Discerning between good and evil.

The goal of the Christian life is maturity. We are given gifts from God for the sole purpose of bringing us to the point of maturity:

Ephesians 4:11-13

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a MATURE man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

But how do we know when we have indeed matured:

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food is for the mature, who BECAUSE of practice have their SENSES TRAINED to DISCERN good and evil.

Mature Christians therefore are those who have had their senses trained to discern GOOD AND EVIL. Does this sound familiar? Consider this:

Genesis 2:9

Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of GOOD and EVIL.

What really happened in the Garden of Eden?

A fundamental misunderstanding of what actually took place in the Garden of Eden has spawned a host of errors in the church today.  Since this is the beginning we must grasp fully the ramifications of Adam’s actions; for in doing so our understanding of the bible will increase exponentially. 

The scriptures tell us that Adam and Eve ate a fruit from a tree, but not just any tree but from a tree that they were specifically told not to eat. Most people see what Adam did as a fault, a fall, the damnation of all mankind. But was it really? Adam's disobedience was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Without this act of disobedience God's plan COULD NOT PROCEED! What really happened was that Adam activated the process necessary for mankind to achieve MATURITY. Now I know that there are those who believe that God could have achieved his purpose for mankind apart from this act, but consider this if Adam had proceeded without touching the tree then HE WOULD HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD OR EVIL!

Realize that God instructing Adam not to eat the fruit MADE eating the fruit sin.  This sin was necessary because it changed the fundamental make up of man.  After the act man developed an affinity to sin.  You may not see this as a good thing, but know that without this affinity to sin the man COULD NOT EVENTUALLY MATURE.  It is the act of OVERCOMING sin that creates maturity, and if there is NOTHING to overcome then maturity is not realized.  Consider Jesus’ parable of the sower:

Luke 8:14

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection (maturity).

This group does not bring forth fruit BECAUSE they did not OVERCOME sin. 

Adam's act introduced the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil to mankind, BUT it did not grant us the ability to DISTINGUISH the difference between good and evil. This is the problem in the world today; humankind generally CANNOT distinguish between what is good and what is evil.

Wisdom is the principal thing.

The book of Hebrews tells us that maturity could only be achieved when we can have our senses trained to discern between good and evil, and the tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden was the 'tree of the knowledge of good and evil'.

The ability to discern between good and evil can only be imparted by Wisdom. Some think that wisdom is knowledge applied. This simplified definition does not adequately define the concept of wisdom. Wisdom is:

Knowing what works and what would bring assuredly the desire you hope for. Wisdom is therefore a precipitated knowledge that is free of uncertainty.

Consider this:

1 Corinthians 1:30a

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,

Jesus was wisdom from God incarnate:

1 Corinthians 2:6-7

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

And again we see it in the parable of the sower:

Luke 8:15

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word (JESUS), keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

This wisdom from God came in the form of Christ. While on earth he spoke words that tell us how to live. These words COMPLETELY identify the difference between what is good and what is evil. We become mature when we HEAR THE WORD, KEEP THE WORD, and BRING FORTH FRUIT FROM THE WORD.  At this point we are able to distinguish BETWEEN good and evil. This knowledge is based upon the wisdom of God that came in Christ.

If you cannot distinguish between what is good and what is evil then you are NOT mature. What is good and what is evil is simply what God calls good and evil, and this wisdom was granted us in the word of God via Jesus. He did not leave it up to our understanding or our sentiments because what is acceptable has a way of becoming diluted with each generation, but what is true DOES NOT CHANGE

Laying up treasures.

The parable that Jesus gives in Luke 12 is most awesome in that it DIRECTLY confronts the wisdom of the world and a destructive heresy adopted by the church.  The parable is of a rich man who was able to amass a considerable amount of wealth. The parable addresses what the man does with the wealth:

Luke 12:16
16 And He told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man was very productive.

Nothing wrong here is there?  In fact it was God who had blessed the land of the man so that it could bring forth a great harvest.

