Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The Power of Sin

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Where does sin power come from? Many would say from Adam passing it on too us, where we are born into sin, but that was not the question? The question is, where does sins power come from, not that we have it, what gives sin its power over us?

It is the law, in this case the Law of Moses, do you believe that? Sin is missing the mark of God's standards, and what are God's standard judging if we have sin or not? It would be the law given to Moses. Hence, if we could meet the law perfectly, we would be called sinless by God, and sinless people don't sin, thus, they take the power of sin away (the law), leaving it empty, valueless, having no power over them.

Romans 6:14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

In other words, for us to stop sinning the law cannot be judging you (having power over us), and if we are sinless the law does not judge you at all, it declares us righteous before God and grants us eternal life as its reward. When Christ came to earth as a sinless person he had eternal life, which offended the self-righteous Pharisee's who through their understanding of God's laws declared everyone a sinner needing atonement at the temple. But Christ said he was the life, eternal life and those believing in him had life.

John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.

John 5:40 Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.

Shocking speech for a Jew, no sinner had life by the laws perfect judgment of sin, so the Scribes and Pharisee's hated Christ calling him a demon, which was blaspheming the name of God! But Christ spoke the truth, something also offensive to so many Christian's groups today, which is, if your sinless there is no law, and if there is no law than sin has no power over us.

Romans 6:22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.

Romans 4:15 For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

Separating The Weed From the Wheat

Weeds have sin, thus, the power they hold is by laws giving the power of sin to them, those laws have built massive religious empires since Christ Jesus death upon earth known as Babylon the Great, which, Christendom is a part of.

Romans 5:13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.

However, wheat Christian's have no sin, because they have been freed from the power of sin, the law, by Christ Jesus righteous blood. The power of sin is the judgment of the law, what does this mean? It means if there were no laws than their be no judgment, judgment produces sin, but how? Judgment says you have done it wrong or right, we are either declared righteous by the law or declared unrighteous by the law. Hence, missing the mark of the law, making us a sinner!

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

There is no in between accept in our unrighteous mind that's confuses us about the truth. We are either a sinner or we are not? We are in the light, or we are not? We are not waiting as Christian's to be in the light, if so we are a sinner.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1 John 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn't touch him.

The Stone of Stumbling

Christ became a stone stumbling a rock-mass of offense to the Jewish faith, and the same is true of many works of law Christian's groups today. Such groups claim to serve Christ by obeying the commandments of the bible. However, Christ freeing us from the law and its judgment becomes very offensive too them when told that the power of sin is the law, and those under law are not in Christ.

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Law has power and it power is sin, sin has guilt, which is very profitable, and used by law people for controlling lives empowering them over others. Power seems to be the stimulus for sinners in wanting the power over others to feel righteous and/or superior too them. The laws of the bible gives sin its power for controlling peoples lives, empowering unrighteous men over others as gods.

John 10:1 "Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

John 10:10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

This power is sought by people of sin, hence, weeds, build massive governments with fearsome power to control, and protect this life, which power can be used in destroying their enemies. The Christian's faith after Christ times co-opted this power into their teachings of the body of Christ, empowering and placing men over the spiritual lives of millions. However, Christ himself removed the power of sin by fulfilling the law of God, and than replacing it with love.

Romans 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Thus, those living in love became bait and/or fodder to powerful greedy men whom trampled upon Christ as nothing under their feet as mere dirt. Love offers nothing to the world for power, as does sin through power of law. Hence, it adds nothing too mankinds system of things, subsequently, Christ love is not known by this world. One is light the other is darkness, one is power of sin through laws, while the other is freedom from sin, by lost of power in this world.

Matthew 20:25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

Matt. 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'{Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21} 5:39 But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 5:40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 5:41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 5:42 Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,{Leviticus 19:18} and hate your enemy.{not in the Bible, but see Qumran Manual of Discipline Ix, 21-26}' 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 5:45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 5:47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Subsquently, Christ life and teachings meant in real terms too the Jewish system of things a lost of its entire power structure! Israel would lose its power to be a nation under Christ Jesus teaching. Just the opposite of their ambitious goals upon earth, to have earthly kingdom to rule our world. Christ removal of the power of sin by the laws undermined everything Israel stood for.

Christ defeat all control of sin over us, provide we believe hr is the end of the law, and look to his righteous blood as God's gift of undeserved kindness too us.

Justification

Flesh minded people, and weed-Christian's also, justify themselves through laws of the flesh, When debating or arguing with others they will state the many good works of law they have done to defend their position of right, and wrong. Such conduct is self-justification; standing up in the flesh for what we are, and why all do it, but it is a sin, and its power is given it by works of law.

Luke 16:15 He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

But not only is it a sin it also gives power too us by laws of the sin in defending ourselves. In other words, it does not stop sin as our hearts and mind are deceived into believing and demanding from others, it increase sin in us and other, but how?

Rom.7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.

Rom.7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.

