{"id":1964,"date":"2016-05-14T06:15:54","date_gmt":"2016-05-14T11:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=1964"},"modified":"2024-05-30T15:19:10","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T20:19:10","slug":"religion-is-sin","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin","title":{"rendered":"Religion is Sin ***"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIP: It will be impossible to understand this series of pages without first reading these pages:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-1874 page_item_has_children current_page_item\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\">Two Covenants Part 1<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\">TWO COVENANTS PART 2<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-1874 page_item_has_children current_page_item\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6\">The Law<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\">Bread, Food and Wine<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-1874 page_item_has_children current_page_item\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\">The Law is a Stumbling Block<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">God\u2019s Written Word and God\u2019s Spoken Voice Part 1<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/wood-gold-silver-stone\">Wood (trees)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>GOD&#8217;S DEFINITION OF SIN IS UNIQUE<\/strong><br \/>\nMost people, including non-religious people, would agree that people who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/1-john\/3-4.html\">sin break some kind of law<\/a>. The question about sin, therefore, is this: What laws are broken? Man&#8217;s laws or God&#8217;s laws?<\/p>\n<p>To some degree, man&#8217;s religious laws are indeed based on Biblical laws. Thinking that says God&#8217;s laws and man&#8217;s laws are the same makes some logical sense since most civil and cultural laws closely parallel Biblical references to sin. But it is a great mistake to say that the laws upon which God judges sin are identical to man&#8217;s laws. If God judged sin according to man&#8217;s understanding of sin,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:1-9;+isaiah+65:1-2;+isaiah+53:6\">his ways would not be higher than man&#8217;s ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The challenge in understanding God&#8217;s view of sin, therefore, is in understanding which laws are broken:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.61538%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.3846%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Man&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#civillaws\">civil<\/a>\u00a0laws<\/li>\n<li>Man&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Man&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#culturallaws\">cultural\/moral laws<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Man&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#personallaws\">personal laws<\/a><\/li>\n<li>God&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>All cultural systems establish systems for making and enforcing civil, cultural and moral laws. Individuals have their own ways of making and enforcing their personal laws. And each religion has its own ways of making and enforcing its set of religious laws.<\/p>\n<p>All man-made laws, except personal laws, are codified and enforced by organizations which have power and authority to punish lawbreakers. However, these systems of enforcement of man-made laws contrast greatly with God&#8217;s system which is that he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13\">writes his spiritual laws on the hearts of some men<\/a> and then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+16:7-8;+john+14:26;+psalm+32:8;+deuteronomy+4:36;+nehemiah+9:20;+psalm+143:10;+hebrews+12:7-8;+revelation+3:19;+proverbs+12:1;+job+5:17\">instructs\/disciplines the hearts of individuals who break his laws through his spirit<\/a>. This makes\u00a0 sense, of course, because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">the heart is the place<\/a> on which God places his focus.<\/p>\n<p>But this still does not inform us about God&#8217;s concept of sin. The basic principles are these:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/3-4.html\">Sin is lawlessness.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Showing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=james+2:8-10;deuteronomy+1:17;acts+10:34;james+2:1\">partiality and favoritism<\/a> for one religion over another is sin.<\/li>\n<li>Lawlessness exists with respect to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Religious people obey <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Religious people are law-keepers with respect to religious laws, but are law-breakers with respect to God&#8217;s spiritual laws.<\/li>\n<li>Thus, religious people are lawless with respect to God&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It is instructive to remember that the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ancient_Mesopotamian_religion#Morality.2C_virtue_and_sin\">ancient Mesopotamians had a concept of sin<\/a>, as did the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ministrymagazine.org\/archive\/1981\/12\/sin-and-judgment\">Babylonians and Egyptians<\/a>. This is important when we remember that God used several familiar terms (e.g. transgression, iniquity, trespass, rebellion, lawlessness, etc.) that had their origins in ancient religions to represent sin.\u00a0Thus it can be said that the understanding of sin for ancient Israel and modern man has its foundations in ancient religions.\u00a0\u00a0Knowing this we must keep in mind<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-27;+deuteronomy+12:29-32;+deuteronomy+18:9;+leviticus+18:3;+leviticus+18:30;+leviticus+20:22-26;+2-kings+17:7-13;+2-kings+21:1-2;+ezra+9:10-15;+jeremiah+10:2;+jeremiah+44:2-8\"> God&#8217;s many cautions to Israel, and us, that we should not do what other nations (i.e. religions) do<\/a> &#8212; include not believing as they did about the nature of sin.<\/p>\n<p>That <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sin\">most religions past and present recognize a doctrine about sin<\/a> is a clue to us that the common understanding of sin as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theopedia.com\/sin\">violation of moral laws<\/a> is not what God has in mind when he talks about sin. This is another example of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:1-9;+isaiah+65:1-2;+isaiah+53:6\">God&#8217;s ways not being like man&#8217;s ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The lesson for us here is that we should not interpret the meaning, or definition, of sin according to the standards of the cultures in which we live and work or on the literal words of the Bible which reference ancient, pagan religious beliefs. We should, however, listen to God&#8217;s voice to tell us about his understanding of sin. To listen to God&#8217;s voice is true wisdom in which you trust God with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding\u00a0(i.e. interpretation).<\/p>\n<p>If we define sin as lawbreaking with respect to laws (e.g. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#culturallaws\">Cultural<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">Religious,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#civillaws\">Civil,<\/a> etc.) made and enforced by man instead of God&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a>, we will totally miss <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#definitionofsin\">God&#8217;s definition of sin:\u00a0Eating the spoken or written words of anyone other than God or his anointed spokespersons<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>REMEMBER THE &#8220;FIRST THE NATURAL AND THEN THE SPIRITUAL&#8221; PRINCIPLE<\/strong><br \/>\nMost Christians and Jews will automatically reject the idea that religion is sin. This is to be expected because their concept of sin is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">Stronghold of Wrong Thinking. <\/a>And they believe that their understanding of sin is correct because they can see for themselves that the Bible lays out very clearly what sin is. They do not see any room for argument with verses that talk about behaviors (e.g. adultery, murder, prostitution, homosexuality, greed, lying, etc.) that they can fit into the broad definitions of the Ten Commandments which everyone agrees is sin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">Third Commandment <\/a>and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/fourth-commandment\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Fourth Commandment <\/a>for examples of two commandments that are wrongly interpreted.<\/p>\n<p>The problem with these strongly held convictions is that religious people do not consider that the Bible is full of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\">mysterious<\/a> language that is difficult to interpret. Ignorant of this point, they default to interpretation of the Biblical &#8212; including references to sin &#8212; literally, and do not bother to try to understand\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=dark+sayings&amp;t=nas&amp;c=all\">dark sayings<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=proverbs+1:1-6;+psalm+49:1-4\">, proverbs and riddles<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=proverbs+1:1-6;+psalm+49:1-4;+john+10:1-6;+john+16:23-30\">figures of speech, words of the wise and riddles,\u00a0<\/a><span class=\"verse-12\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+33:9-19;+job+4:12-17;+job+33:15-18\">dreams and visions<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/chiydah.html\">, enigmas,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/daniel\/passage\/?q=daniel+5:1-17\">difficult problems<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/daniel\/passage\/?q=daniel+5:1-17\">,\u00a0<\/a><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=colossians+2:13-22;+hebrews+8:1-10;+hebrews+10:1-18\">shadows,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+5:14;+hebrews+11:19\">types and patterns<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=numbers+23:7;+numbers+23:18;+numbers+24:3;+numbers+24:15;+numbers+24:20-21;+numbers+24:23;+deuteronomy+28:37;+1-samuel+10:12;+1-samuel+24:13;+1-kings+4:32;+1-kings+9:7;+job+13:12;+job+27:1;+job+29:1;+psalm+44:14;+psalm+49:4;+psalm+78:2;+proverbs+1:1;+proverbs+1:6;+proverbs+10:1;+proverbs+25:1;+proverbs+26:7;+proverbs+26:9;+isaiah+14:4;+jeremiah+24:9;+ezekiel+12:22-23;+ezekiel+14:8;+ezekiel+17:2;+ezekiel+18:2-3;+ezekiel+20:49;+ezekiel+24:3;+joel+2:17;+habakkuk+2:6;+micah+2:4;+matthew+13:3;+matthew+13:13;+matthew+13:18;+matthew+13:24;+matthew+13:31;+matthew+13:33-36;+matthew+13:53;+matthew+21:33;+matthew+21:45;+matthew+22:1;+matthew+24:32;+mark+3:23;+mark+4:2;+mark+4:13;+mark+4:30;+mark+4:33-34;+mark+12:1;+mark+12:12;+mark+13:28;+luke+4:23;+luke+5:36;+luke+6:39;+luke+8:9-11;+luke+12:16;+luke+12:41;+luke+13:6;+luke+14:7;+luke+15:3;+luke+18:1;+luke+18:9;+luke+19:11;+luke+20:9;+luke+20:19;+luke+21:29;+hebrews+9:9\">parables\/taunts\/proverbs<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=genesis+9:12-17;+genesis+17:11;+exodus+13:16;+numbers+6:7;+deuteronomy+6:8;+deuteronomy+11:18;+joshua+4:1-6;+isaiah+8:18;+isaiah+19:20;+isaiah+20:3;+ezekiel+17:2;+ezekiel+24:3;+galatians+4:24;+hebrews+9:1-9;+hebrews+11:19;+1-peter+3:20-21;+revelation+11:1-8;+revelation+17:1-5\">symbols, signs and allegories.\u00a0<\/a>Therefore, all the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+78:1-4;+proverbs+25:2;+deuteronomy+29:29;+matthew+11:25;+matthew+13:34;+matthew+13:10-13;+numbers+12:8;+proverbs+1:1-9;+daniel+5:11-12;+john+16:17-31;+job+33:9-19\">symbolic meanings of the Bible &#8212; including references to sin &#8212; remain mysteries and secrets for Old\/First Covenant religionists, but are available for discovery by New Covenant disciples.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Errors in understanding what God means by sin come d own to failure to understand the &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\/3\">first the natural and then the spiritual&#8221; principle.<\/a>\u00a0Moreover, people who don&#8217;t understand this principle will not be able to understand the spiritual meaning of any part of the Bible, including the parts about sin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">God\u2019s Written Word and God\u2019s Spoken Voice Part 1,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice-part-2\">God\u2019s Written Word and God\u2019s Spoken Voice Part 2,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 1,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 2,<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-3\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 3.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>IT IS ALL ABOUT THE HEART<\/strong><br \/>\nAnd, since most religious people have it drilled into them that committing sin has eternal consequences, they are especially aware of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+5:18-21;+mark+7:17-23\">behaviors that the Bible identifies as sin<\/a> &#8212; especially the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:1-17;+exodus+34:28;+deuteronomy+4:13;+deuteronomy+10:4\">Ten Commandments<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Jews focus on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/613.htm\">613 commandments<\/a> for their definitions of sin, and hold that people are not born sinful. Christians focus on the Ten Commandments and add Jesus&#8217; teachings and letters of the apostles to frame their own concepts of what sin is, and believe that everyone is condemned to sin because of the influence of original sin. Thus, sin is always somewhere in view in religion, but there is no universal agreement about what it really is.