Do you suppose things go better for us when we don’t sin? In other words, will things go better for me if I don’t sin?
Perhaps sin is things that I can do that will hurt me.
But why does God disapprove of certain things?
In the time I have come to know you, you often raise many questions even after clear answers have already been given. Scripture certainly encourages honest inquiry and the pursuit of truth, yet it also calls believers to receive sound instruction with readiness and humility (~Proverbs 19:20; ~James 1:19).
For that reason I want to ask you something sincerely. Are you asking these questions because you genuinely want to learn and grow in understanding, as Scripture encourages us to do (~Acts 17:11; ~2 Timothy 2:15), or are your questions simply being raised repeatedly without a real intention to consider the answers that are given?
I ask this because the goal of discussion among believers should be mutual edification and the pursuit of truth, not endless disputes or arguments that lead nowhere (~2 Timothy 2:23–24; ~Titus 3:9).
Agree?
J.
Clear answers? Maybe there are things you aren’t seeing.
Define “better for me”.
Because I’d argue that we’d have to establish what metric we’re using to evaluate. If the question is, will I be more rich and successful, have nicer things, have food on my table, etc–then no, not necessarily. The metric of material success does not correlate with sin; as we discover in this world that quite frequently that it is the wicked who seem to prosper, while good people suffer all the time. Because there is an inherent injustice of this present world.
I would argue, however, that material success is a poor metric to determine ultimate good. I think, on that front, turning to St. Augustine where he speaks of the Summum Bonum (the highest, or ultimate good) is found alone in God; and that the chief good of the human person is living a truly full, and truly human life; which is a life defined by God’s good purpose and will, because human beings were created in God’s image, to reflect God’s own goodness out into creation. Thus the highest and ultimate good is a life lived in God in Christ. To be made perfectly in Christ’s image is what it means to ultimately be fully and truly human. Sin, quite objectively speaking, is the failure to be fully human. Sin is, quite by definition, “missing the mark”; and the mark, the goal, the telos of human life is found in Jesus, in God’s righteous commandments which tell us of true righteousness: to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
So are things better off for you with out sin? Yes of course, without sin you would be living into your full human vocation as an Image Bearer of the Good Creator God. But you don’t, and I don’t, because we’re sinners. As such the fullness we long and look for isn’t found here in this present age, but in the Age to Come, in the resurrection of the body, and in the renewal of all things. But we are called, here and now, as followers of Jesus to live in the hopeful and joyous anticipation of these things–by taking up our cross and following Jesus, by seeking God’s kingdom and living in accord, by the Spirit’s power, to God’s good commandments; and through a life of repentance.
This is the life of faith, hope, and love which we are brought into by God’s grace, through faith, by the power of the Spirit, in Jesus Christ. And it is hard, difficult–it’s a cross. But it is a far better thing to suffer for Christ than to live easy and selfishly for money, wealth, power, and comfort.
So, that brings us all the way back around: We need to define what “better for me” means.
All sin hurts you. In fact, it kills you.
I’m going to treat this as an honest question. “Why does God disapprove of certain things?” First, God did not create sin. As I said before, sin is not a created thing. It is the absence of right. God created sex in a marriage between one man and one woman. Sin is ANYTHING outside of that. God created life; sin is the murder of that life. God created Truth; a lie is the absence of truth.ETC. So why does God disapprove of sin? Just as a parent tells a child not to touch a hot stove, many Biblical prohibitions are framed as protective.
Because God is the Designer of life, the Bible suggests He knows exactly what leads to human flourishing and what leads to “death”.
“And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.” Deuteronomy 6:24
God disapproves of things that cause harm to the individual or the community.
In the Bible, God’s nature is described as “Holy,” which means set apart and morally perfect. Because He is the standard of goodness, He naturally opposes anything that contradicts that goodness or what we know as sin.
“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.” Psalm 5:4-5
A perfect light cannot coexist with darkness; God’s disapproval is often a natural reaction of His purity against things like injustice, pride, or cruelty. The Bible focuses heavily on the idea of God’s desire for a Covenant or a committed relationship with each of us. God often expresses disapproval of things that break the relationship with Him sucj as idolatry, or even adultery.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” Matthew 22:36-40
If an action destroys love or trust, God stands against it because He values the relationship above all else. Biblically, God’s “No” is usually a means to get to a better “Yes.” The disapproval of certain behaviors is often linked to the idea that humans were made for something higher, as in reflecting His image.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”Romans 12:2
Disapproval serves as a course correction to help people reach their full spiritual potential, and as Jesus tells us, a more abundant life.
Peter