Is everything that an unsaved person does sin?

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Sep 24, 2012
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#1
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
 
Jan 17, 2020
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#2
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
YES!
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#3
No. If an unsaved person out the kindness of their hearts gave food to a homeless women is that then a sin?
before I was even saved I saved my teachers life was what I did a sin?
 
Mar 4, 2020
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#4
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
I think you are possibly misinterpreting the context of that verse.

Here's my take: That verse applies to to the conscience of Christians. We are justified by faith and our consciences bear witness of ourselves. So Christians shouldn't eat meat if they feel guilty about it, but for other Christians it's allowed because they don't feel guilty about it. There are exceptions, though, and merely believing something to be right doesn't always make someone guiltless because there is such a thing as sinning in ignorance. It does not say that everything an unbeliever does is a sin.
 
Apr 21, 2020
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#5
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
What I have learned very quickly is that one should not place too much emphasis on individual passages.

Placing too much emphasis on individual passages has led people down rabbit holes, and placing too much emphasis on individual passages has led to the 'justification' of some horrendous acts in the past.

Instead, study not just the wider context of each passage, but the whole Bible, in its entirety
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,656
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#6
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
Nope. The context is what a believer is allowing or not allowing in his life. This is not addressing the non believer. If a non believer gives food to the hungry, it is not a sin.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#7
What I have learned very quickly is that one should not place too much emphasis on individual passages.

Placing too much emphasis on individual passages has led people down rabbit holes, and placing too much emphasis on individual passages has led to the 'justification' of some horrendous acts in the past.

Instead, study not just the wider context of each passage, but the whole Bible, in its entirety
I agree. We build understanding within the context of a greater whole: line by line, and precept by precept. That is a Biblical principle :)
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
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#8
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
No.

Romans 2:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

Romans speaks a great deal on the moral law. How everyone still has a conscience even before knowing Christ. One can still be morally upright but still carry the debt of sin. Because it only takes 1 sin to break the whole law.

In Romans 14 he is describing certain topics that are preference and for the evangelists we must not get caught up debating over such topics. By their conscience they feel as they are doing right. And to divide, quarrel, or fuss over is only a tripping block for the church or new believers.

We are to be careful not to strain out the gnats but ignore the camel.

Basically soul salvation topics should be the most precious and time spent topics.
 
Sep 24, 2012
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#9
No.

Romans 2:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

Romans speaks a great deal on the moral law. How everyone still has a conscience even before knowing Christ. One can still be morally upright but still carry the debt of sin. Because it only takes 1 sin to break the whole law.

In Romans 14 he is describing certain topics that are preference and for the evangelists we must not get caught up debating over such topics. By their conscience they feel as they are doing right. And to divide, quarrel, or fuss over is only a tripping block for the church or new believers.

We are to be careful not to strain out the gnats but ignore the camel.

Basically soul salvation topics should be the most precious and time spent topics.
I guess I don't understand. If you steal something how are you guilty of murder? Are you sure that you're right?
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#10
There are blessings that come with following God's plan for us and sin always brings curses to us. It does not take a knowledge of God to see this, and many intelligent unsaved people follow this plan and do it very well.

Many saved people take their sins to Christ to be cleansed of them without any thought of giving them up and accepting the ways of Christ. I am having a real struggle with this as many of my family live with accepting the forgiveness offered by Christ without accepting Christ's way of living.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
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#11
I guess I don't understand. If you steal something how are you guilty of murder? Are you sure that you're right?
James 2:10-11 New International Version (NIV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.


In God's eyes sin is sin and any blemish doesn't react well with an all holy, righteous and perfect God. If we wanted to completely stand in God's presence we need perfection. This is why in scripture people are warned that to see God's face or even touch something Holy would instantly kill the human who wasn't ceremonially or spiritually prepared.

Jesus was our one and final ceremonial sacrifice and spiritually prepares all who believe.
 
Apr 15, 2017
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#12
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
It is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so a person in the world can do good.

But although the world can do good their motivation would be of the flesh, which in the flesh dwells no good thing.

Which they would want people to think they are special, and exalt themselves because of that, not giving glory to God.

