Sin: Acknowledging lies rather than Truth, so you step or slip off the narrow and restricted Way that leads to the genuine and absolute fullness of Life.

Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life.

 Key Scripture:

whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b

Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4

Owe no one anything, but to love one another: for whoever loves another has fulfilled the law.  For this: You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet--and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this utterance, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in adultery and lasciviousness, not in zealous contention.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make provision into the flesh, to fulfill the desire for forbidden things.  Romans 13:8-14

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.  He who does NOT love, does NOT know God; for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8

Sin Is Falling Short Of The Glory Of God, The Glory That God Planned For You. 

The Strait (that is, constrained) and Narrow path is simply this: When the Bible says, "Whatever is not of faith is sin, it means that whatever God has not led you into and performed through you is sin.  That means that anything that you do by your own will or by your own power is sin.  That means that anything that God did not ask you to think, say, or do is sin.  That means that anything that God did not think, say, or do within you and through you is sin.  That is very narrow.

Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.  (note that even the work that the wicked person does is sin.  Whatever is not of faith is sin.)    

God has a good plan for you, to attain to God's glory.   You and I were created to be filled with the glory of God.  Our minds only work correctly when the Holy Spirit is flowing through them and we willingly submit.  And this flow is what creates a clean heart in us.  In this way God's purpose is that we go from light to greater light, from faith to deeper faith, and from glory to ever increasing glory until we all come to total unity with Christ.  Christ divided Himself among the members of His Body so that no member would be complete in himself or herself.  Then, He ordered the Body (in Scripture) and asked us to follow that pattern.  Since we could not, He works through each member to restore the Body of Christ to the pattern that is found in Scripture.  This is why he restored apostles to the Church in 1948, and it is also why Satan raised up false apostles right after God set the genuine apostles.  This Church is not only the method by which the Manifestation of the Sons of God will take place, but it also will be that Manifestation when God finishes His work.  He will then present the Church to Christ as a glorious Bride without spot or wrinkle.  All of the details are recorded in Scripture, and God is now performing these things in those who are walking in obedience to this truth.    

God's glory is very high.  The glory that God has planned for us is beyond our ability to imagine or reach for.  God is Love, and the world has rebelled against Love.  God's glory is true love.  We aren't talking about the counterfeit love, the snake oil that cannot satisfy, which Hollywood and hedonism is selling.  God's glory is full of real love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, humility, strength, and faith, and some people are missing out on purpose.  They are purposefully missing out, and that is sin. 

To miss all of this glory is sin.  This is literally what sin is... 

... sin is missing the mark.  Sin is failure.  This is the sin that Jesus came to overcome.  Jesus came to set us free from sin, from continually missing the mark.  Jesus removes the stain and guilt.  Jesus forgives.  Jesus gives the Holy Spirit so we can begin to be led by the Spirit.  Jesus gives power to walk in the Spirit and do what is right and good--to overcome SIN. 

If we disobey the laws of God, this is sin--it is either slipping across a line or stepping across a line.  The Spirit of God will never lead you to slip or step across the line.  God's Spirit cannot be tempted with sin and cannot sin. (1 Jn. 3:4-11)   Missing the mark can happen in any part of the sequence of the righteousness of God that is apart from the works of the law.  Real righteousness is by grace through faith.     

Sin is failing to walk into the glory that God has planned for us.  All disobedience is rebellion.  Rebellion separates us from God.  When we are separated from God, we cannot be godly--how would it be possible to be godly?  When we are separated from God, we miss out on His leading and His power.  When we are joined to God, we have His leading and power.  His leading always leads us into righteousness.  His power is power to do righteousness.

The lack of love is also known as sin.   Jesus said that if you love Him, you will keep His commandments.  His commandment is to love.  Adultery, Fornication, Stealing, Lying, Cheating, Envying, Killing; these are all examples of a lack of love.

This sin is rebellion against God, which results in missing the mark.  Sin is failing to attain to the glory of God. It is a desire to NOT commune with God.  It is a desire to NOT glorify and respect God and NOT hold Him in holy reverence. It is a desire to add to and take away from God's Word and to follow one's own mind and will, which leads to spiritual death and is the cause of physical misery, sickness, and death.

See also: What Else Can We Know About Sin?

FREE on-line BOOK (a classic): The Real Faith, by Charles S. Price

FREE on-line BOOK (a classic): The Meaning Of Faith, by Charles S. Price

Topic: Sin

This particular response happens more often in those who have been born again than it does in those who have not been born again. The seed, the gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens, lands on the trampled path of the heart in a Christian. How did that path get trampled and hardened? Isn\'t a Christian\'s heart supposed to be soft toward God? The heart becomes hardened by repeatedly missing...

