Many folks have a wrong concept of sin in the NT dispensation not being aware that the definition of sin under the new covenant is unlike that in the OT period. Apostle Paul defined sin as anything that is not of faith that worketh by Love.
When we are born again the life of GOD which is the light of men, lights our candle i.e. our spirit (John 1:4,9; Proverbs 20:27; Psalm 18:28).
Sin was in the world before the law came after the Exodus but since there was not law, you could not locate sin. So death reigned from Adam to Moses (Rom 5:14) because the wages or consequence of sin is death. Question: Why didn't the Apostle say death reigned from Adam to Jesus?
ANSWER: Because when the law came, the law was more powerful than death. If man could fulfil ALL the law, they would not be subject to death but receive life. That is why Moses said to them, the law is your life (Deut 32:47). The law presented the Jews with both life and death and Moses urged them to choose life (Deu 30:15, 19). Obviously, no one could fulfil the law. Jesus came to fulfil it because of our inability to do so.
Things changed with the birth, death and resurrection of Christ. In the NT, Jesus fulfilled all the demands of the law ... justice-wise. He took upon himself the judgement that was to come on humanity for disobeying GOD's laws. After paying the debt owed bu man, death no longer reigns or has a say in who lives or dies. Read for yourself Romans 5:14 and compare it with Rom 5:17.
If Jesus died for us and paid the penalty for every sin that was ever committed under the old contract and that could ever be committed, then do we still ave to pay for that penalty? Emphatically Jesus did not stop there. He did something more than just paying for our debt or sin. He also gave us a new life hence 2Co 5:17 which says if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, ALL things are become new. We either believe this or not.
Understand this. The old man or old creation was buried with Christ when he was buried. The new man came about as a result of the resurrection of Christ. That is what the scripture calls a new species (2Cor 5:17). This is a new creation. You do not belong to the old creation. You belong to a new creation. This new creation has GOD's word implanted in their hearts. They are the reproduction of GOD's word (1Pet 1:23 Amplified translation). The new creation is born of His word. Remember He and His word are ONE (John 1:1). Until you really know who you are; you'll never be able to really live the way GOD created you to live in the new creation. This is why GOD gives us his word. GOD's word is a mirror. When we look into it, we see the true reflection of ourselves i.e. our true identity...not what the world says we are (1Cor 13:12; 2Cor 3:18; James 1:23). What we see, we emulate. The Word of GOD has given birth to us and because we are from the Word of GOD, we can only be sustained by the Word of GOD.
We have been so trained and taught with the consciousness of sin by so many preachers while we were growing up and by our environment because of the difference between right and wrong that many of us have either lost the idea or never had the understanding of the true concept of sin.
By the simple definition of sin (as a nature vis-a-vis an act), the Christian cannot sin because being boirn again means receiving a new nature. Apostle John said, Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1John 3:9).
For the longest time, theologians have tried to reason that scripture away but it is what it is. We do not practice sin as a nature because His seed remains in us because we are born of GOD. 1John 3:4 defines sin as the transgression of the law. Therefore, if the Christian has not been given the Law of Moses as a means to attain righteousness, it follows then that she or he cannot transgress a law that is not given. That is why he makes that statement in verse 9.
The concept of sin and wrongdoing are two different things. Sin is a nature of the devil just like righteousness is that of GOD. Adultery or murder does not constitute sin. They are the fruit of sin otherwise known as the works of the flesh. Just like giving alms and praying is not righteousness. They are a fruit of righteousness or the fruit of the spirit of life at work in us.
We are born of Him and Apostle Paul added that the fruit of the spirit is Love (Gal 5:22). And we are born of the spirit. The fruit of the recreated human spirit is Love. It is not sin. The recreated human spirit produces Love. Sin consciousness is the bane of most of GOD's people. That is the reason why they commit works related to a sin nature. This is why when we get born-anew from above, we have to renew our thinking pattern. The more conscious of sin you are, the more likely you are to commit acts related to a sin nature. What dominates your mind is what controls your actions.
Let us get a righteousness consciousness and the result will be exactly as promised by Romans 5:17.
