Despite what you were told about God’s judgment, He does not judge according to the law; He judges according to the heart, where an evil heart is condemned by the law. For an evil heart is a sinful heart, and the law condemns sins because they are evil. This is the point being made in 1John 3:4, obscured by the early English translation that slipped into interpretation based on common misconception.
Sin ALSO transgresses the law. This is what is established to begin with in 1John 3:4, then clarification follows: … for sin is “anomia” that being the Greek word translated and understood in English as “evil” and/or “iniquity” as well as transliterated as “against law” in Greek as evil and iniquitous acts are “against law” in a generic sense, and not the specific sense regarding the Hebrew old covenant Decalogue.
Sin, being evil and iniquity, transgresses the law, producing the wrath of the law and the guilt derived by and through the law.
Any evil; any iniquity, is sin that in turn transgresses the law, resulting in the condemnation of the law. The flawed translation in the KJV results in a rendering that eliminates evil and iniquitous things unless specifically addressed by the old covenant law. And when some Sabbatarians such as Adventists further define and restrict the law to mean just the Decalogue, many evils and iniquities are ignored, swept under a theological rug, so that an evil and iniquitous heart is not condemned by ‘the law’.
It is a subtle alteration of the Scriptures, worthy of a deceitful heart desperately trying to hide behind a modified understanding of sin that exempts wicked hearts.
A deceitful and desperately wicked heart will attempt denial in this regard, which is interesting, for it is like trying to convince yourself God has no interest in a wicked heart, as long as those with wicked hearts keep the law, as did the Pharisees whom Jesus stated were destined for hell.
(Matthew 23:33) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
They kept the Decalogue. They kept the Sabbath. And, they neglected the weightier matters of the law; “judgment” [justice] mercy, and faith.
Make special note of that. The weightier matters of the law; the important things; the essential things in the law ARE NOT LOCATED IN THE DECALOGUE found in those specific commandments.
So why do Sabbatarian Adventists single them out and isolate them from the rest of the law? They claim is it due to those specific commandments being “moral” in nature, as contrasted to the balance of the law, deemed ceremonial. In this division of law, where do you find justice, mercy, and faith? They are actually further obscured, especially with the Sabbath command that even those same Pharisees condemned Christ Jesus, mercilessly.
Judgment, tempered by mercy and faith, is nowhere to be found in a religion restricted to the Decalogue and a definition of sin that is based on any transgression of those commandments. It is an automatic declaration of sin and condemnation without any mercy or faith applied. It is ruthless judgment and condemnation for having violated those commandments, especially the Sabbath. Work on the Sabbath and you are guilty of sin, because to work on the Sabbath is to break the Sabbath, and breaking is transgressing, and that is sin, period. You hear and read this response on a near daily basis.
Jesus’ response to a charge of sin leveled on Him for working on the Sabbath was that good works are lawful on the Sabbath which fell on deaf ears, attached to deceitful and desperately wicked hearts that has no interest in just judgment, mercy, and faith, and where Adventism has effectively eliminated this aspect of the law from their interpretation of the law, being solely the Decalogue.
Neglecting the weightier matters of the law; judgment, mercy, and faith necessary for righteous judgment and justice… is that a sin? Or is this excluded by a “belief” that insists only those transgressions of the law; the Decalogue are sin?
It’s all about excluding and ignoring evil, iniquitous hearts.
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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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