The Way Is Very Narrow And The Gate Is Very Strait  Key Scripture:   whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b   Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4   Owe no one anything, but to love one another: for whoever loves another has fulfilled the law.  For this: You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal,...

 Key Scripture: whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4 Owe no one anything, but to love one another: for whoever loves another has fulfilled the law.  For this: You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet--and...

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Keep in mind that love fulfills all the commandments.  The entire law can be summed up in the one word, love, but it so important that we are not deceived.  There are many lies about love.  We need to know what love truly is. The sure way to create a self-righteous hypocrite is to...

God provided a way of salvation, and He is looking for those who will accept it. He is looking for those who will not reject Him. Those who reject God's salvation are rejecting a wonderful gift. They are exhibiting the ultimate in rebellion against God. There is no way to sugar-coat this situation. Those who reject Jesus are rejecting God and are condemned already. John 12:48 John 3:18 ...

Definition of Leaven: Leaven is a type of prideful sin. Definition of Leaven - Define Leaven from Old Testament Scripture Ex 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. (we...

The word, \"sin,\" is often translated from a word that means straying from the way/path. Sin is missing the Strait (that is, constrained) and Narrow way/path. This would be the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Jesus is the Way, and Jesus is the Life, so Jesis is both the way to reach the goal, but Jesus is also the goal. The word, \"sin,\" is often translated from two...

 All that is good comes from God     Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding,       Forgiveness,       Repentance,       love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance,       Faith       Righteousness   Don\'t try to make your own.     Yield your members to God\'s righteousness. Don\'t try to make your own righteousness.       Stand in His presence and receive...

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: You see that they have purified their souls (soul, mind, heart, life are all the same Greek word.)  This purification is holiness.  There is a measure of holiness in those who follow Jesus.  It is accomplished by obeying...

 \"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away.\"  Isaiah 64:6 \"For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness\" (I Thessalonians 4:7).  Some theologians assume that Scriptures that seem so completely opposed as these two are an indication that one of the Scriptures must be...

Topic: Righteousness by Grace through Faith

You can know the will of God by being led by the Spirit. Then, the next question is this: \"How can I know it is the Spirit and not myself?\" Here are ten things you need to know about being led: 1. You must seek God on purpose Hebrews 11:6 God is and He is a rewarder--we will find Him if we seek Him. Matt 7:8 All who seek find Luke 11:9-13 God will give...

\"It is because of him [the Father] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.\" 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV The battle for righteousness is a battle to correct the proper operation of the human spirit, mind/soul, and body. Of course, this includes correcting our relationship to God. Real righteousness is by grace through faith. Romans 14:23 tells us simply that...

The words of which God speaks are real.  They are Truth.  It is His Truth that sets you free from Satan\'s lies.  He who does righteousness is righteous. (1John 3:7) Real righteousness is by grace through faith. God\'s process for righteousness is by grace, and grace is through faith. (Eph 2:8-10) (some caveats about hearing God\'s Voice) FREE on-line BOOK (a classic): The Real Faith, by Charles S. Price FREE on-line BOOK...

We may have never realized just how very strait (constricted) (Luke 13:24) and narrow (Matthew 7:14) that way of righteousness is. It is very narrow and constricted. If God didn\'t tell us to think it, say it or do it, then it is sin. It is missing the mark. If God did tell us to do it and we get our flesh involved at all, to the extent that we...

You look into the royal law of liberty, and you see reality. (James 2:8) You see the Kingdom of God. (James 1:23) When you see yourself in this royal law of liberty, what do you see?  You need to see reality.  In reality, you are a new creature, created in righteousness. (1Cor 5:17) Do you think that the Christ in you can sin? Of course not. (1 John 3:9) Jesus is that...

The Process Righteousness consists of God leading us and us following. The problem is that we have no capacity within ourselves to follow God. So God has a way to give us the free gift of righteousness. God\'s method is \"by grace through faith,\" and this is the process. God speaks. God has already prepared our heart to receive and hear. (some caveats about hearing God\'s Voice) When we hear, God\'s faith comes. God\'s faith gives...

If a bird lands on your head, that\'s not really your fault... but you don\'t have to let it build a nest. When you are tempted, you may slip across into sin. (Eph 4:26) Temper, lust, covetousness, or disrespect may involuntarily spring forth. (1John 1:10) Think about it. When you have a thought of envy, do you analyze the situation and make a conscious decision to be envious as a first...

We may wonder why, if we have been crucified with Christ, the flesh has any influence on us at all. It seems that crucifixion is a slow death. As soon as you are born again (by believing and trusting in Jesus) you ARE a new creature. However, you still HAVE a fleshly nature. Your REAL self is the Christ nature, that ministry that you have BECOME. This ministry, Christ in you,...

