by Richard Mansel

The story is told of an animal trainer who raised a young boa constrictor to slither out of his cage over to the trainer and wrap around his body until he stared him in the face. Years past and he continued to work on the stunt. Then one day with the crowds present, the full grown snake slithered over, began to move up his body and tightened his muscles, thus killing the trainer (Knee Mail, October 05, 2004, Mike Benson, editor).

Sin is a beast that appears friendly until we realize it is killing us. It stands between us and salvation (Isaiah 59:1,2). We must determine what sin really means so we can avoid it, because Ezekiel 18:4 says, "the soul who sins shall die" (NKJV).

We must acknowledge that man's usage of "sin" varies greatly from God's definition. The dictionary definition of "sin" is "a transgression of a religious or moral law," which lacks specificity. Paul writes in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

The Greek word used for sin most often in the New Testament means "missing the mark." In Judges 20:16 we read, "Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair's breadth and not miss." They would shoot and always hit their mark. This is an excellent example to help us better understand the term.

Spiritually, we cannot consistently hit the mark. We are weak and fail to live up to the standard God has established. "God has a high and holy standard of what is right, and so long as man follows the Divine standard he will see himself as he truly exists in God's eyes. The flat statement of the Almighty is that all men have fallen short of God's required standard. Let no man ever think that he comes anywhere near the standard set by God" (Lehman Strauss, The Doctrine of Sin).

Man's definition is subjective, while God's is objective. Upon this key point lies the source of so much confusion. Under man's subjective definition of sin, Romans 3:23 would be proved false. Not everyone would be sinners. If the definition were subjective, men would develop their own definition so they would be found righteous.

God's definition of sin is objective because it is based on a standard. John wrote, "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness" (1 John 3:4). Violation of the law of God is sin. We cannot live up to the standard God has laid before us. Therefore, we need grace in order to be saved. It will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The standard of Scripture that will judge us on the last day (John 12:48) is not influenced by changing times, opinions, styles, or philosophies. It is never influenced by the mental and emotional frailty of human beings. Instead, it stands high above human weakness as a mountain fortress, guarding the truth of the ages. We can rest within its borders as long as we approach it in humility. Violation of its laws is sin, not just an opinion or choice.

Strauss writes, "God, because of who He is, could not stoop to the human standards of man's sinful heart." God had to lift his standard above us in order to lift his children higher. It is there that the light resides with endless supplies of peace, clarity, and comfort. Outside of that light, in darkness, is the snare and endless captivity of sin. The choice is clear.

by Richard Mansel

We are faced with the dilemma of whether to listen to God's Word or ignore it. Some feel they can place feet in both fields and be found righteous. Why would we refuse to listen to Scripture? An illustration is helpful in answering this question.

Ben's father owns a business with an old friend, Theodore. Ben is told, "Take these tax papers straight over to Theodore's house and come right back home."

Will Ben do exactly as his father has commanded? Or will he choose to go to his girlfriend's house on the way there and to Sonic on his way home? He chooses to make the two additional stops and later when he returns home, his father is furious that it has taken him so long.

As Ben faces his father's anger, what are his options? First, he can apologize and admit his disobedience. Second, he can lie and say that traffic hindered him. Third, he can rationalize and justify his actions. He chooses the latter.

From Ben's perspective why did he choose the third option? He knew his father felt he had overstepped his bounds. Yet Ben had convinced himself that he had actually carried out his Dad's wishes. His father did not say he could not go to his girlfriend's house or to Sonic. But which came first in Ben's mind, his desire to do as he pleased or the rationalization? Of course, the desire came first. He knew what his father had told him to do. However, that contrasted with what he wanted to do. Therefore, he rationalized, hoping he could get what he wanted and his father's approval.

The fundamental question is, "was Ben deciding what to do based on his father's word or his own desires?" The latter won out. Ben loved his desires more than he loved the approval of his father.

Paul writes simply, "do not think beyond what is written" (1 Corinthians 4:6; cf. 2 John 9-11, NKJV). Therefore, we should have a hands off approach to its Words (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Jeremiah 26:2; Revelation 22:18,19).

