The Bible tells us that sin is “transgression of the law” (1Jn. 3:4). Sin is a powerful force that makes us want to go the way that is opposite to God’s way. So instead of being blessed for living God’s way we are punished if we live the way of Satan, which is sin. Satan’s ways are opposite to God’s ways. God hates sin (Pro. 6:16-19). He that sins is of the Devil (or Satan) because the Devil was the first being to sin (1Jn. 3:8).

A Christian is faced with a constant struggle in his or her daily life to overcome sin. Satan wants us to reject God’s Law. So if we give up the struggle against sin, Satan wins. However, just like our parents, God knows that we will never be perfect. But, he has given us access to His Holy Spirit which can lead and guide us and help us learn to love God and keep His commandments.

Is some sin worse than others?

Some churches calling themselves Christian teach that there is mortal sin and venial sin. They say that some sins are worse than other sins and therefore they require more punishment. They say mortal sin leads to hell and venial sin is more easily forgiven and perhaps after a short time in Purgatory a person who commits venial sins can get to Heaven. This concept comes from the term used by the apostle Paul regarding the fact that there are some sins that lead to death. However, the concepts of venial and mortal sins and Heaven and Hell for an immortal soul on death are not biblical.

The concept of people going to either Heaven or Hell when they die is a pagan concept. The word for Hell is Sheol, and means the grave where the dead are buried. Hades was the Greek word used for the Hebrew, also meaning the grave. The third word translated as hell in the Bible is Gehenna, which was the rubbish pit outside Jerusalem where they burnt dogs and rubbish. Another word used in the Bible that is translated as Hell is tartaros or tartaroo, which was the pit reserved for the angels in their containment (2Pet 2:4). There is no such thing as an ever-burning Hell.

John says that there is sin that is not unto death. That usually means the sins we pick up or commit as we go about our daily business. However, upon repentance we are freed from these sins and restore our relationship with God the Father. Whosoever is born of God does not sin (1Jn. 3:9).

Lucifer’s sin

When God created the spiritual beings He created them perfect. God’s Law was also in place from the beginning. But just as we can make right and wrong choices, so too can the spiritual beings. God does not want robotic people or spiritual beings. God wants spiritual and physical beings who want to obey His Laws from their heart and not because they are forced to do so.

Lucifer was created perfect (Ezek. 28:12-15). He was an anointed Cherub who covered God’s Throne. Lucifer, which means light bringer, held the rank of morning star of the planet (Isa. 14:12). At some point, unrighteousness (also translated iniquity) was found in him and he sinned (Ezek. 28:15-16).

The word translated unrighteousness is SHD 5766 and it means perverseness, wickedness, dishonesty, wrong, injustice, and depravity. With this unrighteousness in him and his sin, God the Father cast him from the mountain of God (Ezek. 28:16). Lucifer’s name was then changed to Satan (Zech. 3:1), meaning the adversary (1Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:10; Zech. 3:1). An adversary is someone who tries to hurt us. Satan hurts us by accusing us before God.

Satan’s sin removed him from his role and responsibility as Covering Cherub of God’s Throne. Satan broke the First Commandment by attempting to elevate himself above the One True God. Jesus Christ said of the Devil that ‘he is a liar and the father of lies’ (Jn. 8:44).

Satan’s role of Covering Cherub is currently vacant. Satan had been placed in charge of the Earth and was to implement God’s Laws on the planet. Satan’s responsibility for the Earth and people on the Earth did not change after the rebellion. Satan was given about 6,000 years to govern the Earth. The 6,000 years is almost over and we can tell by all the suffering on the planet that Satan did not follow God’s Laws or Plan.

Satan is still the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). That means Satan and the fallen Host can influence our thoughts through music, television, conversations, etc. We are told to guard our minds (2Cor. 10:3-5). 2Corinthians 4:4 tells us the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving.

