Author:
Apostle Shanell Neyman
Shanell serves as a called and confirmed Apostle in the restored government of God, and she is an IDCCST Spiritual Life Coach. Apostle Shanell helps you to begin a new and final chapter in your search for truth. View my profile.
There’s a lot of confusion about what sin is. Most of the questions asked about sin on social media sound like this, “How can I know what sin is and what it isn’t?” “I struggle to know how to live for God and feel guilty. Is this evidence of sin in my life?”
Believers young and old say that they struggle with sin, and ask for help. Many believers step up to give an answer from the Bible, using scripture to validate their view on what sin is but unfortunately, they contradict each other. The problem is that most are trying to describe God’s mind about sin without knowing His mind about His provision for us to live a transformed life in Christ.
To be perfectly honest, some people just want a quick fix, but most are sincere in their desire to not offend God. They want to know what constitutes sinful behavior so that they would know how God guides them in these decisions.
Apostle John defines sin as a transgression against God’s law, saying, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4) So, the simple, straight answer is that you’ll never know what offends God until you know what His expectations are for your faith and how to line up to Jesus’ new covenant commandments.
There’s Been a Change in the Law
We can see the way that Apostle John answers the question about sin – he goes to the law; but because we are in a new covenant there’s been a change in the law, so that has to be clarified first. And that’s why Apostle Paul says, “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” (Hebrews 7:12)
To get a handle on God’s mind concerning sin we have to follow His mind concerning His change from the law of Moses to the law of grace and truth that Jesus officiates over. As I said, most of the time, when people have questions about sin it’s because they don’t know what God is expecting from them: If I wear makeup, would that offend God? What kind of clothes am I allowed to wear? Is it sin to cut my hair? What kind of music am I allowed to listen to?
If you used to think about what the law of Moses has to say about sin, but now switched over to Jesus’ new law, that means having to learn to restrict your faith to that because that’s where God gives His answer about what sin is and what it isn’t.
You’d do the same thing if you were planning a road trip in France and you’re from another country. Some of the rules of the road may be different from what you’re used to. There would be no way of knowing unless you read up on it.
You might be sincere in your questions about makeup, clothes, hair, and music but not be honest about your desire to serve God, God’s way. What I want to get you to see is that permission questions are simply working at not offending God, whereas God is turning our attention toward learning the terms of Jesus’ covenant and getting equipped to serve Him in a new way to walk in newness of life.
The ABCs of God’s new covenant are easy to learn and easy to live. You can register for our IDCCST Course. That stands for God’s Intelligent Design for Christ-Centered Spiritual Transformation, and it’s entirely free at s8w.org.
There are so many hidden gems in the Course. You’ll find out that after saying yes to Jesus, many believers are still caught in the middle of God’s two great covenants, the one He established through Moses and the one He established through Jesus Christ.
Living a Transformed Life
If God’s strength and power to live a transformed life interest you, then read on because that’s exactly what Apostle John was getting at when he said, “Whosoever is born of God doth NOT commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he CANNOT sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9)
But then he also says in 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Apostle John is not playing a mind game and is not confused; he’s speaking of sin as a kingdom we are no longer a part of. This is an important shift for the church.
We were a part of the kingdom of darkness when we were lost in the world, and now that we have entered a covenant relationship with God, we are no longer part of Satan’s kingdom and we cannot sin. But if we, who are in Christ, do not separate ourselves to the knowledge and tools God sanctified in Jesus for our access to Him, our faith is no longer active in God’s kingdom. So then, in that situation, Apostle John is speaking to those who are double minded, thinking they are free from sin when they have brought themselves back under the law.
Let’s get some more clarity from the Terms Glossary where Apostle Eric vonAnderseck lays that out:
“The god of this world (Satan) influences those in his kingdom of darkness through a system of inspiration, which expresses iniquity. This system and kingdom is called ‘sin’, and the fruit of this system is called the “sins” of the flesh.
What man does with iniquity to build for himself is called sin. Hence, a ‘sinner’ is one who builds with the tools of iniquity in the kingdom of darkness. Iniquity is the fruit that is born in the soul because of sin.
We who are in Christ Jesus are no longer in that system; we do not use the tools of Satan’s kingdom to express ourselves, but we do still carry the fruits of being in that system in the past. It is the fruits of that system (sins of the flesh) that we are overcoming through the circumcision of Christ; it is the tools of that system we have abandoned; it is the philosophy of that system that truth is cleansing us of every day.” [Quote taken from the EVA Glossary Term “Sin”]
What is a Sin unto Death?
What God is opening up for us in this new apostolic season is that where sin resides, death also rules and reigns. Everything in Satan’s kingdom is looped to death, while everything in Jesus’ kingdom is looped to life.
While in Satan’s kingdom we lived by his rules and he reigned over our perception, and choosing that yoke as our wisdom is to choose Satan as our counselor. Apostle John identifies that choice as staying in the wrong loop – sin only produces death – Satan’s counsel only directs the mind to reason for self. That’s the sin unto death.
