“Under Sin”
When Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem, the Jews wanted him put to death for
what he preached, but they couldn’t at that time because they were under Roman rule,
although the Roman authorities gave the Jewish nation some authority to exercise
punishment for their Biblical laws, but only to a point, I can't say what that point
was, except that it did not include capitol punishment, so they needed to convince
the Roman Authorities that a crime was committed against the Roman Empire in order
to put Paul to death. This was also the case when Jesus was put to death. Prior to
Judah's capture by the Babylonians, the Jewish Nation had complete authority and
instructions from Jehovah God to punish offenders of any of the Ten Commandments
and the Mosaic Laws, putting to death or lesser punishments, those who were proven
guilty with two or three witnesses. Keep in mind that Christ's death at Calvary put
an end to the Sacrificial Laws, putting to death innocent animal sacrifices, which
were a shadow of Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Respectfully, after Calvary, no further
shedding of blood is needed for the wages of repented sins, so man to avoid the second
death. Christ's sacrifice did not affect the moral laws of sin, they are still sin
if ignored and un-
When the written laws were first given, it was to list that described what each sin was because there was confusion after 400 years under Egyptian rule and they lost sight of many of the laws of God. After their exodus and walking while in the wilderness, the moral laws were then spoken, first by Jehovah, then written on stone by God Himself. Moses wrote the Mosaic laws which were given to him by Jehovah and accompanying these laws was a responsibility to pass judgment and carry out a sentence for the transgression of the laws (sins) that were exposed, hence the Israelites were “under the law” (the law was over them), with a responsibility of judgment and to execute punishment. Since the entrance of a new standard of rules, "who also made us able ministers of a new covenant; not of letter, but the Spirit makes alive. For the letter kills , but the Spirit makes alive." (II Corinthians 3:6), given to us by the spirit of God, a new system was established what Christ taught, it was no longer the responsibility of the people to police, judge and execute a sentence of punishment. From then on, God Jehovah would execute judgment, either at the end of time, or in some cases, when God determines an immediate need. This is a superior system because no one can escape judgment from God, where this was possible from the rule of men. The added beauty of this new system is that Jesus, now our King can also pardon us, where the Jewish rulers or man didn’t have that authority.
Now, we are to police only ourselves, individually, by our knowledge of God's word and by our conscience. We are to avoid judging others, "One is the Lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy. Who are you who judges another?" (James 4:12). Jesus was given authority over earth for the purpose of preparing us for God's kingdom, “And coming up Jesus talked with them, saying, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.” (Matthew 28:18) and all will be judged before He comes again, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each as his work is." (Revelation 22:12). The sentence for sin remains still for death, for the souls not written in the Book of Life and their sentences will be carried out after the one thousand year period, mentioned in Revelations 20, "And he lay hold of the dragon, the old serpent who is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years," (Revelation 20:2) "And if anyone was not found having been written in the Scroll of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire." Revelation 20:15). Sin, still being what it always was, a transgression of Jehovah's perfect commandments and laws, but we, being under the authority of God, now have no authority to judge or execute a sentence on anyone for a transgressed sin against God, "Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal body, to obey it in its lusts. Do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin; but yield yourselves to God as living from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Romans 6:12,13) "For we know that the law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, having been sold under sin." (Romans 7:14). To put it simply, we are now, not under the law that was before, but we do remain "under sin", "What then? Do we excel? Not at all! For we before charged both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) all to be under sin." (Romans 3:9). If repentance would not be necessary then the path would not be constricted, "For narrow is the gate and constricted is the way that leads into life, and few are the ones who find it." (Matthew 7:14) "Be aroused righteously, and do not sin; for some have ignorance of God. I speak shame to you." (I Corinthians 15:34). Jesus has paid the price of sin for us, but it remains our responsibility to ask God for forgiveness and to repent of our sinful deeds and thoughts, meaning, not only to regret having sinned but also to cease from sinning again. The transgression of God's laws is still valid as sin, leaving nothing up to personal guesswork. When the laws are not transgressed, then the law has no power, for those confessed to God and repented, they are justified by faith that Jesus paid the price for our sins and has strengthened us, by His power toward thinking and acting righteously.
The laws are written for our study, our conscience is for a reminder of what
we have learned and it is also a tool for Christ's spirit to speak to us when we
drift off the correct path of God's commands. If we study Jehovah's ways and have
come to understand God's laws, the way they benefit, protect, comfort and straighten
our existence, then they will enter our hearts as well as our heads, because we will
comprehend their purpose and beauty and we will desire to keep them, loving their
purpose, as David loved the law, "O how I love the law! It is my meditation all day."
(Psalm 119:97), simply because they are just, pure and perfect. The laws are a blessing
to us, protecting us from ourselves while we are still under the influence of Satin.
The deceiver is filled with joy when he hears people say that we need not keep God’s
laws, that they were nailed to the cross. Believing in this deception causes one
to ignore their responsibility and fail to realize the fact that sin has its victims,
usually someone other then the sinner, and the consequence for our un-