrine. Fortunately, for the seeker of truth it can be exposed, and actually, it is easy to understand. It is, simply put: What is sin?

How can this simple question be a BIG problem for the church? Modern day “Christian” preachers are teaching their congregations that the “LAW” was done away with, “Nailed to the Cross” so to speak. This “nailing” is a topic for another article so I will not elaborate on that issue. Suffice it to say for now, this is impossible. I will explain as it relates to the issue at hand.

What is sin? There are many verses one can quote to answer this question. The common theme among them is: sin is a breaking of the Law. An analogy is reasonable here. Suppose that you are driving on a stretch of highway that has a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. You are going 70 miles per hour and get a ticket for speeding. You then leave and turn on to a interstate going 70 miles per hour and are passed by an officer shooting radar. No problem, the posted limit is 70 miles per hour.

So what is speeding? Under what conditions would you be found guilty of speeding? It depends on what speeding is defined as. You would not know what speeding was if it were not posted on the sign. And so it is with Sin. Just as the sign defines speeding, the Law defines sin. In fact, without the law, there would be no Sin! So, if you hear a preacher teaching the Law is done away with, then, without exception, they are preaching that there is no longer any sin. Because one defines the other, it is impossible to separate them. This is the preacher’s paradox. Just as black defines white, up defines down, day defines night, the same is with sin and the law.

Examining some scripture, we look at Paul’s words in Romans:

  ⁷ What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."  Rom 7:7

Paul here asks an interesting question. Is keeping the law sin? Answer. No. He continues and explains that the definition of sin is the breaking God’s Law.

⁸ But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. Rom 7:8 

Notice what the last part of Romans 7:8 states. Apart from the Law, Sin is dead. Paul is saying one cannot exist without the other. So when you confess you sins and ask Yeshua (Yeshuah) to forgive your sins you’re asking him to forgive your transgressions of the God’s Law.

Something that is commonly done is for someone to “reframe” what the Law is. By definition, that would also change what sin is defined as. Commonly in mainstream Christianity, this is done by saying there are now only two commandments: Love God and love your neighbor. The problem with reframing the definition of the Law is that it does not fit the biblical explanation of why our messiah died for our sins.

In Hebrews we read:

¹⁵ For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Heb 9:15

Take special note, Hebrews 9:15 states that the messiah died for the redemption of our sins that were committed under the first covenant or otherwise known as “the Law”. In fact, if there were no Law today, there would be no sin and no need for Christ to have died as atonement. Thus, Christ died in vain if the law was done away with. The saved are not “under” the penalty Law today, however Gods instructions remain for us today. The good news or “gospel” is that we have a sin offering in Yeshua (Yeshuah) which is a gift to us, and with this gift we do not live our lives in worry concerning our sins.

For further support of the durability of Gods law, read Matthew 5:17-18.

10-12-2012 J. D. Ketchum II

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