The question is, to sin or not to sin? Is a sin the thing that so easily besets ME, or the thing that so easily besets YOU? which ever it is, let us lay it aside and run with patience the race that is set before us (Heb.12:1).

Paul said,"let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall in his brothers way" (Rom.14:13).

Most people do not understand the PRINCIPLE of sin, and can not distinguish between that which is a sin, from that which is not a sin. If you will study the Bible, you will see that it teaches us the PRINCIPLE of sin. But it seems that people would rather CREATE there OWN IDEAS of what sin is, forgetting the "PRINCIPLES" of Christ, and the FOUNDATION which was laid for us to build upon.

Of course, we have today, many more things which we consider sin, then what; the Apostles had to consider in their day. The difference being the Apostles based THEIR BELIEF on the PRINCIPLES of the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, and today it is based on the PRINCIPLES of the DOCTRINES OF MAN. If the "Doctrine of Man" tells us that a CERTAIN THING is a sin, then it will be believed without biblical proof. They call this "BLIND FAITH", but Jesus said," they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matt. 15:14). It seems that these "leaders" can tell us what sin is, but cannot tell us what makes it a sin.

I often ask, why are some things considered sin, and it's equivalent is not considered sin? An example of this is "coffee".Some believe that drinking "coffee" is NOT a sin, but the drinking of wine is a sin. Both can be habit forming and can be damaging to our health (if abused). So, which IS a sin, and which is not? Can we find the answer in the bible? The PRINCIPLE is this; when we do wrong, or commit, what WE consider sin, We are convicted by OUR OWN conscience, not someone else's (Jn.8:9). We must judge ourselves by what WE believe is sin. Paul said, "....but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean (sin), to HIM it is unclean" (Rom.14:14). We know that "coffee" in itself is not sin, but to him that considers (esteemeth) it sin, then to HIM it is sin, and we that are of FULL AGE, for strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (Heb5:14), can not offend our brother which is weak (on milk), for he is still CARNAL (minded) (1Cor.3:1-3), and "is unskillful in the WORD of RIGHTEOUSNESS, for he is a BABE" (Heb5:13; 1Pet2:2). And his conscience, being weak, is defiled by HIS "condemnation" (self- pronouncement of his own guilt) (1Cor.8:7). In other words, whether we eat, drink, or do ANYTHING, we can not offend our brother. It is not a sin to drink "coffee", but it is a sin to offend our brother by drinking "coffee". It is not the drinking of the "coffee", but it is the OFFENCE of drinking the "coffee", which is the sin. "Unto the pure, all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled (condemned) and un-believing is NOTHING pure: but even their mind and conscience is defiled' (by condemning themselves in that which they allow) (Tit.1:15). Them that are condemned walk after the flesh (mind carnal things), not after the Spirit, for there is no condemnation in them which are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). Jesus said, "verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth (understand) my WORD, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting Life, and shalt not come into condemnation; but IS passed from (spiritual) death unto (spiritual) life" (Jn 5:24). "He that believeth on him, is not condemned (in that which he alloweth); but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in name of the only Begotten Son of God (Jn.3:18). Paul is saying, that if you believe (have faith), and are not condemned in what you eat, drink, OR ANYTHING that you "allow" in your life, then you have a clear conscience toward God. "For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil (sin) for that man who eateth with OFFENCE" but if you ARE condemned (doubtful), then you are damned if you eat, drink, OR ANYTHING that you BELIEVE is sin, because it is not of faith: "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom.14:20-23).

If we are not condemned in that which we allow, then we have the assurance that we are the Children of God. For John said, "beloved, if our heart (conscience) condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And he that keepeth his Commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us" (1Jn.3:21,24). Them that hear the Word of God is "convicted (condemned) by their OWN conscience" (Jn.8:7,9). Of course, this consciousness can be "SEARED WITH A HOT IRON" (1Tim.4:2) past feeling (Eph.4:19) so that the Word of God will have no effect on WHAT YOU BELIEVE in your own conscience. So we should always have a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men (Acts24:16). "But when ye sin (offend) so against the brethren (in Christ), and wound their WEAK conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, least I make my brother to offend"(1Cor. 8:12,13). Of course, Paul is using this as an example. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE OBJECT OF OFFENCE IS. If your brother in Christ believes within himself that this is sin, then you must not offend his conscience, whether it be eating flesh, drinking wine, or ANYTHING THAT OFFENDS HIM. Paul tells us to "walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" (Col.4:5).