<\/p>\n<p>Despite conscious and acute awareness of sin in ourselves and in others, the nature of sin remains a mystery, even to theologians,\u00a0 as we see in the following articles:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/dictionaries\/bakers-evangelical-dictionary\/sin.html\">Sin: Baker&#8217;s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/ct\/2013\/april\/mystery-of-original-sin.html\">The Mystery of Original Sin: Christianity Today<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/dictionaries\/eastons-bible-dictionary\/sin.html\">Sin: Easton&#8217;s Bible Dictionary<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>We conclude from all the writing about sin that, if it was easy to understand, there would not be so much need to write about it and there would be no confusion about it. And yet, most Christians and Jews talk about sin like they know exactly what it is.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps we should not be surprised that there is so much misunderstanding about sin when we stop to consider how many different words there are in the Bible that relate to sin:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-color: #474062; border-width: 1px; height: 166px;\" border=\"1\" width=\"422\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #000000; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\">\u00a0<strong>\u00a0Old Testament<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\">\u00a0<strong>New Testament<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Hebrew Word<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center;\">KJV Word Usage<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Greek Word<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">KJV Word Usage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/ra.html\">\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Ra`<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">evil 442, wickedness 59, wicked 25, mischief 21, hurt 20, bad 13, trouble 10, sore 9, affliction 6, ill 5, adversity 4, favoured 3, harm 3, naught 3, noisome 2, grievous 2, sad 2, miscellaneous 34<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/agnoeo.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Agnoeo<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">be ignorant 7, ignorant 4, know not 4, understand not 3, ignorantly 2, unknown 2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/rasha-2.html\">\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Rasha`<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">wicked 249, ungodly 8, wicked man 3, miscellaneous 3<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/kakos.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Kakos<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">evil 40, evil things 3, harm 2, that which is evil, wicked 1, ill 1, bad 1, noisome 1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/asham.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">&#8216;asham<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">guilty 14, desolate 6, offend 6, trespass 4, certainly 1, destroy 1, faulty 1, greatly 1, offense 1<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/poneros.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Poneros<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">evil 51, wicked 10, wicked one 6, evil things 2, miscellaneous 7<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/chata.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Chata&#8217;<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">sin 188, purify 11, cleanse 8, sinner 8, committed 6, offended 4, blame 2, done 2, fault 1, harm 1, loss 1, miss 1, offender 1, purge 1, reconciliation 1, sinful 1, trespass 1<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/asebeia.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Asebeia<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/asebes.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Asebes<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">ungodliness 4, ungodly 2<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">ungodly 8, ungodly men 1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/avon.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">`avon<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">iniquity 220, punishment 5, fault 2, Iniquities 1, mischief 1, sin 1<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/enochos.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Enochos<\/span>\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">in danger of (judgment) 5, guilty of (breaking all laws) 4, subject to <span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">(judgment)<\/span> 1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/shagah.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Shagah<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">err 11, ravished 2, wander 3, deceiver 1, cause to go astray 1, sin through ignorance 1, go astray 1, deceived 1<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/hamartano.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Hamartano<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">sin 38, trespass 3, offend 1, for your faults 1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/pesha.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Pesha`<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">transgression 84, trespass 5, sin 3, rebellion 1<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/hamartolos.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Hamartolos<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">sinner 43, sinful 4<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/taah-3.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Ta`ah<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">err 17, astray 12, wander 10, seduced 3, stagger 2, out of the way 2, away 1, deceived 1, miscellaneous 2<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/hamartema.html\">Hamartema<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">sin 4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\" colspan=\"2\" rowspan=\"6\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/adikos.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Adikos<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">unjust 8, unrighteous 4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/anomos.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Anomos<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">without law 4, transgressor 2, wicked 2, lawless 1, unlawful 1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/anosios.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Anosios<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">unholy 2<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/anupotaktos.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Anupotaktos<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">unruly 2, disobedient 1, that is not put under 1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/parabasis.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Parabasis<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\">transgression 6, breaking 1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/paraptoma.html\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">Paraptoma<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica;\">trespass 9, offense 7, sin 3, fall 2, fault 2<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>When we consider these many words which are all translated as sin, we are inclined to ask if they refer to many different types of sin, or if they all refer to one singular concept of sin? To this question God would say NO and Yes, because, for God, there is only one kind of sin that really matters: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+15:18-20;+matthew+5:27-28;+luke+6:45;+mark+7:20-23;+genesis+6:5;+jeremiah+17:9-10;+proverbs+20:9;+psalm+36:1;+psalm+41:6;+psalm+119:11;+psalm+139:23-24;+leviticus+19:17;+jeremiah+17:1;+deuteronomy+15:9;+psalm+4:4;+ecclesiastes+9:3;+proverbs+21:4;+romans+6:17;+2-peter+2:1-14;+matthew+9:4\">Sin in the heart. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>This attitude of sinning in the heart is very different from the attitudes of religious people. The main differences are these:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-color: #474062; border-width: 1px; height: 166px; width: 650px;\" border=\"1\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center; width: 168px;\"><strong>ISSUE <\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border: 1px solid #474062; width: 236.333px;\"><strong>MAN&#8217;S IDEA <\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 170.667px;\"><strong>GOD&#8217;S IDEA <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center; width: 168px;\">\u00a0<strong>Lawbreaking<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 236.333px; text-align: left;\">With respect to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#civillaws\">civil<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#culturallaws\">cultural<\/a> laws.<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 170.667px; text-align: left;\">With respect to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center; width: 168px;\"><strong>Sin<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 236.333px; text-align: left;\">Always focuses on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+5:19-21;+colossians+3:1-9;+1-peter+4:3;+jeremiah+5:7;+jeremiah+7:9;+deuteronomy+18:10-14;+1-samuel+15:23;+2-chronicles+33:6;+jeremiah+14:14;+ezekiel+13:6;+proverbs+6:14-19;+proverbs+17:19;+2-corinthians+12:20-21;+2-kings+9:22;+romans+13:13;+hosea+4:18\">physical activities and mental attitudes (morals and ethics) which can be observed with natural senses.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 170.667px; text-align: left;\">Always focuses on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">condition of the heart<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center; width: 168px;\"><strong>Who we listen to for instruction about God<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 236.333px; text-align: left;\">Religious leaders (i.e. False Prophets,<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/kings-queens-and-princes\">Kings, Queens and Princes<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/pharisees-and-scribes\">, Pharisees and Scribes,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">Serpent, Devil, Satan, Adversary, Demons, Evil Spirits and Anti-Christs<\/a>).<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 170.667px; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15\">God&#8217;s word <\/a>spoken through by himself directly or through and\/or through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#witnessdefined\">witnesses<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center; width: 168px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+26:15;+deuteronomy+31:16-20;+isaiah+24:5;+isaiah+33:8;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+31:32;+ezekiel+17:15-19;+genesis+17:14;+jeremiah+33:20-21\"><strong>Breaking Covenant<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 236.333px; text-align: left;\">Obedience to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> based on literal interpretations of the Bible (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a>).<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 170.667px; text-align: left;\">Obedience to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a> written on the heart (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenan\">New Covenant<\/a>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center; width: 168px;\"><strong>Consequences of Sin<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 236.333px; text-align: left;\">Eternity in a physical place called hell.<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 170.667px; text-align: left;\">Exile from the God (i.e. the <a href=\" http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">Tree of Life<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center; width: 168px;\"><strong>Blessings of Not Sinning<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 236.333px; text-align: left;\">Eternal life in a place called heaven.<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; width: 170.667px; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=revelation+2:7;+genesis+3:22;+proverbs+3:13-18;+proverbs+11:30;+proverbs+13:12;+revelation+22:1-5;+revelation+22:13-14\">Eternal access to the Tree of Life.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If God&#8217;s idea about sin was that it is only about physical and mental activities which can be observed, his remedy would have been to change their observable behaviors. He would not have found it necessary to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:26;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">give people new hearts<\/a> by<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+10:15-17;+hebrews+8:7-13\">\u00a0writing his laws on their hearts<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:26;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">. <\/a>His approach to change applies the following principles:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-samuel+16:7;+1-kings+8:39;+1-chronicles+28:9;+luke+16:15\">God looks at the heart &#8212; not at outward appearances.