Luke 12:17-18
17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops? 18 Then he said, This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

These verses completely describes the wisdom of this world and the church has adopted these concepts as 'wisdom'.  In response to an abundance of wealth the man initiated a retirement plan.  Note that he was NOT a profligate, but one who introduced a REASONED response that ANY PERSON WOULD CONSIDER RESPONSIBLE.  He was preparing for the future.  Well isn't that what we are supposed to do?  Isn't this wisdom?  Aren't we suppose to save and invest for when we are not able to work?

Luke 12:19
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.

According to our wisdom, and yes this IS the wisdom that has been adopted by much of the church,  the state of the man in verse nineteen is EXACTLY the goal we aspire too.  This is NOTHING MORE THAN A REASONABLE RETIREMENT PLAN.  In fact this is what passes as sensible.  This is what makes God's statement all the more troubling:

Luke 12:20
20 But God said to him, You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?

God calls this man a fool!  He calls a man that is doing what is called wisdom a fool.  But WHY?:

Luke 12:21
21 So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Jesus CONDEMNS the actions of this man because the man was not being what he calls 'rich toward God'. All the efforts of this man was summed up by Jesus as wanting.  He had a plan that he acted on, he was not a profligate, he save responsibly ; all things that we accept as wisdom.  God calls FOOLISH!!!  What is more flabbergasting is that in this verse Jesus says that storing up treasures is not the same thing as being rich toward God.   Now what follows in the very next verse is what God calls wisdom:

Luke 12:22-23

22 And He said to His disciples, For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

THIS IS INSANE TO OUR UNDERSTANDING!  Jesus just castigated a SOLID RESPONSIBLE case of financial planning  calling it FOOLISH and he counters with the above verses. Jesus tells us NOT to worry about our lives. So EVERYTHING that this man did by responsibly securing for his future was what Jesus would determine WORRY.  I tremble as I contemplate these words because this is saying that our ideas on how we should order our financial steps are an affront to God.  In fact what Jesus is advocating here is a carefree lifestyle where we do not do the things that are determined as good sense and we adopt this lifestyle that he calls 'rich towards God' and does not involve storing up and saving for the future. What about my children's college tuition?  Shouldn't I store up for this?  Or what about retirement? What about my future?  Jesus does not console us in our insecurities but goes on to talk about ravens and lilies and concludes by saying:

Luke 12:28
28 But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!

God calls a life where NOTHING is secure and NOTHING is paid for in advance and NOTHING is responsibly prepared a life of faith.  So how are we SUPPOSED to acquire all the things we need:

Luke 12:29-31
29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

He tells us to NOT be responsible as the world understands in fact he calls that worrying.  He tells us to cast that all aside and seek his kingdom and somehow all the other things will be added to us.  WOW, now isn't that a kick in the head!!!!  That requires FAITH.  Now I see why Jesus asks the question:

When the Son of man comes will he find faith on the earth?

Can you live like this?  Can you live irresponsibly?  I invite you to walk on the side of faith because after all:

Whatever is NOT of faith is sin. Roman 14:23

Jesus continues:

Luke 12:32
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

The reason he says to you not to be afraid is because the life that he just described would cause you to fear because one would only have faith in a God that he could not see in order to live a life of promise.  But now comes the hard part.  How does one acquire a life that is rich toward God:

Luke 12:33

33 Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.

Knowing God

I have debunked the biblical use of the word 'eternal' in my post 'The Myth of Eternal'.  There I proved that the use of this word in most English versions DISTORTS the truth of the scriptures.  In fact using the word 'eternal' has robbed us of the truth, in that, it has led us to a critical misunderstanding of a fundamental concept throughout the bible.  If I were to ask MOST Christians the question 'What is eternal life' they may answer, 'living with Jesus in complete bliss forever in heaven'.  The reason why they would answer this way is because of the word 'eternal'.  By the way that answer, or ANY variation of it, is COMPLETELY wrong.