We are judging our conduct against what? The person we are arguing with, and/or juding, which causes them to want to prove us wrong increasing what, sin, sin by judgment of law that what gives sin it power, judgment by laws that justify us for doing wrong or right! Christ than stated for us not to judge in this manner, because it is self-defeating, building nothing good in ways the Spirit and truth.

Romans 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Now we are not being idealistic here, we know none of us can stop judging we may like the sound of it, but if we are a honest person we know the truth. Which is, we would have to be dead to stop judging each other no matter how much we hate it, we simply must live with it correcting it from getting out of control, but how should we control judging this question is vital to us as Christian's.

Romans 14:22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves.

1 Corinthians 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self.

You see the power of sin is the law, do we state a law not to stop judging, and than expect it will stop us from sinning? It might help some, but not really, a little leaven ferments the whole lump, Moreover, it does not justify us like many think it does, it instead adds sin to sin.

Christ Justification

A spiritual person, that is, not of the fleshly mind, remembering we have both at times, does not look to a tangible laws written in the bible, it looks to Spirit and truth to stop judging. Which means they look to Christ Jesus power indwelling them, who is Spirit and truth for us.

Christ did not look to laws of the flesh not to sin, he was sinless, so he walked in Spirit and love too fulfilled the laws of our flesh for us; through his perfect love for his Father YHWH.

Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God's law, but with the flesh, the sin's law.

Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.

Thus, if we want the removal of sin, rather than empowering it by laws of sin we must be in the mind of Christ Jesus, where sin does not exist. We must than judge by the law of freedom, that is, in the law of Christ Jesus freeing us from sins of our flesh. How do we do this, we don't by works of laws, but instead by our faith in God's provision of Christ. We trust God is good, and He has justify us by Christ Jesus life, we stop our works of law, giving power to sin, which forgive us not by laws of the flesh, but instead the law of love seventy seven times, a day!

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

Romans 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 103:3 who forgives all your sins; who heals all your diseases;

Luke 7:49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

The Same love afford us, God's love, which is, undeserved kindness. Our know we cannot say its owed too us, or that we have earned it by our own good works. We must accept it with humility, which goes against every fiber of our flesh mind in judging others because we think we are right. If we do so the measure given back to us in Holy Spirit with increase. Hence, love is the Spirit of God, but its also the gifts of Holy Spirit we all want so badly in finding peace with God and man.

Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Empowering The Spirit

We want as Christian's to empower the Spirit in us, but if we empower the fleshly mind, by giving power to sin by our judgments of law we have killed the power of Christ in us.

Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

To empower the Holy Spirit in us, we must have faith, small as this faith maybe, it will move the mountain of judgment in our hearts if we use it. God used such power in his love, through Christ Jesus to removed the huge mountain of Judgment through the Jewish faith in thousands of years of being educated in the ways of the law. Christ fulfilled the law for those of us whom believe, he set aside heaven and earth for those Jews in God's love, removing the wall the hostility of law towards God, by his precious life given in his righteous blood.

Matt.5:17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill. 5:18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter{literally, iota} or one tiny pen stroke{or, serif} shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

Matthew 5:17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill.

James 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"{Leviticus 19:18} you do well.
The power of the Spirit lead Christian's is in forgiveness of sin by God's love, not our own love, but God's love that will not fail us. Judging others by God's love takes the hate of our personal judgments out of our hands placing it into the impartial hands of God that cannot do an injustice.

Luke 21:18 And not a hair of your head will perish.

Luke 18:27 But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

We are than saying: “let your will be done, on earth as it is heaven!” Do you understand the import of this statement in truth and Spirit? God resides in peace, without the war of the sinful flesh, He reside in love, for He is love, not flesh and blood having sins, but perfect peace. When we let God's will take place we make Him King, who judge each of us fairly/Just by the same law that rules His Kingdom the royal law of love.

1Cor.13:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
13:6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8 Love never fails.

We are not judging of our own fleshly mind mixed with law of love, we handing over our will/jugements too our rightful Father, putting faith that no harm or wickedness will go unchecked by our righteous God.

We are judging than by the law of freedom. We are adding spirit to spirit unleavened bread to unleavened bread. We are not empowering sin by laws of judgments, we are depending sole upon faith.

James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 2:12 So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

Can we do this? No we are not kings, or self-righteous slave of god putting ourselves, and our goodness as something other must look to stealing god's glory, not at all.

Isaiah 6:3 One called to another, and said, "Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!"

We are than speaking the truth in Christ, letting his light shine through us, not wanting to be teachers of power and glory by guilt through empower sin, no! We are leaving off from our person empowerment and empowering Christ Jesus as our head, the final decision maker for the body of Christ.

Isaiah 43:7 everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.'"

We are faced with good reason our infirmities in our corrupt flesh so we are humbled in spirit which requires are flesh to be killed by its own goodness. Resting in Christ is not just a word, its where we must be, free from our works of the flesh which empower sin by laws, freeing us from such lust of our flesh.

James 4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.
4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"? 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."{Proverbs 3:34} 4:7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.