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:19-20;+psalm+105:45;+ezekiel+36:27;+psalm+51:10-15\">When the heart is right, the body will do the right thing.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The fact that God focuses on the heart does not mean that he is unconcerned about what people do with their physical bodies. But he begins by changing the heart because he understands that<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+15:18-19;+matthew+12:34-35;+mark+7:21;+luke+6:45\"> what the body does flows out of what is in the heart. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>When we understand these spiritual principles, we see that the reason that there is so much trouble in the world (i.e. sin and evil) is that people&#8217;s hearts are not right. Or, in God&#8217;s terms, they do not have his laws written on their hearts. Or, to put it another way, the world is full of Old\/First Covenant religious people following <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws created by men<\/a> and not enough New Covenant disciples following <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws created by God. <\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">THE HEART IS THE PLACE<\/a> for understanding of why God puts so much emphasis on the heart.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>ALTARS OF SIN<\/strong><br \/>\nMost <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Altar\">religions, past and present, employ altars as especially holy places<\/a> where religious sacrifices and offerings are made by religious leaders in front of their congregations. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=altar*&amp;t=nas&amp;c=all\">Altars are mentioned so often in the Bible,<\/a> and are such common and accepted features of all religions, that no one doubts their significance and appropriateness for religious activity.<\/p>\n<p>Given the ubiquitous presence and acceptance of altars, however, we should not be surprised to learn that God is adamantly opposed to them. We see God&#8217;s attitudes about altars and high places in many scriptures where he instructs Israel to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+34:10-13;+leviticus+26:30;+deuteronomy+12:1-3;+numbers+33:50-53;+deuteronomy+7:1-5;+judges+2:1-2\">tear them down and utterly destroy altars, high places and sacred pillars of surrounding nations.<\/a> And we see obedience to these commands in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-kings+19:1-14;+2-kings+11:18;+2-kings+23:12;+2-chronicles+14:1-3;+2-chronicles+31:1;+2-chronicles+34:1-7\">stories of Israel actually tearing down altars.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: Read more about altars in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/tabernacles-temples-altars-high-places-and-pilgrimages\">Tabernacles, Temples, Altars, High Places and Pilgrimages<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The reason God had has such strong feelings about altars is that they are places where religion is practiced. And anyone, including people with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpu\">evil, impure hearts<\/a>, can perform a religious activity at an altar. People who watch these religious activities might be fooled about the heart status of the one who performs at an altar, but God is not fooled because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-samuel+16:7;+1-kings+8:39;+1-chronicles+28:9;+luke+16:15\">only he knows the condition of the heart<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Altars are the premier places where holiness and the presence of God was presumed to reside in ancient pagan religions. Even in these modern times they are the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Altar\">focus of attention for worship in all religions &#8212; including Judaism and Christianity.<\/a> And this practice continues to exist despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=isaiah+63:15;+isaiah+66:1-2;+psalm+11:4;+acts+7:48-49;+2-samuel+7:1-5;+1-kings+8:22-27;+isaiah+66:1;+matthew+5:34;+acts+7:49;+hebrews+8:1;+psalm+113:5-6;+psalm+123:1;+matthew+6:9;+2-chronicles+18:18;+psalm+103:19\">what the Bible says about where God&#8217;s home is<\/a>, and despite what it says about his people<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+4:19-24;+galatians+5:25;+philippians+3:1-3\"> worshiping in spirit and truth<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The truth about physical altars is that God uses the example of physical altars &#8212; which people know and understand &#8212; to symbolically represent the unknown spiritual truth about the location where true, spiritual worship occurs: In the heart\/spirit. We see this truth represented in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+4:19-24\">John 4:19-24 which represents the ideal place for New Covenant disciples to worship. <\/a>This is why <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-samuel+16:1-8;+1-kings+8:39;+1-chronicles+28:9;+luke+16:15;+jeremiah+17:10;+john+2:24-25;+acts+1:24;+acts+15:8;+romans+8:27;+mark+7:1-6;+isaiah+29:13\">God places so much value on what is in a man&#8217;s heart. <\/a>Because the heart is God&#8217;s ideal for the location where worship occurs, worship at any physical location, including physical altars, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/hamartia.html\">misses the mark <\/a>of what God really wants.<\/p>\n<p>Worshiping at altars also violates the condition that worship must be by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">faith which cannot be seen<\/a>. And because worshiping at altars is<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/14-23.html\"> not a matter of faith, such worship is sin. <\/a>We can bring this thinking to the conclusion that religion is sin by applying the following logic:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li>Worship at physical altars can be seen\/observed.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+11:1-7;+romans+8:24;+2-corinthians+4:17-18;+2-corinthians+5:7;+hebrews+11:27\">Faith is the substance of things not seen<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Altars are religious features of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chabad.org\/library\/article_cdo\/aid\/91482\/jewish\/Tetzaveh-Altars-of-Gold-Copper.htm\">Judaism<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Altar#Christianity\">Christianity<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Jews and Christians worship in ways that can be seen.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/14-23.html\">Whatever is not of faith is sin<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Jews and Christians sin by practicing religion that can be seen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If this argument is not convincing, consider the following logic:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-27;+deuteronomy+7:16;+deuteronomy+12:29-32;+deuteronomy+18:9;+leviticus+18:3;+leviticus+18:30;+leviticus+20:22-26;+2-kings+17:7-13;+2-kings+21:1-2;+ezra+9:10-15;+jeremiah+10:2;+jeremiah+44:2-8\">God said that his people should not follow the religious customs of other nations<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Altar\">Most religions past and present employ altars in their religious activities<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Jews and Christians employ altars in the religious worship.<\/li>\n<li>Jews and Christians disobey God&#8217;s commandment regarding following the religious customs of other religions.<\/li>\n<li>Jews and Christians sin by disobeying God&#8217;s commandment regarding following religious customs of other religions.<\/li>\n<li>Therefore, religion is sin.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The bottom line here is that Old\/First Covenant religionists sin when they choose to worship at physical altars in religious buildings. They do not understand spiritual worship which occurs only in the heart of New Covenant disciples. They only understand worship that involves use of their flesh (i.e. physical bodies) to worship at special locations like altars in religious buildings. They do not understand that when God said &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/exodus\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:22-24\">make an altar of earth<\/a>&#8221; he meant that the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+6:19;+1-corinthians+3:16;+2-corinthians+6:16;+romans+8:9\">bodies of New Covenant disciples are living tabernacles and altars for making spiritual sacrifices and offerings for worship<\/a>. With these truths in mind we can begin to understand why God wants physical altars torn down. We can also begin to understand why <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hosea+8:11-14;+hosea+10:1-8;+jeremiah+17:1\">physical altars are places where people sin. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>This might not seem serious to most people, but it is very serious to God because<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+4:21-24\"> spiritual worship<\/a> is the standard, or the mark, by which God evaluates righteousness. In other words, people (i.e. New Covenant disciples) who worship in spirit in their hearts\/spirits without any outward physical activity (e.g. praying, singing, raising hands, etc.) and without using any religious artifacts (e.g. buildings, altars, incense, etc.) hit the mark of true <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+4:21-24\">spiritual worship<\/a>. And, on the other hand, people (i.e. Old\/First Covenant religionists) who insist on worshiping with physical activity in the context of religious places miss the mark (i.e. sin).<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>BREAKING THE LAW<\/strong><br \/>\nThe simplest definition of sin is that sin is what we do when we break the law as we see in these scriptures:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/3-4.html\">1 John 3:4<\/a> <span class=\"verse-4\"> Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY: This says that sin is the equivalent of breaking the law. This seems clear enough until we ask which law it is that is broken that constitutes sin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">In <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6\">Understanding Different Kinds of Laws <\/a>we see that there are eight categories of laws that can be broken. We also see that there are only two types of laws that are made and enforced by God and that apply to everyone in the world: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#naturallaws\">Natural laws<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">Spiritual Laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Since natural laws pertain to matters that can be observed and measured by all humans, and since natural laws contain their own consequences for anyone who breaks them, they cannot be the laws to which lawbreaking and sin apply. And, since natural laws apply to everyone no matter what the condition of their hearts might be, they are not the laws that God has in mind when he says that sin is lawlessness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Since Religious Laws are codified, publicized and enforced by human religious leaders, we must conclude that the category of laws to which God refers in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/3-4.html\"><span class=\"verse-number\">1 John 3:4<\/span><\/a> are not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">Religious Laws. <\/a>Religious Laws are only <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:13-14;+matthew+15:1-14;+mark+7:1-13;+colossians+2:1-8;+colossians+2:20-23;+ezekiel+33:31\">traditions that are created from doctrines made by men<\/a> and enforced by men. These are the laws that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">religion uses to enslave and oppress people. <\/a>God has no part in making or enforcing these laws except that he allows man to have his own way with them because he knows that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:23-24\">religious laws will eventually lead people to faith<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/freedom\">freedom<\/a> when people learn the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">truth<\/a> about them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Thus, it must be concluded that the laws which are broken and which constitute sin in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-john\/3-4.html\"><span class=\"verse-number\">1 John 3:4<\/span><\/a> are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">Spiritual Laws<\/a> that deal with matters of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">faith and spirit<\/a> which cannot be seen nor managed by men.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Religious leaders will, of course, try to enforce their own religious laws. This tendency creates conflict with people who do not embrace their particular religious beliefs. With respect to Judaism and Christianity, this conflict is heightened in relationships with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>\u00a0who are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1+corinthians+4:3;1+corinthians+2:15;john+5:24;john+3:18;1+samuel+16:1-8;john+7:24\">not judged with respect to their obedience to religious laws <\/a>of any kind.