michael56,
a good question.
Romans 3:20.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:
for by the law
is the knowledge of sin.
LUKE 18:18.
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
the definition of 'sin' is 'transgression of the Law - for by Law is the knowledge of sin',
Paul, when talking to 'believers', he says, 'I had not known sin except the Law had said,
'thou shall not covet'.
in the verses in Luke 18, the ruler asked Christ, 'what much I do to inherit eternal life' -
and Christ answered, if you will enter into life, keep the Commandments' -
and the rich young ruler asked, 'which', and Jesus answered, quoting some 'thou shall nots' -
and the young ruler answered saying that he had done ALL of those things since his youth -
and our Lord told him that he lacked one thing, that he must go and give away all of his
wealth to the poor and then 'he would be perfect' -
if we study this account, we see that Christ caught him in the breaking of at least (2)Commandments -
1. he is coveting his wealth, 2. he was caught in a lie by saying that he had indeed Kept the Commandments -
and further, covetousness is idoltry, seems the list is growing!
the Law teaches us what sin is, and this story is teaching us how we can so easily deny the reality
of our own sinful behavour, or self-justification =(rude awakening)
for my wife and myself, after studying the scriptures over many years, we were led to the reality of our
'worldly, sinful, nature' and could easily understand why our Father has to
continually REPEAT, over and over throughout His Word, how we must behave in
order to be in His will and walk in His Light, and this must be,
through the depths and riches of His Holy, Spiritual, Eternal Commandments.