Which a man called Jesus good, and He said why call me good for there is only one that is good, and that is God, which the man Christ Jesus gave glory to God that the only reason He did good was because God caused Him to do good.

Which we can do good, but truly being good is being led of the Spirit, and we are not good with sin in our life.

The world will fall short of that good and a little leaven leavens the whole lump.

We can do good in the world but the motivation is flesh which the world wants to exalt themselves, but they have sin for they cannot overcome the flesh, where a person led of the Spirit will exalt God for them doing good, and they can overcome the flesh.

So the good we do in the world does not qualify as the goodness of God although it can help people in that goodness, and would want to stay away from some sins, for the world chooses what sins they like and do not like.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#13
So the good we do in the world does not qualify as the goodness of God although it can help people in that goodness, and would want to stay away from some sins, for the world chooses what sins they like and do not like.
In fact we can bless the Lord for the goodness that is done in the world by unsaved people. The Lord created our world to work well based on this goodness, as even unsaved people can see. They are copying what the Lord is teaching and following the conscience the Lord has given them.

Christians could learn from them if they would open their eyes, for they show what blessings following God's ways brings. They are following God, we should pray for them that they could know Christ and accept Him and His offer of giving them life eternal.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
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#14
No. If an unsaved person out the kindness of their hearts gave food to a homeless women is that then a sin?
before I was even saved I saved my teachers life was what I did a sin?
The natural man, as described in 1 Cor 2:14, if he does a kind deed, will be doing it to benefit his own personal image, rather than his concern for the other person.
 

UnitedWithChrist

Well-known member
Aug 12, 2019
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#15
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
An unsaved man doesn't have a life that revolves around God, therefore he is like a cold, dark planet that is wandering in space, untethered by the gravity of the Sun.

In the same way, the unsaved man's life reflects sin as a general principle of life.

One mitigating factor, though, is that he is still made in the image of God, even though it has been shattered due to the Fall. So, sometimes he behaves according to societal standards, exercising civil virtue.

Civil virtue, in itself, is often the cause of pridefulness and self-righteousness, though. We see this in the behavior of the Pharisees and self-righteous professing Christians and other religionists today.

Religionists are going to eternal punishment, too, unless they are joined by faith to Jesus Christ.

The answer is the need to be united with Christ, so that the person lives a God-centered life.

Jerry Bridges has written some fine books on this topic, including "The Fruitful Life".

https://smile.amazon.com/Fruitful-L...tful+life+jerry+bridges&qid=1587576910&sr=8-1
 
Dec 9, 2011
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#16
Romans 14:23 King James Version
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Can it be taken from Romans 14:23 that everything an unsaved person does is sin, or is this not something that can be taken from Romans 14:23?
To GOD It doesn't matter whether man sees a big sin as worser than a small sin,all sin Is the same, not acceptable.

The way you worded your OP though IMO makes the question unanswerable because GOD IS RIGHTEOUS and to say that EVERYTHING an unsaved person does Is sin seems to me that the question Is saying that GOD was In the wrong.Maybe It would be better to ask Is It a sin not to be obedient to faith,I mean Is It a sin to not say yes to GOD and receive salvation by Grace through faith?

Sidenote:Sin Is not Imputed where there Is no law.
Talking about the conscience
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#17
The post question is about sin itself, not about what so many are answering. Sin cannot be changed by the person's salvation. The sin saved people do and the sin unsaved people do is the very same sin the only difference is in the results of that sin. Saved people can repent and accept Christ's salvation for that sin.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#18
The natural man, as described in 1 Cor 2:14, if he does a kind deed, will be doing it to benefit his own personal image, rather than his concern for the other person.
I think your misunderstanding the scriptures. Besides when I saved my teachers life I didn't think or act my body just moved and even before I was saved I would love to give away any money I had because I knew others needed it more than I did. Not everyone is the same and the hearts motive is what makes the deciding factor, my body moved on it's own because of what was in my heart I gave money away because of the need I was aware of.

It is not a sin to do God's will even if your not saved and every action and word we say has a ripple effect like a pebble being dropped in a small pond.