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">All of this conflict can be summarized as conflict between the Old\/First Covenant and the New Covenant. We see this <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">conflict<\/a> played out in many different scenarios throughout the Bible. But it is represented most clearly, and in the most personal way, in the life of Jesus who suffered and died at the hands of the religious leaders of his time because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-10;+luke+6:6-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-4;+john+5:5-18;+john+9:1-16;+matthew+9:1-3;+mark+2:16\">he broke their religious laws<\/a>. That put him in conflict with religious leaders but did not put him in conflict with God because Jesus obeyed God&#8217;s spiritual laws while disobeying Jewish religious laws.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">This represents for us the same situation that all New Covenant disciples will experience: New Covenant disciples will be in conflict with Old\/First Covenant religious leaders because New Covenant disciples will break Old\/First Covenant religious laws. We find this predicted in many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=james+1:1-13;+matthew+5:10-12;+matthew+10:23;+matthew+24:3-9;+john+15:20;+1-thessalonians+3:1-4;+hebrews+11:32-39\">ominous warnings that New Covenant disciples will be persecuted for their New Covenant faith<\/a>. It is the fulfillment of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">religion being the enemy.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">That is the bad news. The good news is, however, that they are righteous in God&#8217;s eyes because they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15\">listen to his voice<\/a> and observe his spiritual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=psalm+37:31;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">laws that are written on their hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"verse font-helvetica\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<p><a id=\"favoritismpartiality\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/james\/passage\/?q=james+2:1-10\">James 2:1-10<\/a>: My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 50px;\">COMMENTARY: All religious people think that their religion is the right religion, the best religion, the religion that God favors. They also believe that their religious leaders (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Overseers, Rabbis, Priests, Pastors, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists)<\/a> are endowed by God with more spiritual knowledge, power and authority than most religious people have. They also think that all other religions are wrong or deficient in some way. It can be said that they have an elitist attitude about the religion they choose to follow.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 50px;\">These attitudes do not describe Jesus after he was baptized. He did not expect or receive any of the special privileges that other religious leaders of his day received. In fact, the following can be said about Jesus:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/john\/6-15.html\">resisted efforts by some to make him a king<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/philippians\/passage\/?q=philippians+2:6-7\">He had no reputation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>He was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=2-corinthians+8:9;+matthew+8:20\">poor and homeless<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=matthew+20:28;+philippians+2:7;+mark+9:35;+mark+10:45\">He was a servant of everyone<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>He chose followers who were common tradesmen (e.g. fishermen, tax collector)&#8211; not religious leaders.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=mark+15:29;+matthew+27:39;+john+19:1;+matthew+27:26;+matthew+20:19\">He was a target of insults and abuse.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=john+5:41-44;+john+8:50-54\">He did not receive praise\/glory from men<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 50px;\">J\u200eesus was not a member of the religious ruling class. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+23;+matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+13:15;+matthew+16:1-12;+matthew+22:23-46;+mark+8:11-12;+mark+12:13-40;+luke+11:37-54;+luke+20:45-47;+luke+6:24-26;+luke+14:1-8;+luke+16:14-16;+luke+18:9-14\">he rebuked the religious leaders for their religious behaviors.<\/a> Jesus was not religious and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:14;+matthew+22:16;+luke+20:21\">he did not show any partiality toward religious people<\/a>. After he was baptized he did not follow any <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:1-14;+matthew+15:1-10;+mark+7:18-23;+luke+6:1-10;+luke+13:10-17;+luke+14:1-4;+mark+2:18-20;+john+5:5-18;+john+7:19-26;+john+8:1-11;+john+9:19-27\">he broke all Jewish religious laws.<\/a> He showed no favoritism to Jews but <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/20\">rebuked them for their religious behaviors and beliefs<\/a>. These attitudes and behaviors set him apart from his Jewish neighbors &#8212; especially religious leaders.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-number\">2<\/span> <span class=\"verse-2\"> For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">3<\/span> <span class=\"verse-3\"> and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, &#8220;You sit here in a good place,&#8221; and you say to the poor man, &#8220;You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,&#8221; <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">4<\/span> <span class=\"verse-4\"> have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">COMMENTARY: All religions work hard to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/02\/18\/making-a-name-for-yourself\/\">distinguish themselves from other religions<\/a>. And within religions, great effort is made to distinguish religious leaders from others. Religious leaders commonly wear special clothing and they often sit above the rest of the congregation in meetings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Religious people also judge other religions regarding their beliefs and their religious practices and find them to be wrong or deficient when these beliefs and practices are not the same as their personal religion. Jesus says that these habits are evil. They are evil because the motive for judging is to elevate one religion and denigrate another. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\">Pride always seeks to elevate the religious person<\/a>, and this is often done by judging other religions and finding them deficient in their beliefs and practices.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-number\">5<\/span> <span class=\"verse-5\"> Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">6<\/span> <span class=\"verse-6\"> But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">7<\/span> <span class=\"verse-7\"> Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">COMMENTARY: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/3\">this link for understanding of wealth and poverty. <\/a>Religious people are wealthy because they have a lot of pride in their religion and their obedience to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws.<\/a> In their zeal to advance their religions and elevate their pride, they evangelize others to join their religion. And when someone does join their religion, they are oppressed and enslaved to that religion through pressure to obey its unique religious laws.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-number\">8<\/span> <span class=\"verse-8\"> If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, &#8220;YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,&#8221; you are doing well. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">COMMENTARY: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">this link for understanding of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself<\/a>. Also see\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/chapter-1-gods-strategy-for-overcoming-division-and-creating-unity\/\">God\u2019s Strategy for Overcoming Division and Creating Unity \u2014 Love Your Neighbor<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-number\">9<\/span> <span class=\"verse-9\"> But if you show <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=partiality\">partiality<\/a>, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">COMMENTARY: Verse 9 says that showing <span class=\"verse-9\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=partiality\">partiality<\/a><\/span> is sin. This idea of sin does not fit into the practices or doctrines of either Jews or Christians. Both religions are well-known for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=exclusvity\">exclusivity <\/a>which is acted out weekly in their denominational, religious gatherings. Jews meet with Jews, Catholics meet with Catholics, Lutherans meet with Lutherans, and so on. When it comes to religious meetings, members of one religious sect or denomination never meet regularly with other sects or denominations. They may sometimes set aside their differences for some inter-denominational, ecumenical service, but those events are just for show. After those events, each religion goes back to its own little assembly to practice its own unique, preferred religion. This is partiality. This is sin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">The Old Testament gives a view of partiality in the twelve tribes. The brothers seem to get along, but there is often conflict between brothers. Once they enter the promised land, they divide themselves into two kingdoms and become enemies. This all happens because of favoritism and partiality.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Religious division is a major symptom of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant religion.<\/a> Modern day denominational divisions are symbolically represented in Old Testament tribalism. But that all changes when individuals become <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a> do not align themselves with religious organizations of any kind. They live in 9the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\">world of religion<\/a>, but they are not members of any part of the world of religion. They do not follow the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious rules<\/a> of any sect or denomination. They follow <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws<\/a> that are written on their hearts. They no longer sin because they are no longer show partiality and favoritism to any religious organization &#8212; large or small, formal or informal.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See this<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\/4#whatitmeanstobesacred\"> link for understanding of holiness.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Holiness means to be set apart from religion. The following is a short list of things are true about people who are set apart from religion:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>They do not go to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/tabernacles-temples-altars-high-places-and-pilgrimages\">religious meetings in religious buildings<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They are not members of religious organizations.<\/li>\n<li>They do not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/05\/20\/disconnects\/\">practice religion in public<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They do not try to influence people through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/02\/18\/making-a-name-for-yourself\/\">religious behaviors<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/making-a-name-for-yourself\/9\">speech<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They practice <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">pure religion &#8212; not defiled religion<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They do not observe <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">religious rituals or traditions.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>They will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+23;+matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+13:15;+matthew+22:23-46;+mark+12:13-40;+luke+11:37-54;+luke+20:45-47;+luke+6:24-26;+luke+14:1-8\">confront religious leaders about their religious habits and teachings<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They do not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sacrifices-tithes-and-offerings\">pay tithes or offerings<\/a> to religious organizations.<\/li>\n<li>They do not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/10\">idolize religious leaders<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They will have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/12\">Jesus&#8217; qualities and the characteristics of New Covenant disciples.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>They will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/12#jesusministryfunctions\">imitate Jesus&#8217; ministry functions<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">These attitudes and practices describe Jesus who was holy (i.e. set apart from religion). As a holy person, he was not show any special respect for religious people &#8212; especially religious leaders. Instead of revering and honoring religious leaders, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+23;+matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+13:15;+matthew+16:1-12;+matthew+22:23-46;+mark+8:11-12;+mark+12:13-40;+luke+11:37-54;+luke+20:45-47;+luke+6:24-26;+luke+14:1-8;+luke+16:14-16;+luke+18:9-14\">he rebuked them.