I proved that the word 'eternal' in the Greek scriptures is translated from the word AION which DOES NOT MEAN eternal but an indefinite period of time that has a beginning and an end.  Since this is so we can see that the scriptures hold no promise of eternal life but 'AGE-ABIDING life.  What does this have to do with the original question?  Everything, because 'ETERNAL' life has NOTHING to do with time!  So what would be the correct answer to the question 'What is eternal life'.  Consider:

John 17:3
3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Jesus gives us the answer.  'ETERNAL' life is not about living forever but about knowing GOD.  It is because of the error of 'eternal' that we have lost out on the most overarching promise of Jesus.  The word eternal here is the word AION; so it actually renders this verse:

John 17:3
3 and this is the life age- during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send -- Jesus Christ;

Now this is where we have something beautiful.  We have Jesus DEFINING a concept that is used by him and the apostles throughout the New Testament.  What's is the definition of 'ETERNAL' (Age-Long) life?

Eternal life is the process whereby one comes to know the TRUE God and Jesus Christ.

I ask you, does Jesus' definition of this life have ANYTHING to do with time?

Now that we have a true definition of the conept of the life that Jesus was describing throughout his ministry we can now get a better understanding of the scriptures.  Whenever we see in a typical bible translation the words 'Eternal Life' we can substitute it for phrase 'knowing the true God and his son Jesus'.  Let us see:

John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have 'KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST'.

Mark 10:30
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, 'KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST'.

Acts 13:48
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to 'COMING INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST' believed.

Romans 6:22-23
22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.  23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is KNOWING THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To some this may be a disappointment because it has nothing to do with getting wings and eating heavenly grapes.  What I am saying sounds a whole lot like school!  You mean to tell me that I am going through all this trouble on earth to die and go back to school!  Give me back my grapes.

When you understand the concept of the life that Jesus promised us you come to realize that this knowledge actually does something to you.  Consider:

2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

From these verses we see that through this knowledge of God we will:
Have grace and peace multiplied to us
Have everything pertaining to life and godliness
Have precious and magnificent promises
Be partakers in the divine nature

The process of knowing God begins right now in this age, but it is not fulfilled in this age, consider:

1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

When we enter the next age it is then that we would be able to come into the full knowledge of God.

So what will this knowledge of God create in us?

...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature

This true knowledge cause us to be able to share in, become a partner with, the divine nature.

1 John 3:2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2 Corinthians 3:18
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We will come to know fully his Love, wisdom, power, goodness, faithfulness.

Another aspect often overlooked in knowing God is that sin was an essential element in our coming to know him in his fulness.  Adam's sin was ESSENTIAL in that it brought man to a state where he could some day completely know God.  Sin, essential?  Yes, because without sin how could we EVER have come to know the MERCY of God.  What is mercy?  Consider:

Psalms 103:10
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

That is mercy. Mercy is such an important part of God's character that he would go to extreme measures JUST TO SHOW IT.  Consider:

Romans 11:32
32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.  

The shutting up of all in disobedience was an action INITIATED BY GOD for the SOLE purpose of DISPLAYING HIS MERCY.  Mercy was not a side product of the fall but an intricate part of the nature of God.  Thank God for a disobedient Adam.

The whole purpose for our existence is for God to bring sons into the knowledge of their Father and their elder brother. The human race is on a remarkable journey indeed.  We are coming to a place where we will finally Know God, and THIS IS LIFE.

The myth of Eternal.

Eternal is defined as 'having no beginning and no end; lasting forever; always existing'.