Down to earth righteousness is real and it has to do with the will of the person through whom the righteousness is done..  It is righteousness the flows from the Holy Spirit.  It is the flow of God\'s Own Love through the follower of Christ.  It is the fruit of the Spirit.  God speaks, leads.  The Christ follower hears and directs his or her will to follow.  God\'s Own Faith...

 All that is good comes from God     Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding,       Forgiveness,       Repentance,       love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance,       Faith       Righteousness   Don\'t try to make your own.     Yield your members to God\'s righteousness. Don\'t try to make your own righteousness.       Stand in His presence and receive...

Righteousness is by grace through faith. Why do Christians struggle so to be righteous when righteousness is the free gift of God. Salvation is by grace through faith. Salvation is more than being born again and escaping from the punishment for sin. Salvation is forgiveness and it is also being set free from slavery to sin and the sinful nature. Here\'s how it works: God speaks His vision of hope to us....

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.   Sin shall not have dominion over you.  Every person who has not been born again is absolutely controlled by the dominion of sin.  The unsaved can do self-righteousness, but it is not a true righteousness.  All true righteousness flows from the throne of God.  Real righteousness is by grace through faith. ...

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.   Real righteousness is by grace through faith.  ...

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law,...

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: You see that they have purified their souls (soul, mind, heart, life are all the same Greek word.)  This purification is holiness.  There is a measure of holiness in those who follow Jesus.  It is accomplished by obeying...

 \"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away.\"  Isaiah 64:6 \"For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness\" (I Thessalonians 4:7).  Some theologians assume that Scriptures that seem so completely opposed as these two are an indication that one of the Scriptures must be...

Topic: The Strait and Narrow Way

Romans 14:23 tells us simply that anything that is not of faith is sin. Faith comes from God. (James 1:17) Faith comes by hearing the word of God. (Romans 10:17) It is possible to read the Bible and not hear the word of God. (2 Corinthians 3:14) We must remain connected to Christ. (John 15:5) We can become disconnected. (Colossians 2:19) FREE on-line BOOK (a classic): The Real Faith, by Charles...

Love is the fulfillment of the law, Romans 13:8-10.  Sin is breaking the law, 1  John 3:4.  Love is what righteousness is and has many facets as 1  Corinthians 13 says.  God is love.  We cannot have righteousness  without having God.  We cannot have love without having God.  In fact,  righteousness is a free gift from God, Romans 5:17.  Righteousness is by grace through faith.  The children of Israel made ...

The human mind: The human mind was never created to function outside of the anointing of God. God created the human mind to literally flow with the holy anointing oil of the Holy Spirit. The book of Proverbs tells us that all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding come from God. Given that reality, who would want to be unplugged? The Scripture is clear that we are three part beings. We have a spirit,...

We may have never realized just how very strait (constricted) (Luke 13:24) and narrow (Matthew 7:14) that way of righteousness is. It is very narrow and constricted. If God didn\'t tell us to think it, say it or do it, then it is sin. It is missing the mark. If God did tell us to do it and we get our flesh involved at all, to the extent that we...

The Way Is Very Narrow And The Gate Is Very Strait  Key Scripture:   whatever is not of supernatural belief and trust is sin. Romans 14:23b   Whoever does miss the mark (sin) also does lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. * 1 John 3:4   Owe no one anything, but to love one another: for whoever loves another has fulfilled the law.  For this: You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal,...

This particular response happens more often in those who have been born again than it does in those who have not been born again. The seed, the gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens, lands on the trampled path of the heart in a Christian. How did that path get trampled and hardened? Isn\'t a Christian\'s heart supposed to be soft toward God? The heart becomes hardened by repeatedly missing...

The narrow way is very narrow indeed.  In every moment, God directs, and we either yield to Him or resist Him. Matthew 7:13 & 14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there...

Love; so much has been written about it.  Think of all the love songs and also the songs that have been written to tell us about love.  All we need is love.  What the world needs now is love, sweet love.  And the many romance novels seem to sell very well, plus the many books written to teach us about love.  Here are two facts about love.  God is Love.  Love...

Jesus said, \"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me.\" John 12:32  This came to pass in North Carolina at the Camp.  Glory to God! We were drawn to Him in a miraculous way.  In First Corinthians Chapter one verse 10, we are admonished by the Apostle Paul to all speak the same thing, to have no divisions among us, and that...

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.   Real righteousness is by grace through faith.  ...

Question: I have been a member of a denominational church for about 19 years. How can I introduce foundational truth about the Five Fold Gifting to the house and still be submitted to my Pastor? I am sold out for God and I do not want Him to say to that I did not do as he has commanded me to do. Now I know that my commission is great. I...