<\/a> He dared to rebuke religious leaders because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=mark+12:14;+matthew+22:16;+luke+20:21\">he did not defer to any man or show partiality to anyone<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">We see this attitude toward religious leaders when he <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/jesus-and-the-money-changers-in-the-temple-2\">drove the money changers out of the temple<\/a>. And we see it in his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/jesus-and-the-money-changers-in-the-temple-2\/4\">confrontations with scribes and pharisees<\/a>. Because he<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=micah+7:5;+psalm+146:3;+psalm+40:4;+jeremiah+17:5;+isaiah+2:22;+psalm+118:1-11;+proverbs+29:25;+isaiah+51:7;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+ezekiel+14:1-11;+psalm+56:1-11\"> feared no man<\/a> he could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+23;+matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+13:15;+matthew+16:1-12;+matthew+22:23-46;+mark+8:11-12;+mark+12:13-40;+luke+11:37-54;+luke+20:45-47;+luke+6:24-26;+luke+14:1-8;+luke+16:14-16;+luke+18:9-14\">speak truth to everyone &#8212; including the most important religious leaders<\/a> of his day. This lack of fear is what set Jesus apart from others and made him holy. He had the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">heart of a warrior<\/a> when it came to telling people things they needed to hear about religion. He is the model warrior for all New Covenant disciples to imitate in their own efforts to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/4\">tear down religious idols and high places.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Religious people are not like Jesus. They defer to religious leaders and are always partial to people who share their religious beliefs. According to verse 9, this is sin. To be sinless on the account of deference and partiality is to be like Jesus. To be sinless it is necessary to be set apart from religion.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-number\">10<\/span> <span class=\"verse-10\"> For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY: Verse 10 says that stumbling on this one point is guilty of sinning on all points of God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Religions go to great lengths to distinguish themselves from all other religions. In the Bible, this is called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/genesis\/passage\/?q=genesis+11:1-9\">making names for themselves<\/a>. In modern language, this is called <a href=\"http:\/\/thewayweseereligion.blogspot.com\/2012\/03\/religious-ornaments-and-labels.html\">branding<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Religious branding creates distinctions that make it easy to differentiate one religion from another. These distinctions encourage demonstrations of partiality toward members of one religion while showing less favor toward members of all other religions and toward people who have no religion at all. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/prosopolepteo.html\">partiality<\/a> is <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribalism\">tribalism which <\/a>is the opposite of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+17:11;+john+17:22;+ephesians+4:11-13;+ephesians+4:3;+ephesians+4:5\">God&#8217;s desire that all his people would be united in one faith<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">These kinds of behaviors help create a sense of security for a particular religion while effectively separating it from other religions. This security is constructed in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">strongholds of thinking,<\/a> and reinforced in mutual <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">financial support<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\">communal worship.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">It is very clear from the history of religion that members of one religion show greater love for members of their own religion than they do toward members of other religions. This is partiality. Partiality does not allow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+13:34;+leviticus+19:18;+matthew+5:44;+galatians+5:14;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+hebrews+13:1;+1-peter+1:22;+1-john+4:7;+matthew+19:19;+mark+12:31;+luke+10:27;+romans+13:9;+james+2:8\">loving your neighbor as yourself<\/a> and does not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=philippians+2:3-4;+romans+12:10;+ephesians+5:21;+romans+15:1;+john+13:34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+hebrews+13:1\">look out for the interests of others<\/a>. Religion is sin because it puts limits on the definition of neighbors to whom love is shown.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Regarding keeping all points of the law in verse 10, the law to which this refers is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>. In other words, religious people may do a good job of obeying all of the laws of their chosen religion, but still fail\u00a0 to satisfy God&#8217;s spiritual laws because they do not satisfy the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">royal, spiritual law<\/a> which says to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=leviticus+19:18;+matthew+19:16-19;+matthew+22:34-40;+romans+13:8-10;+galatians+5:13-16\">love your neighbor as yourself.<\/a> Religious people sin, therefore, because, while showing partiality toward members of their own religion, they fail on the one critical point of showing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/1-corinthians\/13.html\">true, impartial love<\/a> toward everyone &#8212; including members of other religions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">The rich oppressors in verse 6 are those who are rich in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\">pride and self-righteousness<\/a>\u00a0are not necessarily materially rich. They do not take people to legal courts as we understand courts today. Rather, this terminology symbolically represents the judgments with which <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/pharisees-and-scribes\">Pharisees<\/a> constantly evaluate (i.e. judge) obedience to religious laws and coerce people who do not obey those laws to be more religious. Of course they do not consider obedience to religious laws to be coercion. They call it evangelism.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\/2\">this link for understanding of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. <\/a>Also see <a href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/chapter-1-gods-strategy-for-overcoming-division-and-creating-unity\/\">this link:\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"bibleref\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Philippians+2%3A3-4&amp;version=ESV\">Philippians 2:3-4 <\/a><span class=\"verse-3\">Do nothing from selfishness or\u00a0empty conceit, but with humility of mind\u00a0regard one another as more important than yourselves; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">COMMENTARY: Conceited people will readily and often boast about themselves. They may boast with words, but they may also boast about their wealth through the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, and the homes in which they live. Everything about them says &#8220;Look at me! I am special! I am hot stuff! I am rich! I am cool!<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">People who think they are really special in some way and who brag about their unique qualities (e.g. beauty, brains, skills, etc.) are not attractive to others. People will soon tire of hearing conceited people brag about themselves and they great things that they have done. This is especially true in business, entertainment and politics. It is also true in religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Religious people are<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\"> prideful, conceited, arrogant boasters.<\/a> Their behaviors are designed to communicate to others that they are close to God and enjoy God&#8217;s favor. They think they say and do religious things because it pleases God, but the truth is that they just want others to think well of them because they desire the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+12:42-43;+john+5:41-44;+matthew+23:1-7;+1-samuel+15:30;+romans+2:29;+john+7:16-18;+john+8:50-54;+john+12:43;+john+5:34;+john+6:15;+1-thessalonians+2:6\">praise of men<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Some people display their religion with words, some with clothing and jewelry, some with bumper stickers, some by giving to religious organizations, and some by going to religious meetings regularly. These are all normal, accepted behaviors in the world of religion, but to God, they are fleshly displays of religious pride that elevates the religious person.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">This verse does not say that pride is sin, but there are many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=proverbs+8:13;+job+35:12;+mark+7:20-23;+isaiah+13:11;+james+4:16;+1-samuel+17:28;+jeremiah+16:12;+jeremiah+7:24;+ezekiel+7:24;+jeremiah+11:8;+isaiah+25:11;+psalm+10:2;+job+33:17\">verses that tell us how God see pride (i.e. it is evidence of an evil heart) and how he will deal with it.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+2:11-12\">Romans 2:11-<\/a><span style=\"color: #3161b3;\">12 <\/span>For there is no partiality with God. 12. For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, <span class=\"highl\">and <a title=\"3745: hosoi (RelPro-NMP) -- How much, how great, how many, as great as, as much.\" href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/3745.htm\">all who<\/a> sin <a title=\"1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among.\" href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/1722.htm\">under <\/a><a title=\"3551: nomo (N-DMS) -- Usage, custom, law; in NT: of law in general, plural: of divine laws; of a force or influence impelling to action; of the Mosaic law; of the books which contain the law, the Pentateuch, the Old Testament scriptures in general.\" href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/3551.htm\">the Law <\/a><a title=\"2919: krithesontai (V-FIP-3P) -- (a) to judge, whether in a law-court or privately: sometimes with cognate nouns emphasizing the notion of the verb, (b) to decide, to think (it) good.\" href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/2919.htm\">will be judged<\/a> by <a title=\"3551: nomou (N-GMS) -- Usage, custom, law; in NT: of law in general, plural: of divine laws; of a force or influence impelling to action; of the Mosaic law; of the books which contain the law, the Pentateuch, the Old Testament scriptures in general.\" href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/3551.htm\">the Law.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY: Verse 11 makes it very clear that God does not show favoritism to anyone &#8212; especially one religion over another. Verse 12 can only be understood by knowing to which law it refers. Here is how it should be interpreted:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><em>For all who have sinned because they do not have God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a> written on their hearts will also die spiritually because they do not have God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a> written on their hearts; and all who sin by observing <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> will be judged by God and found guilty of sinning against his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+2:27-29\">Romans 2:27-<\/a><span class=\"verse-27\"><span style=\"color: #3161b3;\">29: Then<\/span>\u00a0those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">28<\/span> <span class=\"verse-28\"> For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. <\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">29<\/span> <span class=\"verse-29\"> He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from God.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY: Those who are physically uncircumcised keep God&#8217;s spiritual laws because his\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:10-11\">laws are written on their hearts<\/a>. They are New Covenant disciples. Those who have the written code follow <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws made by men<\/a> but break <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Real Jews are spiritual Jews &#8212; not ethnic or religious Jews. Spiritual Jews are not concerned about physical circumcision or any other physical, religious activity or symbol. Spiritual Jews understand that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">God is only concerned with the condition of the heart<\/a> &#8212; not with the flesh (i.e. religion). Spiritual Jews do not seek <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/07\/19\/praise-of-men\/\">praise (i.e. affirmation) from men<\/a> who will reward them for their religious behaviors. Spiritual Jews are content with the knowledge that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-samuel+16:7;+luke+16:15;+jeremiah+17:10;+psalm+44:20-21;+proverbs+15:11;+1-chronicles+28:9;+2-chronicles+6:28-31;+psalm+44:21;+acts+1:24;+1-kings+8:39;+proverbs+21:2;+romans+8:27;+romans+10:5-8;+1-timothy+1:3-5;+2-timothy+2:22;+hebrews+10:19-22;+deuteronomy+30:11-14\">God knows their hearts. <\/a>Their reward is spiritual life that comes through God&#8217;s spoken word.