Our attitudes about Scripture should be exemplified by the attitude of the Son and Spirit. In John 14:10 and John 16:13 we learn that Jesus and the Holy Spirit will not speak on their own authority. What right then do we have to act on our own initiative? The Psalmist writes, "Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89). To even contemplate altering the words of God is futile.

In Jude 3 and 2 Timothy 3:16,17 we discover that the Bible is complete, and we have all we need. Peter assures us Scripture is sufficient ( 2 Peter 1:2-4). Since we have been given "all things that pertain to life and godliness," we have enough to "escape the corruption of the world" and "partake in His divine nature." Why do we need to wander in silence? If God has spoken, why do we need to go where his voice is not heard? If his Word is sufficient, why do we need to look elsewhere? The answer can only be that we feel the Bible is insufficient.

We read in 1 Corinthians 4:6 that the reason someone would want to "think beyond that which is written" is vanity. If we remember our illustration, Ben went outside of his father's command because it did not include the things he wanted to do. So we ask, is the thing that we desire worth more than our soul?

by Richard Mansel

What is our basis for truth? Where do we go to find our authority in religion?

Biblical authority is the most important subject we can study. More important than even salvation, because we cannot properly find out how to be saved without studying Scripture.

In John 17, Jesus prayed that we would all be united. We would be with the proper respect for Biblical authority. People say we need creed books, tradition, the word of the church, or the leading of the Holy Spirit. What we need is the word of God which God has left for us in written form. We must take it and make it a part of our very being (2 Timothy 2:15).

In the book of Job we read him begging for his words to be written down for future generations. He suffered mightily because he had lost everything. God had allowed Satan to tempt him to show Job's resilient faith. Job was demanding an explanation from God as to why he was suffering so miserably. Job cried,"Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead, forever!" (Job 19:23,24, NKJV). Hartley writes, "While the interpretation of lead is debated, the best explanation is that the engraved letters are to be lined with lead so that the sun will make them glisten" (The Book of Job, 291). Job wanted an assurance that his profession of innocence endured the test of time. The written word facilitated that permanence.

When God gave Moses the law, Moses wrote it on a stone tablet so it would be permanent. Later, when Moses' hands were held up in Exodus 17:8ff, the people of God won against Amalek. Afterwards God said, "Write this for a memorial in the book" (Exodus 17:14).

"It is written" or some variation is used hundreds of times in the Bible. Jesus repeatedly used the phrase, "have you not read?" God fully understood the human need for a written book. With the exception of the Patriarchal era and the time when the New Testament period began, God's word has been written, and God has always expected it to be our guiding force.

When we fill our hearts with the word of God, it moves us to act on his will. Nothing else speaks with that authority. The same word that moves us today moved men and women centuries ago. We can go and read the same words, follow the same teachings, and produce the same results.

The permanency of the written word for Scripture is that it transcends time, culture, political situations, fickleness of memory, etc. This is why four times (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Psalm 30:6; Revelation 22:18) God's word warns us not to add to or take away from his word. It is settled in Heaven (Psalm 119:89) and we have no right to alter or destroy it. In fact we couldn't if we tried. God's word will never fade away nor grow stale. It will always remain the vibrant, inspired will of God.

Consider that if everyone on earth but infants died tomorrow, they could grow up and use the word of God to produce the same results their forefathers had produced. We can only stand in awe at the wisdom of God.

by Richard Mansel

One of the most difficult things in life is to admit we are wrong. It cedes our authority and places it out of our control. This is reprehensible to many humans. Therefore, many cannot come to Christ because humility pays too high a price.

Repentance is required because we all have sinned and need forgiveness (Romans 3:23). However, this is predicated on our first admitting we have sinned, which most will not do. Truth, they feel, is relative because self-esteem is more treasured than certainty.

The first recorded words of Jesus' public ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). Paul said, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). Jesus was even more blunt, "unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

Knowing repentance is a command, we must determine what it means.

Repentance is not just being sorry for our sins or that we got caught (Matthew 27:3). It is not simply fear of God (Acts 24:25) nor is it covering up our sins (Numbers 32:23).