Our understanding of the word eternal is paramount in our understanding of God.  The word eternal occurs 45 times in the New Testament of the King James version of the bible.  The word is used to reference many things that are considered important, we have:

Eternal life
Eternal punishment
Eternal damnation
Eternal power
Eternal weight of glory
Eternal unseen
Eternal building in the heavens
Eternal purpose
Eternal king
Eternal glory
Eternal salvation
Eternal judgment 
Eternal redemption 
Eternal spirit
Eternal inheritance
Eternal fire

At issue is NOT the word eternal, because this word identifies a concept that serves an essential purpose in understanding in the English language.  What is at issue is it's use by the translators of the bible.  Contrary to popular belief the bible was not written in English.  EVERY version of the bible we have today is a TRANSLATION.  This is important to know, because in studying the bible one must realize that in order to have the BEST understanding we must get as close to the ORIGINAL source language as possible.  The importance of this is most profound in our reading of the KING JAMES version because this version is A TRANSLATION OF A TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT.  That said let us examine the issue at hand.

If something is ETERNAL it CANNOT have a beginning. Revisiting the definition of the word eternal as 'having no beginning and no ending' some things become immediately apparent.  By nature of the concept of eternal anything that is eternal MUST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.  So something CANNOT be eternal if it had not ALREADY been occurring for ALL eternity.  Therefore, an eternal state CANNOT be entered.  One must have ALWAYS been, in order for one to inhabit  the ETERNAL. Eternity, and it's alter ego forever, can ONLY be attributed to God. By it's very nature the concept of eternal in its application to anything created, is FLAWED.

Let us look at the word eternal in the scriptures and let us ask the hard question.  Does its usage make sense?

2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

This verse can be connected to the statement of Jesus:
John 14:2
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

By the definition of 'eternal' Paul's statement here makes no sense.  If this building from God is 'eternal in the heavens' then how could Jesus have said I go to prepare a place.  By the very definition of eternal IT MUST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.  So Paul is telling us that there is a building for us THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, yet Jesus tells us that he is GOING to prepare a place.  How can he GO AND PREPARE something that ALWAYS WAS?

Ephesians 3:11
11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Now what was this eternal purpose? The answer is in the preceding verse:

Ephesians 3:10
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

Now since this is the stated 'eternal' purpose does it make sense using the definition of the word eternal?  There will come a time when the manifold wisdom of God will be known by everybody.  Once it becomes known to everyone will this purpose continue OR will it be accomplished?

Let us consider Jesus' use of the word eternal. Consider the most famous of all:

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Christians today see this as the greatest of all promises. Jesus is telling us that if we believe in him we will have eternal life.  But I ask you, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?  How can we  be given a life that NEVER BEGINS AND NEVER ENDS.  Think about this, one cannot be GIVEN eternal life.  Eternal means no beginning and no ending; this makes no sense, because at some point your 'eternal' life will BEGIN. If this word was correct then that would mean that YOU ALWAYS WERE, and that would ALSO mean that you can carry the grandiose title,

'he who was, and is and is to come'.

Let us look at this verse again using the definition of eternal:
...that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have a life that has NEVER begun and will never end.

HOW CAN THIS BE SINCE THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU WERE NOT!!!!

Here again, consider a question asked of Jesus:

Matthew 19:16
16 And someone came to Him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?

The rich ruler asked the question because he KNEW that this life that he was seeking was something that he did not yet have.  If he already had it he would not ask how to obtain it.  Understanding that he asks how to obtain it mean that it was something that could be acquired, but eternal life has no beginning. Again we see the word 'eternal' making no sense.  In using the word eternal this is what he asked Jesus:
Teacher what good thing must I do to obtain a life that never began and never ends. If he did not already have this life then upon acquiring the life THAT IS WHEN IT WILL BEGIN.

Let us examine Jesus' use of the word in regards to judgment:

Matthew 25:46
46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

 Can you see the immediate problems with this verse?  Here Jesus is telling the goats of his parable that they will suffer ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.  How can this be? Eternal means having no beginning and no ending, so how can they be promised a punishment to which they ARE NOT YET EXPERIENCING.  For this interpretation to be correct there would have to have NEVER been a time when they were NOT suffering punishment.