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">Circumcision<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/israel-jerusalem-jews-christians-and-gentiles\">Israel, Jerusalem, Jews, Christians and Gentiles.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/5-12.html\">Romans 5:12: <\/a><span class=\"verse-12\">Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY: Just like Jesus (i.e. a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiah<\/a>) is a symbolic representation of all <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> disciples, Adam, after he ate from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>, symbolically represents all<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\"> Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religionists.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">It is the nature of Old\/First Covenant religionists to evangelize others to join their religion. Thus it can be said that the sin of religion was spread through the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\">world of religion<\/a> through Adam&#8217;s evangelistic efforts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/adam.html\">Adam symbolically represents all men\/women, <\/a>it can be said that sin is spread through the world by anyone who practices religion. This happens primarily in families, but also through other kinds of relationships.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Since Old\/First Covenant religion leads to death, it follows that all efforts to evangelize others to practice religion lead to spiritual death. It can be similarly said that anyone who teaches\/encourages someone to practice religion is a spiritual father\/mother.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/5-13.html\">Romans 5:13:<\/a>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-13\">for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY: There are two references to law here. In the phrase &#8220;until the law,&#8221; the law in view is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws.<\/a> In the phrase &#8220;when there is no law&#8221; refers to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>. With these understandings, the verse could be rightly restated as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\"><em>Until people live according to God&#8217;s spiritual laws, the world of religion is full of sin. But, God does not find sin in people who do not follow religious laws.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/5-20.html\">Romans 5:20 <\/a><span class=\"verse-20\">The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">COMMENTARY: The law in this verse refers to religious laws. Sin increases because people interpret the Bible literally and create religious laws out of those literal interpretations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Grace is a symbolic term that refers to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+deuteronomy+30:15-20;+psalm+119:160;+psalm+119:142;+john+6:63-68;+matthew+4:1-4;+luke+4:1-4;+john+5:24;+deuteronomy+32:45-47;+1-peter+1:22-25;+hebrews+4:12;+1-john+1:1-3;+john+1:1-4\">spiritual life that comes through God&#8217;s spoken voice\/word<\/a> which communicates his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/4\">this link<\/a> for an in depth discussion of grace.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">The presence of religious laws provides the incentive to sin by being religious. Sin is a transgression of God&#8217;s spiritual laws because religious laws require listening to the voices of religious leaders (i. e. false prophets) instead of God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">The story of Adam and Eve shows that God allows people to choose to be religious. They had a choice to eat from the <a href=\" http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">Tree of Life<\/a> or from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.<\/a> They were spiritually alive as long as they ate from the Tree of Life, but they died spiritually (i.e. they could no longer hear God&#8217;s spoken voice) when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. When they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they sinned by eating <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine#evilsoulishfood\">evil soulish food<\/a> served by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">Abounding grace accrues to people who have practiced religion zealously for a long time. The more religious they were, the more they appreciate being set free from religion. The more the have listened to false prophets, they more they will appreciate hearing God&#8217;s spoken voice. Having been spiritually dead while sinning practicing religion, they have great appreciation for being spiritually alive while listening to God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/romans\/7-9.htm\"><span class=\"l\">Romans 7:9<\/span><\/a>: <span class=\"verse-9\"> I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span class=\"verse-9\">COMMENTARY: We are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spirituallife\">spiritually alive<\/a> when we do not follow\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">(i.e. are apart from)<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws.<\/a>\u00a0This is represented as Adam and Eve&#8217;s status before eating the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span class=\"verse-9\">This status changes when we yield to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\/4#temptationsofjesus\">temptations<\/a>\u00a0 from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\">the world of religion\u00a0<\/a>to be religious. People who are raised in religious homes learn from an early age that religion is normal and learn to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">interpret the Bible literally instead of symbolically<\/a>. This social pressure is like a commandment that says &#8220;you must be religious to be accepted and get along with others in this family\/community.&#8221; This is how the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+34:6-7;+deuteronomy+5:8-10#\">sins of the fathers are passed down to succeeding generations<\/a>. Parents essentially command their children to practice religion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span class=\"verse-9\">When children respond to this commandment, sin is activated (i.e. becomes alive) in them and they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">die spiritually.<\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-9\"><strong>MISSING THE MARK<\/strong><br \/>\nThe page <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">GOD\u2019S WRITTEN WORD AND HIS VOICE ARE NOT THE SAME,<\/a>\u00a0reports that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#definitionofsin\">sin is defined as eating the spoken or written words of anyone other than God or his anointed spokespersons<\/a>. This tells us that the mark that we shoot for is the ability to listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice. When we listen to and obey (i.e. eat) God&#8217;s spoken voice, we hit the mark. We eat <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine#goodspiritualfood\">good spiritual\u00a0 food<\/a>. When we listen to God&#8217;s voice, we obey his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+22:22;+psalm+119:11;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:10;+hebrews+10:16;+deuteronomy+6:6-9;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:29-31;+deuteronomy+32:45-46;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+3:10;+psalm+40:8\">spiritual laws written on our hearts<\/a>. Hearing and obeying God&#8217;s voice is the mark.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>However, when we listen to and obey (i.e. eat) the words of false prophets, we miss the mark and sin. We eat <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine#evilsoulishfood\">evil, soulish food<\/a>. We eat from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This definition of sin, of course, does not agree with the generally accepted concepts of sin in either <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jewish_views_on_sin\">Judaism<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christian_views_on_sin\">Christianity<\/a>. It also appears to contradict Biblical representations of sin usually defined in terms of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+5:18-21;+mark+7:17-23;+colossians+3:1-9;+1-peter+4:3;+jeremiah+5:7;+jeremiah+7:9;+deuteronomy+18:10-14;+1-samuel+15:23;+2-chronicles+33:6;+jeremiah+14:14;+ezekiel+13:6;+proverbs+6:14-19;+proverbs+17:19;+2-corinthians+12:20-21;+2-kings+9:22;+romans+13:13;+hosea+4:18;+1-corinthians+6:9-10;+hebrews+12:16;+hebrews+13:4;+proverbs+23:20;+luke+21:34;+1-corinthians+3:1-3;+ephesians+5:18;+1-peter+4:1-3;+2-peter+2:12-14;+ephesians+5:3-5;+galatians+5:15-21;+galatians+5:26;+philippians+2:1-4;+james+3:14-16;+galatians+5:19-21;+leviticus+18:20;+deuteronomy+22:22;+1-thessalonians+4:1-8;+malachi+3:1-5\">deeds of the flesh <\/a>and observance of ceremonial laws specified or implied in the Bible. The way to reconcile these contradictions is to evaluate the differences between <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws,<\/a> where we see that the main difference is who makes the laws: Men or God.<\/p>\n<p>Religious people find no problem with religious laws made by men as long as those laws are based on the literal words of the Bible. Thus they readily conclude that <a href=\"http:\/\/examples.yourdictionary.com\/examples-of-morals.html\">morality<\/a> (e.g. sex, greed, honesty, murder, etc.) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/ethic\">ethics<\/a> are the standards by which God judges sin. Temptation, therefore, is framed by religionists with respect to these standards.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:8-9\">God, however, does not see these issues the way man sees them.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In God&#8217;s way of thinking, if man is involved in the creation and enforcement of moral and ethical laws, he considers that those who follow those laws have &#8220;eaten&#8221; the words and writings of men. And for God, there is a very big difference between eating the words of men and eating his words. This difference is first presented in the Bible in the parable of the two trees in the Garden of Eden.<\/p>\n<p>God said Adam and Eve could eat from either of the two trees (i.e. Tree of Life or the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil), but warned that if they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil they would die. What we need to understand here is that God and his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a> are trees of life and that false prophets are trees of knowledge of good and evil.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/wood-gold-silver-stone\">Wood (trees),<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\">Bread, Food and Wine<\/a> for understanding of the two kinds of trees.<\/p>\n<p>When we begin to understand the differences between the two kinds of trees, we can also begin to understand why God gives so much attention to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/2#cleanuncleanfood\">discerning the difference between clean and unclean food<\/a>. And when we understand this difference, we can begin to appreciate how eating the words of anyone other than God or his true prophets that speak for him can be considered to be sin.<\/p>\n<p>Putting this in the context of religion, we see that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> are sin because religious laws are nothing more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+15:7-9;+isaiah+29:13-14;+colossians+2:20-23;+titus+1:10-14\">doctrines made by and enforced by men. <\/a>Religious people sincerely believe\u00a0 that obedience to religious laws based on the literal words of the Bible is the mark that God has set for them. This makes sense to man, but this is not God&#8217;s way. God&#8217;s way, and God&#8217;s target (i.e. mark) is obedience to spiritual laws written on the heart. This is the ultimate example of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:1-9;+isaiah+65:1-2;+isaiah+53:6\">God&#8217;s ways not being the same as man&#8217;s ways.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF SIN<\/strong><br \/>\nJews and Christians have a common understanding of sin &#8212; to a point. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">Jews have their religious laws and Christians have their religious laws.<\/a> But, beyond those laws, they agree that sin includes fleshly attitudes and behaviors.<\/p>\n<p>Flesh is more than <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+5:18-21\">impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/mark\/passage\/?q=mark+7:17-23\">evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness<\/a>. Indeed these are all forbidden or at least undesirable qualities and behaviors in most cultures, it is reasonable to say that they are common fleshly activities found in human nature. But God&#8217;s purpose in this long list of common, worldly sins and taboos is not as obvious as we might think.<\/p>\n<p>Most people do not need to be warned about these attitudes and behaviors because they have been raised by parents and cultures that teach about bad behavior and punish children and adults who exhibit it. In some cases, civil laws and consequences are designed to deter people from breaking these laws and isolate hard core offenders so they can no longer harm others if they do not respond to discipline. And if there are not laws, there are at least cultural norms that tell us what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior and discipline us when we deviate from them. This is how we learn to become good citizens of our respective cultures.