THAT'S A SIN???

Exodus 20:17 says, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."(NKJV)

What constitutes a sin? Explaining just what it is we can do that offends God to the point of condemnation is perhaps one of the hardest questions posed to a minister of the gospel. What is it that is SOOOO Bad that if we do not confess it, asking forgiveness for it, and repenting of it, can cost us our eternal life? For some they see it simply as doing what God has said not to do, aka. sins of comission. In other words it is an act performed which is in opposition to God's clear instructions. Some examples drawn directly from the commandments we have been looking at. To actively worship another diety violates commandment #1. To set up an image representing any god violates #2. To mis-use or mis-represent God's name violates #3. And the list goes on. There are those sins that involve refusing to do what God has said to do. These are sins of omission. Some of the ten are of this type. Failure to rest and worship on the Sabbath violates #4. Disrespect of our parents violates #5.

The tenth commandment doesn't seem to fit either catagory. It doesn't seem to involve an action; good, bad, or indifferent. It simply address our thinking. Can a sin still be a sin if no action is forthcoming. Either action taken to commit a sin, or an action taken to refuse God's instructions. The tenth commandment deals with coveting. It is a desire for what belongs to someone else. The Bible is full of examples of coveting, and what it can lead to. David coveted Bathsheba, he desired her even though she was another man's wife. Because of his coveteousness, he committed adultery, he lied, he conspired, and finallt committed murder. Consequently the child born in the relationship died, and the desire he had to honor God with a Temple would be fulfilled by his son.

Consider the story of Achan from Joshua 6 and 7. The Hebrews had crossed the Jordon and faced the mighty city of Jerrico. They were given instructions to take the city which included NOT taking any plunder. Achan saw some gold, some silver, and some fancy clothes. His coveting led him to take them for himeslf. Because he coveted them, he stole them, and sinned against God. Israel faced the consequence of losing 3000 men when they faced the small hamlet of Ai which led to the discovery of Achan';s sins. Achan lost his life along with those of every member of his house, including all his livestock. All because he saw some gold, some silver, and a suit of clothes, and he wanted them.

These examples were of coveting leading to futher sins, but coveting alone can be a sin. Consider christ's own words, ""You have heard that it was said to those of old, `You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."(Matthew 5:27-30 NKJV).

Where is such desire born? In the heart. Consider Matthew 15:17 to 20, "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."(NKJV). All these sins of commission started in the same place, the heart of man.

We need to remember that righteousness also begins in the heart. Consider Psalm 119: 9 to 16, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word."(NKJV). Add to this Proverbs 3:5 and 6, " Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."(NKJV). Leaning on our own understanding leads to sin and condemnation. Trusting in the Lord and His understanding leads to righteousness and glory.

Dr. O