Man has CREATED in his own mind, so many "fables" (doctrines of man) of what sin is, that they have forgotten the TRUE nature and characteristics of sin. Paul said, "now the works (fruit) of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelling, AND SUCH LIKE: (Gal.5:19-21). You will notice that THESE THINGS is that which proceeds OUT from the heart of man, NOT IN. Them that do THESE THINGS can not inherit the Kingdom of God. "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh (carnal things) with the affections and lust's" (the things that come OUT of man) (Gal. 5:24,25). If we are to live in the Spirit, then let us also obey the Law of the Spirit, for ".. .the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW"(Gal. 5:22,23), for these things proceed FROM the heart of man. IN THIS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE OF SIN.

Jesus said, "Oh generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For OUT OF the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. A good man, OUT OF the good treasure, of the heart, BRINGETH FORTH good things (fruit of the Spirit): and an evil man, OUT OF the evil treasure, BRINGETH FORTH evil things" (works of the flesh). On Judgement Day, man will be judged for, NOT WHAT GOES INTO MAN, BUT WHAT COMES OUT OF MAN (Matt.12:34-36). There is an old saying, "If the WORD OF GOD said it , then I will believe it". But yet, the scriptures tells us of many things that the people do not believe, For the DARKNESS has blinded their eyes, and they will believe the WORD OF MAN before they believe the WORD OF GOD. And the WORD OF GOD said this; "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded (fully assured) in his own mind. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink...." (or in anything) (Rom.14:5;Col.2:16). Jesus said, "HEAR AND UNDERSTAND: NOT THAT WHICH GOETH INTO THE MOUTH DEFILETH A MAN: BUT THAT WHICH COMETH OUT OF THE MOUTH, THIS DEFILETH A MAN (Matt.15:10,11). Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But these things which proceed OUT OF THE MOUTH come forth from the heart; AND THEY DEFILE THE MAN. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT DEFILE A MAN: but to eat with unwashen hands (natural things) defileth not a man" (Matt.15:16-20). "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him, can defile him: but the things that come out of him, those are they that defile the man Do ye not perceive, that WHATSOEVER THING from without entereth into the man, IT CAN NOT DEFILE HIM: ... .that which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mk.7:15,18,20,23).

The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink (natural things), but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Spiritual things) (Rom14:17). We are to live in the Spirit, talk in the Spirit, and have our being in the Spirit. If this be so, then we mind the things of the Spirit, not the things of the natural. In the Spirit, we do everything for the Glory of God, for we can not be justified in the flesh. So, whether we eat, or drink, or WHATSOEVER we do (1Cor. 10:31), we will have confidence toward God.

Paul tried to explain this in a number of ways. He said that" all things are lawful unto me (for there is no condemnation in them that are in Christ Jesus), but all things are not expedient (suitable for accomplishing a desired result: wise): all things are lawful for me, but I WILL NOT BE BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER OF ANY" (1Cor. 6:12). In other words, ALL THINGS, whether it be eating, drinking, or ANYTHING that he does in the natural, he will not be brought under the possession of control, authority, or anything that would influence him to the "POINT" of interfering with the "WORK" which was set before him. But he makes it clear, that "meat commendeth us not to God: for neither if we eat, ARE WE THE BETTER; neither if we eat not, ARE WE THE WORSE". But he warns us ".... .take heed least by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak" (them that are on "milk", and do not understand) (1Cor.8:8,9).

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid: How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein" (Rom.6:1,2)? If you are a Child of God, you will not sin. We must allow the Spirit of God to lead and guide us in the ways of righteousness. "Whosoever is born of God doeth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; AND HE CAN NOT SIN, because he is born of God" (1Jn. 3:9; 5:18; cf. 1Pet.1:23; 1Jn.3:4-10). Our conscience will keep us from sin, if we will but hear what the Spirit saith unto the Church. Although we are NOT condemned within ourselves, we must be sure not to offend our brother. For in doing so, we condemn him, and cause him to stumble, sinning against Christ.

"For if we sin willfully after that we have received the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins"(Heb.10:26). "For if after they have escaped the pollution's of the world through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, AND OVERCOME, the latter end is worse with them then the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, then, after they have known it, to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them" (2Pet.2:20,21). "THEREFORE TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD, AND DOETH IT NOT, TO HIM IT IS SIN" (Ja. 4:17).