<\/p>\n<p>God uses the same kind of disciplinary techniques that parents and cultures use to teach and enforce good behavior, but his standards of behavior are not the same as we find in human culture. For God, the standard of perfection is the New Covenant. That being true, anyone who sets Old\/First Covenant religion as their standard will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/chata.html\">miss the mark which is the definition of sin.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The New Covenant law is THE <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=psalm+19:7-13;+james+1:23-27;+genesis+17:1-7;+psalm+119:1-11;+deuteronomy+4:1-6\">perfect<\/a> law by which God<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=proverbs+17:3;+1+chronicles+29:17;+psalm+26:2;+proverbs+15:11;+jeremiah+17:10;+jeremiah+20:12;+psalm+7:9;+acts+15:8-11;+acts+1:24;+romans+8:26-27;+1+chronicles+28:9;+psalm+139:23;+jeremiah+11:20;+revelation+2:22-23\"> tests\/evaluates the condition of the heart. <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1+samuel+16:1-8;+1+kings+8:39;+1+chronicles+28:9;+luke+16:15;+2+corinthians+5:1-7;+hebrews+4:12\">God&#8217;s exclusive practice of looking at the heart while men look at outward appearances<\/a> stands in stark contrast with Old\/First Covenant religions where<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+23:1-5;+john+12:37-43;+john+5:41-44;+romans+2:29;+1+corinthians+4:5;+2+corinthians+4:5;+2+corinthians+10:18;+1+thessalonians+2:1-6\"> everything done is for others to see so they can receive praise and glory for their religious behaviors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So God&#8217;s laundry list of bad behaviors does not just affirm what we already know. Nor is the punishment that he prescribes for these sins meant to duplicate, replace or add to the punishments and disciplines that our parents and cultures use to maintain order and civility.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, God uses these terms to describe how he sees religion where each of these natural behaviors has its spiritual counterpart which is the substance or focus of spiritual sin. God associates these human behaviors with Old\/First Covenant religious beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that he summarizes as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/sarx.html\">flesh<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>God&#8217;s association of these many sinful behaviors with religion is not understood by religious people because their eyes are blind to spiritual truth. They will continue to see these offensive behaviors as a laundry list of human sins to be avoided until<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+12:1-2;+romans+11:1-8;+isaiah+29:1-14;+matthew+13:1-17;+luke+24:16;+luke+24:31;+matthew+9:30;+ephesians+1:18;+acts+26:18\"> God opens their eyes<\/a> so that they can acquire<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-corinthians\/2.html\"> spiritual wisdom that enables the to understand the spiritual meaning<\/a> of each of these terms.<\/p>\n<p>In summary, Old\/First Covenant religionists do not have spiritual wisdom to understand the New Covenant.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>TWO SETS OF LAWS DESCRIBE SIN DIFFERENTLY<\/strong><br \/>\nThe book of Romans is often quoted in Christianity but it is not well understood. The reason it is not understood is that Christians think that because they believe in Jesus they are New Covenant disciples even though they are really Old\/First Covenant religionists. The problem Christians have is that they do not understand the difference between the t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">wo covenants<\/a>. They think that just because they believe in Jesus they enjoy a New Covenant relationship with God. They are wrong. The New Covenant is not a matter of doctrine, it is a matter of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">condition of your heart<\/a>. Christians, like the Jews have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\">stumbled over the law.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The book of Romans has more references to the law than any other book in the Bible. It is impossible to understand without first understanding that there are actually two sets of laws that relate to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">two covenants<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Romans chapter 7 is one book that has many references to the law and to sin. It is impossible to understand, however, unless you first understand that the Bible references two sets of laws &#8212; not just one. The two sets of laws are the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\"> Old\/First Covenant and the New Covenant.<\/a> If you don&#8217;t know the differences between the two laws, and the two covenants you cannot understand sin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/3#romans7\">this link for a detailed interpretation of Romans.<\/a> Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">this link for understanding of the two covenants.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>TEMPTATION<\/strong><br \/>\nJews and Christians make a big deal out avoiding temptations to moral sins because scripture has much to say about sins like sex, greed, pride. have difficulty believing that they can be guilty of tempting people to sin. Every time someone converts to Judaism or Christianity, those converts have fallen into the temptation to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin by becoming religious<\/a>. In these conversions, Judaism and Christianity fulfill the function of Canaanites who want to expand their kingdoms by absorbing others into their kingdoms. The dynamics of this conflict are explained further in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/sibling-warfare\">Sibling Conflict<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">Religion is the Enemy,<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/gods-at-war\">Gods at War.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Except for understanding that religion is sin, it is hard to imagine that anyone can make us sin. This may be true for worldly sins like murder, theft and adultery, but, when it come to religion, we see that whenever religion is taught, modeled and encouraged, people are tempted to sin.<\/p>\n<p>Hard as it may be to accept, the Bible actually tells us that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-33;+judges+2:1-2;+deuteronomy+7:1-5;+exodus+34:10-17\">religion makes us sin, follow other gods and commit harlotry<\/a>. We can understand and accept this, of course, only when we understand the following:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\">Nations that occupied the promised land symbolize religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Religion is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">slavery.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Religion is idolatry.<\/li>\n<li>Religion is the kingdom of false prophets &#8212; not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">faith<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Still, it is hard to accept that religion actually makes us sin. We like to think that we have the wisdom to know what sin is and that we have the moral will to choose to avoid it. That self-righteous thinking might apply to some kinds of moral sins (e.g. murder, stealing, coveting, lying, etc.) but it does not apply to the sin of religion which most of us learn and adopt from childhood.<\/p>\n<p>As children, we do not have the discernment to know that religion is sin. If our parents practice religion, and if we see many others doing it, we learn to accept religion as a normal part of life and choose to participate in it so that we can be accepted by our parents and other religious people.<\/p>\n<p>Because religion seems so right and so good, it does not cross our minds as children or adults to reject it. This is how the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:5;+exodus+34:7;+numbers+14:18;+deuteronomy+5:9;+jeremiah+31:29;+jeremiah+32:18;+lamentations+5:7;+deuteronomy+24:16;+ezekiel+18:19\">sins of the father are passed on to the children<\/a>. But, even if we had the insight to reject our parent&#8217;s religion, our parents and their religious friends would <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">oppress and afflict<\/a> us as necessary to ensure that we continue to practice their religion. This is how religion uses <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\/2\">oppression<\/a> to ensure that it survives from generation to generation.<\/p>\n<p>This common history traces the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">toxic effect of religion<\/a> in all cultures in all generations. It also testifies to the fact that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">Religion is a Stronghold of Wrong Thinking<\/a>. But the good news is that, in these modern times, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">God is calling people out of religion <\/a>at a rate that, as far as we know, is unparalleled in history.<\/p>\n<p>Parental religious influence is represented in the Bible as &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+18:10;+ezekiel+16:21;+ezekiel+20:31;+ezekiel+23:37;+2+kings+16:3;+2+kings+17:17;+2+kings+21:6;+jeremiah+19:5;+jeremiah+32:35;+2+kings+23:10;+2+chronicles+33:6\">passing children through the fire&#8221;<\/a> and as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+18:21;+leviticus+20:1-5;+2+kings+23:10\">offering them to the god Molech. <\/a>The practice of teaching children to be religious by listening to false prophets is the reason <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:1-5;+exodus+34:1-7;+numbers+14:18;+deuteronomy+5:1-9\">God punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generations<\/a>. This may seem to be a harsh, unfair judgment until we recognize that children who were once victims of the sin of their parents later become perpetrators of the same sin when they teach their children to sin. It is an ongoing cycle of Old\/First Covenant religion and it is not arrested until people do the following:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Realize that religion is sin.<\/li>\n<li>Repent for practicing the sin of religion.<\/li>\n<li>Repent for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">indoctrinating their children and others with religious teaching and for evangelizing them to practice religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Teach their children and others to reject religion based on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">literal words of the Bible and listen to God&#8217;s voice.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>ORIGINAL SIN\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\nTo understand the concept of original sin, it is necessary to first review the following links for understanding of the spiritual meaning of the Genesis story:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"entry-title\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/6#religionisacurse\">RELIGION IS A CURSE<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"entry-title\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\">Bread, Food and Wine<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">COVENANT COMPARISONS<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/wood-gold-silver-stone\">Wood (trees)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\" http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Fruit of Trees of Life<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Fruit of Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Putting this all together, we have the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#definitionofsin\"> definition of sin: Eating the spoken or written words of anyone other than God or his anointed spokespersons. <\/a>This is useful instruction only if we are able to distinguish between the two kinds of trees. As the Bible says, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/genesis\/2-9.html\">both trees appeared to be good for food<\/a>. Just like Adam and Eve had freedom to choose between the two trees, we also have a choice. If we don&#8217;t know how to tell the difference, there is a very good chance that we will choose the wrong tree. And that is what happens when people choose religion.<\/p>\n<p>Here is what we need to know so that we will not choose wrongly:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trees of Life<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>God is the original Tree of Life because he has the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+exodus+15:26;+exodus+23:21;+exodus+19:5;+jeremiah+7:23\">words that lead to spiritual life.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li>God&#8217;s spoken words are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine#goodspiritualfood\">good, spiritual food<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>People who are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">born again<\/a> by the spirit of God are also Trees of Life because they are created from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+1:11-12;+luke+6:43-45;+matthew+7:15-20;+matthew+12:33\">spiritual seed of the Tree of Life<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>When God creates a new Tree of Life, he<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:38-39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:24-27;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\"> gives that person a new heart.