1 John 5:16-17
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
The Lord instructs the church through Apostle John about the choice of will He’s laid before us. God provided contrast by establishing His kingdom in the heart. He gave us the new law of grace and truth and a new priesthood to guide us in His wisdom and calls that righteousness.
So many people are worried about the sin that is unto death when all that you need to do is enter into the door of life that God offers in Jesus Christ. The confusion over sin is one prime example as to why God restored all 5 callings to the church. There’s no confusion on the intent of the scripture when the church is under the umbrella of apostolic stewardship. Having said that, there are many who sincerely desire to do God’s will, but are caught up in the false traditions of man. How can God help them?
What are False Traditions?
The early apostles continually directed those who transitioned their faith to Jesus’ covenant to separate themselves from the traditions that applied to the law of Moses. Jesus prepared them for this transition and separation when He said:
Mark 7:8
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders of His time who were still actively teaching the people to stay in their comfort zone with the law of Moses. Jesus pointed out that the comfort zone they carved out for themselves was not really the true commandments of God, but rather the traditions they made up for themselves, like washing pots and cups to feel good about themselves.
We don’t see much in the current Christian culture about washing pots and cups, but we do see other traditions invented by well-intentioned people to make you feel good about yourself. These are examples of a sin unto death – honoring and valuing these traditions instead of Jesus’ new law of grace and truth:
• Observing the Sabbath Day and other holy days
• Water baptism
• Tithing
• Circumcision
• Music
• Clothing – restricting the clothes to a certain color and type
• Hair – how it’s done
• Meats – restricting what to eat
It’s vital that comfort, sincerity and good intentions do not replace the tools and tokens of Jesus’ covenant. Molding our life to fit these traditions and false standards of Christianity are not the same as meeting the standard of righteousness that God placed in the covenant of Jesus Christ.
I want to speak for a moment to a person’s intention. Even though the goal for these carnal standards is to avoid offending God, God does not respect a person’s sincere heart and good intentions. He only honors that which is sealed with the blood of Jesus. When we read through the New Testament, we won’t read the apostles teaching the church the same traditions as in the law of Moses. In fact, you will read the exact opposite. They commanded them to abandon the now false traditions of faith. They are no longer acceptable.
When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead a new law was established, which is the law of grace and truth. The blood of Jesus gave us the new and living covenant which is called the second covenant. When believers transition their faith to the covenant of Jesus Christ, they receive the correct knowledge and tools provided by sanctified stewardship so that they are no longer sinning (transgressing against God). When a believer obeys the law of grace and truth, they are no longer offending God and the work of regeneration and renewing of the mind can take place.
What is the Sin NOT unto Death
I’d like to look at 1 Peter 4:8 because that will allow us to see how God breaks open for us sins NOT unto death.
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
The sins that Apostle Peter is writing about is the sins NOT unto death. These sins address the powers of the flesh. We were born into sin and the powers of the flesh were our source of peace, emotional outlet, joy, completion, drive and judge. Before entering into covenant, we easily used these powers on a daily basis without even thinking twice about it.
The powers of the flesh joined to the aspiration, principle and imagination are used as a compass in this life. When we transition our faith to the covenant that God approves of, we receive our second birth which comes with new knowledge and responsibility.
God tames the powers of the flesh because they are offensive to Him and they are also offensive to others. Our moral code clashes against the moral code of another. Our principle clashes against the principle of another. When the powers of the flesh replace true fellowship of charity offenses take place, and this is why Apostle Peter directed the church to not focus on the offenses of the powers of the flesh but on charity.
A sin NOT unto death is when a believer (one who is in covenant) uses the powers of the flesh instead of grace and truth to govern his thoughts. Apostle Paul also addressed this when he said, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
How Does Charity Cover a Multitude of Sins?
Charity is the exchange of heaven-sent, divine spiritual knowledge and it does not compliment any power of the flesh. When charity is being expressed the aspiration, principle and imagination are not stepping forward to govern the fellowship.
Apostle Peter was pointing to the exchange of charity as God’s covering. Let’s read that verse again, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” When all believers are working from the same foundation of truth there’s no offense. When exercising our will with our principle, Satan seeks to rule our perspective to sow in us again the fruits of iniquity, which offends God and our brother, but charity is greater than sin. Charity in the covenant priesthood is God’s gift to us.
Every law requires knowledge in order to know what to do and what NOT to do. Without covenant knowledge sin is viewed through a carnal perspective and when that happens, a person is not using the correct knowledge and tools to be free from sin.
If you are ready to abandon all the false traditions of faith and come into covenant with God, the IDCCST Course is the perfect place to be. You can register for free on our website: s8w.org. There you will learn more about the powers of sin and how to serve God according to the law of grace and truth.