Something is terribly wrong with the use of the word eternal in these bible translations.  So what is the problem?  Remember I said that the King James is a translation of a translation? In each of these cases where eternal is used, and many more besides, the word is translated from the Greek word AIONIOS or AION to the LATIN word AETERNUM to the ENGLISH word ETERNAL.  Here is the trouble.  The translators translated AION (the noun) and AIONIOS (the adjective) as the English word ETERNAL.  This was INCORRECT since we can see that the use of the word DOES NOT make any sense in the contexts that it is used.  An AION is defined as AN INDEFINITE FIXED PERIOD OF TIME.  While time in the period is indefinite it DOES NOT MEAN having no beginning and no ending.  Therefore, we can easily conclude that AION cannot be interchangeable with eternal because a word cannot simultaneously be 'a fixed period of time'  AND AT THE SAME TIME MEAN 'having no beginning  and no ending'.  Consider these sentences:

How long has Bob been hitting John with that stick? For an age.

How long has Bob been hitting John with that stick?  Eternally.

Do these sentences mean the same thing?  In one sentence Bob at SOME point BEGAN to hit John with the stick.  In the other sentence THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME WHEN BOB WAS NOT HITTING JOHN WITH THE STICK.  This simple example proves that AION (age) cannot be interchangeable with ETERNAL.

Let us look at a verse with the new understanding of the TRUE word AION:

...that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have a life AIONION (AGE ABIDING, AGE LASTING)


But you say isn't God eternal?

Yes he is and Paul uses ANOTHER word to describe him:

Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Now this is very interesting, Paul describes God by saying he has ETERNAL power and divine nature.  On it's surface one can make the case that since it is used in connection with God it cannot mean that God has power only for an age (AION).  This is where the translators were inconsistent, because the word translated 'eternal' in this verse is the word AIDIOS and it DOES MEAN ETERNAL in the english sense and is ONLY used in the bible TWICE and both times it is used in connection with God and his power.

It is therefore clear that the translation of the word AION to ETERNAL is erroneous since it makes no sense to our proper understanding of the word of God.  The summation of all of this is that and ETERNAL life can NEVER begin.

God hides in the distortions.

The distortion is necessary; only those given to concentration can drown out the noise. God has caused all the distortions that exist in the world to arise to make himself all the more difficult to find.  Distortions arise in many forms; different religions, differing points of views within religions, ignorance, heresies, hate, starvation, evil, darkness, the theory of evolution, varying bible interpretations, hell--all these distortions are intended to hide the one true God.  This is not the work of satan, he is a tool. Consider these verses: Matthew 13:44 44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God i.e. The gospel he came to preached is like treasure HIDDEN in a field.  This is important for us to grasp,  because he did not say that it was treasure lying out in the open for then it would be obvious to all.  No, he tells us that the kingdom of God is HIDDEN. Matthew 7:14 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. We see similar sentiments being expressed here by Jesus where he again describes the way to righteousness as being difficult to find. Matthew 11:25-26 25 At that time Jesus said, I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. This preceding verse is astounding because it tells us that God hides life-changing information from certain people, and reveals it to other people.  If that weren't enough Jesus then declares that this action is WELL PLEASING to God.  Luke 19:42 42 saying, If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. Here we see that there is information that if Israel had it would have secured it's peace, but it was hidden from them.  By whom was it hidden? We just saw that it is God doing the hiding. 1 Corinthians 2:7 7 but we speak Gods wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; Here again we see God hiding things.  This time it is wisdom, but not only does he hide it he also PREDESTINED that it would only be found by some. Yes, God hides the truth of his word, he hides the kingdom, he hides wisdom, he hides essential information, he hides his true nature.  In fact God further stacks the deck by doing the following: Romans 11:8 8 just as it is written, God gave them A spirit of stupor, Eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day. But why does God do this, why would he hide himself amongst the distortions? This is necessary because without distortions his brightness and glory would be obvious to all.  What he has done is made it difficult to find him so that ONLY those to whom it is given would be able to discern him when we search for him with all our hearts. It is the search that purifies us, and as we become purified we see him all the more clearer.  In fact we begin to see him as he is, his true self--LOVE.  To those who wonder about  in hopelessness and darkness they will come to know him as MERCY. Matthew 13:16 16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

Why do sinners sin?