<\/a> See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">this link for characteristics of\u00a0 a clean, pure heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">True prophets<\/a> are also called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#witnessdefined\">witnesses<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors. <\/a>They are all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+1:11-12;+luke+6:43-45;+matthew+7:15-20;+matthew+12:33;+john+3:5-6\">born by the spirit of God. <\/a>Because they have God&#8217;s spiritual seed in them, they also speak <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+exodus+15:26;+exodus+23:21;+exodus+19:5;+jeremiah+7:23\">words that lead to spiritual life. <\/a>Their written and spoken <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+exodus+15:26;+exodus+23:21;+exodus+19:5;+jeremiah+7:23\">words lead to spiritual life.<\/a> What they speak and write <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:34;+deuteronomy+30:14;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+psalm+49:3;+luke+6:45;+romans+10:8-10;+psalm+37:30;+job+33:3;+job+33:33;+psalm+45:1;+proverbs+16:23;+proverbs+4:23\">comes from their hearts<\/a> because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=job+22:22;+psalm+119:11;+jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:10;+hebrews+10:16;+deuteronomy+6:6-9;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:29-31;+deuteronomy+32:45-46;+deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+3:10;+psalm+40:8\">God has written his laws on their hearts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/11\">this link<\/a> for instruction on how to identify Trees of Life.<\/li>\n<li>The main message of Trees of Life is &#8220;stop listening to false prophets and start <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">listening to God&#8217;s spoken voice.&#8221;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Anyone who presumes to speak for God but has not been born again by the spirit of God is a false prophet.<\/li>\n<li>Religious leaders who serve <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine#evilsoulishfood\">evil, soulish food<\/a> to religious people who do not know how to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/2\">discern good from evil.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>People with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil, impure hearts<\/a> who have not been born again.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">False prophets<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">Serpent, Devil, Satan, Adversary, Demons, Evil Spirits and Anti-Christs<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The constant message of Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil is to keep coming to religious leaders for instruction about God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Instead of listening to and obeying God&#8217;s voice regarding the two trees, Adam and Eve listened to the voice of the serpent and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is the original sin that led to the sin of religion.<\/p>\n<p>In this definition of sin, we also have the justification for calling religion sin: Religion always involves reading and\/or listening to the words of religious leaders which God calls Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil whose words (i.e. teachings, writings) God calls <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine#evilsoulishfood\">evil, soulish food<\/a>. This food contrasts with the food served by God and the people he sends to speak on his behalf who are called Trees of Life.<\/p>\n<p>Thus it can be said that eating (i.e. intellectually ingesting) the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">written or spoken words of Old\/First\u00a0 Covenant<\/a> religious leaders, and then acting on what they teach, constitutes sin in God&#8217;s eyes. These leaders\/teachers are called idols, False Prophets, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/judas\">Judas,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/kings-queens-and-princes\">Kings, Queens and Princes,\u00a0<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/pharisees-and-scribes\">Pharisees and Scribes,\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">Serpents, Devils, Satans, Adversaries, Demons, Evil Spirits and Anti-Christs. <\/a>People who listen to such people and follow what they teach practice the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\">sin of idolatry<\/a> because they listen to and obey those teachers instead of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15\">listening to and obeying God&#8217;s voice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>It must be said also, however, that New Covenant disciples are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">anointed by God<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=john+7:16;+john+12:49;+john+14:10;+john+14:26;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12\">speak on his behalf through the power and influence of his spirit<\/a>. These <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+ezekiel+3:4-11;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21\">sent ones<\/a> are called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#witnessdefined\">witnesses<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>OTHER SCRIPTURES ABOUT SIN***<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/14-23.html\">Romans 14:23 <\/a>Whatever is not of faith is sin. <span class=\"verse-23\"> But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+40:1-3&amp;t=nas\">Jeremiah 40:1-3<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+17:1-7&amp;t=nas\">Jeremiah 17:1-7<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/8-3.html\">Romans 8:3<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=acts+13:38-39&amp;t=nas\">Acts 13:38-39 <\/a><span class=\"verse\">38<span id=\"verse-38\">&#8220;Therefore let it be known to you, brethren , that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"verse\">39<span id=\"verse-39\">and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"pull-left\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+9:30-31\">Romans 9:30-31 <small>NAS\u00a0<\/small><\/a>30<span class=\"verse-30\"> What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attainedrighteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-12\">\n<div class=\"scripture\" lang=\"en\">\n<div id=\"v-31\" class=\"verse font-helvetica\">\n<p>31<span class=\"verse-31\"> but Israel, <sup class=\"verse-reference verse-crossreference\"><a>3<\/a><\/sup>pursuing a law of righteousness, did not <sup class=\"verse-reference verse-crossreference\"><a>4<\/a><\/sup>arrive at that law.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Scriptures that connect sin to law:<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+2:12;+romans+7:7-8;+romans+7:25;+romans+5:13;+romans+5:20;+romans+8:1-3;+1-john+3:4;+1-corinthians+15:56;+james+2:9\"> Romans 2:12; Romans 7:7-8; Romans 7:25; Romans 5:13; Romans 5:20; Romans 8:1-2; 1 John 3:4; 1 Corinthians 15:56; James 2:9<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+40:1-3;+jeremiah+7:21-281;+psalm+81;+1+kings+20:36;+2+kings+18:12;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+44:20-23;+daniel+9:14;+zephaniah+3:1-2;+psalm+106:1-27\">http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+40:1-3;+jeremiah+7:21-281;+psalm+81;+1+kings+20:36;+2+kings+18:12;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+44:20-23;+daniel+9:14;+zephaniah+3:1-2;+psalm+106:1-27<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-33;+judges+2:1-2;+deuteronomy+7:1-5;+exodus+34:10-17\">Several times God warned Israel not to make covenants with surrounding religious nations so they would not sin by serving their gods<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.knowing-jesus.com\/topics\/Sinful-Hearts\">http:\/\/bible.knowing-jesus.com\/topics\/Sinful-Hearts<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/numbers\/passage\/?q=numbers+5:11-31\">http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/numbers\/passage\/?q=numbers+5:11-31 test for adultery<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(<a title=\"Ezekiel 28:12-14 KJV\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel%2028:12-14;&amp;version=9;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ezekiel 28:12-14<\/a>)Isaiah 14:13-14).<\/p>\n<p>Joshua 7:1-11<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/jeremiah\/17-1.htm\"><span class=\"l\">Jeremiah 17:1 &#8220;Judah&#8217;s sin is engraved with an iron tool <b>&#8230;<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse\"><span id=\"verse-40\">The Old\/First Covenant is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2+corinthians+4:16-18;+mark+4:13-17;+hebrews+8\">temporary covenant<\/a> made up of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:1-13;+matthew+15:1-14;+mark+7:1-7\">laws created by men and taught by men to one another <\/a>while in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+10:15-17;+hebrews+8:7-13\">New Covenant God&#8217;s laws are written on the heart. <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-5001\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-5004\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">Tree of Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-5004\">mark 7:21-23; luke 6:43-45<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Original Sin: In the Garden of Eden, the choice Eve had was between the Tree of Life (i.e. New Covenant) and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (i.e. Old\/First Covenant<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/porneia.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">porneiva<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/pornos.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">povrno <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/porneuo.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">porneuvw<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/ekporneuo.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ejkporneuvw<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/pornos.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">povrno <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/porne.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">povrnh<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/proverbs\/7-10.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Prov 7:10<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=Genesis+38:14-15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gen 38:14-15<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/joshua\/2-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joshua 2:1<\/a> ; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/joshua\/6-17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joshua 6:17<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/joshua\/6-22.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joshua 6:22<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/joshua\/6-25.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joshua 6:25<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/matthew\/1-5.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matt 1:5<\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/judges\/11-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Judges 11:1<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/judges\/16-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Judges 16:1<\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/1-kings\/3-16.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">1 Kings 3:16<\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/amos\/7-17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amos 7:17<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/genesis\/38-21.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gen 38:21<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/deuteronomy\/23-17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Deut 23:17<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=Numbers+25:1-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Num 25:1-5<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+35:15;+numbers+14:33;+jeremiah+3:9;+jeremiah+13:27;+ezekiel+23:27;+ezekiel+43:7;+ezekiel+43:9;+hosea+1;+hosea+2;+hosea+3:4;+hosea+5:1-7;+jeremiah+5:7-8;+ezekiel+23:37;+jeremiah+23:11-14;+ezekiel+22:11;+malachi+3:5;+isaiah+54:5-8\">http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+35:15;+numbers+14:33;+jeremiah+3:9;+jeremiah+13:27;+ezekiel+23:27;+ezekiel+43:7;+ezekiel+43:9;+hosea+1;+hosea+2;+hosea+3:4;+hosea+5:1-7;+jeremiah+5:7-8;+ezekiel+23:37;+jeremiah+23:11-14;+ezekiel+22:11;+malachi+3:5;+isaiah+54:5-8<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>STUDY TIP: It will be impossible to understand this series of pages without first reading these pages: Two Covenants Part 1 TWO COVENANTS PART 2 The Law Bread, Food and Wine The Law is a Stumbling Block God\u2019s Written Word <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":160,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1964","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1964"}],"version-history":[{"count":140,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1964\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12701,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1964\/revisions\/12701"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}