J. W. McGarvey said: "Repentance is something that stands in between sorrow for sin and the change of life in which sins are abandoned and a better course of conduct begins.... When a man is so thoroughly filled with sorrow and mourning and self-reproach on account of his sins that his will is subdued to the will of God, and he says, I will sin no more, I will hereafter submit to the will of God, this results in a change of life, and it is repentance, a change of will in regard to sin."

Repentance is godly sorrow in that we see our sins as God sees them. God is sinless and cannot be where sin is (1 John 1:5). Moreover sin put his Son on the cross. God is pained when we turn away from him and towards Satan because he sees through Satan's lies. He knows where we are headed. If we grow to hate sin as much as he does, we will be closer to living a life without its pockmarks.

Repentance is also action (Joel 2:12-14). It is a turning away from sin, but more so, a turn toward that which is right. We read in Isaiah 35:8 that the way to God is described as the "Highway of Holiness." Imagine we are traveling on that road. Going the other way is the road to Satan. As we travel toward God we see signs that promise pleasure and independence on Satan's path. We consider it and turn around and head to Satan's home. Conscience, holy words, or the encouragement of others causes us to repent of our actions. We turn around and go back toward God. We have changed our intention, perspective, goal, and path all in the same action. We no longer intend to run toward Satan. We are committed to being with Christ. This is repentance. It is a total change of direction.

We seek only to return to the arms of the Lord because we cannot imagine being anywhere else. Peter said to Christ, "to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). Daniel A. Brown said, "Repentance is not something we try for awhile to see if it works. In repentance, we voluntarily give up our right to have options."

The beautiful thing is that when we turn our lives over to Christ, he will make us something greater than we could ever be on our own.

by Richard Mansel

Life is often a hurricane of trouble. Pain, stress, worries, fears bombard us daily. How do we face them with courage? What can non-Christians gain from God's plan? How can we all keep from being consumed by the stresses of this life?

Jesus said of his apostles, "they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:16, NKJV). The world is all that is at enmity with God. He explains, "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of this world, just as I am not of this world" (John 17:14). In John 17:17, Jesus tells them they will be set apart by the truth of Scripture.

God's will condemns the pursuit of fleshly pleasure and pride that directs our steps. God is therefore hated. When Christians take a stand with him for absolute truth, they will find the same anger.

Christians have been chosen out of the world. While Christians live in the world, they despair over the same problems and challenges everyone else faces. Jesus said, "Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). While God will not take away these problems, he will provide a way to overcome them.

We are to become visitors in this world. If I travel to Seattle, I will settle into my hotel room and relax. I will enjoy the room and try to maintain its neatness, but it won't be mine. I will have no interest in it, other than the service it provides. In the morning I will pick up a local paper and read the sports and national news. I will discard the local news as it has no bearing on me. It won't matter if a planned road project and its threat of a tax increase passes or fails. Since I am not a citizen of Seattle, I will be unconcerned.

When we understand we are "in, but not of the world" we develop a completely new perspective. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are foreigners and strangers in a foreign land. In a way, we have a different culture and speech than those in the world. This is illustrated by the term "church" which means "the called out."

This is God's antidote to the problems of our lives. We will have a way to let them go.

We will develop "spiritual glasses." When we see a problem, we will put on our spiritual glasses and our new perspective will change our entire mindset. While the problems will still be there, we will see that they have no effect on our soul and relationship to God. In other words, they are not as important as we once thought they were.

When temptations come we can put on our spiritual glasses and ask, "is this worth my soul?" We will develop a spiritually mature perspective with an eye to eternity.

These spiritual glasses will alter our perspective on people. We see a drunk stumbling out of a bar and falling over everything. Without our spiritual vision, we laugh and dismiss him as worthless. Donning our spiritual glasses, we suddenly see him as a soul badly in need of salvation and love.

When we are angry at loved ones, we will ask if this argument is worth our relationship and our place with God.

Our spiritual lives will change as we look out at the world with different lenses. When we see the world as God would have us to, the entire world will be brighter, more hopeful.