To Christians the world is divided into two groups of people; the righteous and the sinners.  Christians see it as their duty to convert the world by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We see a world full of sinners steeped in sin.  But has anyone ever thought to ask the question, 'Why do sinners sin'.  I know the story of the fall of Adam comes to mind but the word of God sheds some interesting light on the question of sin.

Why do sinners sin?

Romans 5:18a
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, 

Romans 5:19a
For as through the one mans disobedience the many were MADE sinners,

Paul is literally telling you that you are a sinner because you were BORN THAT WAY.  There was no point at which you CHOSE to be a sinner.  SIN IS NOT A CHOICE FOR THE SINNER.  Consider:

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Here Paul tells us that the unbelievingly (this included EVERYONE at some point) are BLINDED by Satan.  This is interesting because the sinner here is OBVIOUSLY a victim of his condition.  Asking the sinner to stop sinning is therefore like demanding that a blind man see light.  But let us see what else is stated:

2 Corinthians 3:14-16
But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But TO THIS DAY whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Here Paul is describing the state of the Jews.  He says that their hearts were hardened and it remains so to this day.  What else does the word say about the condition of the sinner:

Ephesians 4:18
... being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;

Alright we know that the heart of the sinner is hardened.  What else:

Romans 8:7
...because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

Did you read that?  Paul says that the sinner (remember that he is BORN this way) is NOT EVEN ABLE TO SUBJECT HIMSELF TO THE LAW OF GOD.

1 Corinthians 2:14
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

God tells us that a natural man CANNOT understand the things of the spirit. We think that if they would just be attentive during an alter call then they would understand, but God says NO.

How did they get this way?

Remember a few verse back when we read about the Jews being veiled?  Here we see WHY:

Romans 11:25
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

God here tells us that he  hardened the hearts of the Jews for a particular reason.  You ask, well doesn't the sinner harden his OWN heart and in this way he is the cause of his own condition? My answer to you is a question. If God locks you in a box can you some how get out?

Romans 11:32
For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

This word bound is the Greek word sugkleiō which means to 'enclose in a net'. Here we see that GOD imprisons the WHOLE of mankind to disobedience.  See it here again:

Galatians 3:22
But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

We can therefore conclude from these things that a sinner can no more stop sinning than a blind man can avoid a ditch!

Can a sinner turn to God by his own power?

This is a pertinent question because  since sinners are bound to sin can the sinner turn to God on his own?  Consider:

2 Corinthians 4:6-7
For God, who said, Light shall shine out of darkness, is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

Hello, these verses tell us that it is GOD who turns the sinner and NOT the sinner himself,  Here again:

Colossians 1:21-22
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Do you see the activity of the sinner ANYWHERE in the above verse?  God is doing the reconciling and  HE is the one presenting you holy and blameless and beyond reproach.

John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Jesus is saying here that NO ONE, again, NO ONE can come to him(Jesus) UNLESS God draws him.  Not the sinner's will but GOD's will.

John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Everyone who has heard and learned FROM the Father, comes to Me.

Again we see that only those who has learned FROM the Father comes to Jesus.  It is the Father's choice and NOT the sinner.

2 Timothy 2:25
...with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

IF PERHAPS, wow!!!! Again it is God who turns the sinner and NOT the sinner himself.  This is confirmed by:

Acts 16:14
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the LORD OPENED HER HEART TO RESPOND to the things spoken by Paul.

Who opened her heart?  God.  Do you believe this:

Acts 13:48
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been APPOINTED to eternal life believed.

Have you ever wondered why salvation is called a gift,  it is because it is given BY God.

But why would God subject the sinner to sin?

Romans 9:18-23
So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?  On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, Why did you make me like this, will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,

GOD SUPPLIES HIS OWN EXPLANATION.