"everything that does not come from faith is sin" Rom 14:23
One legalistic faith took the view that in their faith if the law did not mention
the moral issue it was ok to do whatever the action was.
Paul could be making a simple rule. If an action is not dealt with within the faith,
or the precepts or principles cannot be extended to take it into account it is
therefore sin or wrong.
Now imagine I take the view, that we are no longer under law, no rules apply to
me other than the ones I myself set. The idea is condemnation or guilt itself is
evil. So in this view of faith, there is no sin inside or outside faith.
If I take the view faith says I follow the moral law of the Spirit, which looks at the
fruit and precepts behind all actions, then this takes precedence over any other
view of morality, so the phrase "everything not from faith is sin" does not fit.
If Paul was rather saying if in the law an action is banned and faith does not free
you from this banned action, then you need to follow your conscience, it actually
makes sense. So rather than being an open statement, Paul is emphasising the law
of the Spirit is about honouring Christ and how you express your love.
As some think in effect Paul is saying all actions done by non-believers is sin, this is
a wild distortion of what Paul is meaning or intending. They like this idea, because it
justifies their concept things done based on self are sinful, of the flesh, even for
christians, and the war on self actions is the definition of the Kingdom of Heaven.
One legalistic faith took the view that in their faith if the law did not mention
the moral issue it was ok to do whatever the action was.
Paul could be making a simple rule. If an action is not dealt with within the faith,
or the precepts or principles cannot be extended to take it into account it is
therefore sin or wrong.
Now imagine I take the view, that we are no longer under law, no rules apply to
me other than the ones I myself set. The idea is condemnation or guilt itself is
evil. So in this view of faith, there is no sin inside or outside faith.
If I take the view faith says I follow the moral law of the Spirit, which looks at the
fruit and precepts behind all actions, then this takes precedence over any other
view of morality, so the phrase "everything not from faith is sin" does not fit.
If Paul was rather saying if in the law an action is banned and faith does not free
you from this banned action, then you need to follow your conscience, it actually
makes sense. So rather than being an open statement, Paul is emphasising the law
of the Spirit is about honouring Christ and how you express your love.
As some think in effect Paul is saying all actions done by non-believers is sin, this is
a wild distortion of what Paul is meaning or intending. They like this idea, because it
justifies their concept things done based on self are sinful, of the flesh, even for
christians, and the war on self actions is the definition of the Kingdom of Heaven.