Initially everything was created perfect but when the fallen Host attempted to ascend to God’s Throne they were cast back to Earth (Isa. 14:13-14). That is why Luke10:18 states, “I saw Satan fall as lighting”. Sometime after the spiritual rebellion led by Satan, in which one third of the Host participated (Rev. 12:4) the Earth was tohu and bohu, or formless and void (Gen.1:2). Though it was created perfect, the Earth was destroyed in part due to the rebellion of the fallen Host.

The sin of Adam and Eve

Prior to creating man, the Earth was refashioned and made a positive place for man to dwell. See the paper In the Beginning (No. CB5).

Man was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). The first humans were created perfect also. They lived in peace and learned of God’s Law. Jesus Christ, as an angel in the Garden of Eden, taught Adam and Eve about God’s Laws.

As we know from the Bible, Satan lied to Eve by telling her, she would not die if she ate the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. Adam and Eve sinned in their desire to take something that was not theirs. They also gave into the temptation and stole from the tree that God told them was forbidden to them. Adam and Eve were cursed for disobeying God (Gen. 3:14-16). As a result of their rebellion and sin, death came upon all mankind (1Cor. 15:22; Rom. 5:12).

For more information about what happened to Adam and Eve see the paper Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (No. CB6).

The results of sin

Sin is the breaking of God’s Law (1Jn. 3:4). We know what sin is by the Law of God (Rom. 3:19). For more information on God’s Law see The Law of God (No. CB25). All men have sinned (Rom. 5:12). The consequence (or wages) of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus Christ came as the only born god (Jn. 1:18) to pay the death penalty for all mankind and the fallen Host. Since Jesus was here as a man and led a sinless life his death paid the price for all of us. His death became the perfect acceptable sacrifice to bring all of us back to the Father (Heb. 7:27,28; 9:12; 10:10-19; 1Pet. 3:18).

Though we know we can have access to God the Father, there still may be consequences or penalties we have to pay for our sins.

There are numerous examples of how sin is affecting the planet. For example, because we do not follow God’s food laws people are now getting diseases from eating unclean food. The unclean creatures of the waterways (cf. Lev. 11:10) are designed to do a task. However, because they are being consumed for food they cannot do their job and help in God’s Plan in the way He had intended. For more information see the paper The Biblical Food Laws (No. CB19).

Another example is that many people on the planet are not waiting for marriage before having sex. Therefore there are now a lot of people who have sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS. So a lot of children do not grow up in a home where there is a mother and father to love and care for them.

There are so many examples, but the main problem is that people do not worship the One True God. Some people worship money, technology, or false gods. Today many people get time off for Christmas because their country says it is a holiday. Yet we know that Christmas is an ancient pagan celebration and we should have no part of it. See the paper Why we don’t celebrate Christmas (No. CB24). For more information see the paper The Ten Commandments (No. CB17).

Each time we sin and continue to sin, we put ourselves further and further away from God. Yet each time we obey God the more He directs our thoughts (Pro. 16:3). We must pray, study the Bible and examine ourselves to try to see our sins. The apostle Paul said he would not have understood sin unless the Law revealed what it was (Rom. 7:7).

The cursed Earth

When we sin there are penalties or consequences for us as individuals, and sometimes this extends to our families, the nation and the planet. The Earth was cursed because of Adam’s disobedience (Gen. 3:17-19; Gen. 4:11,12).

As mentioned earlier, when we break the food laws it hurts the individual, but it also hurts the planet.

Because we don’t keep the land Sabbaths the land is being overused. The crops are not as healthy as they were many years ago. People are getting sicker and sicker due to lack of nutrients in the food, and increased use of chemicals and pesticides in the food chain.

On the other hand, just because people get sick, it does not necessarily mean they are sinning. God often heals people, but sometimes He chooses not to restore them to good health. Sometimes we do not look after ourselves properly and so get sick. But also we can inherit diseases from our parents. The apostle Paul could heal others but he himself was not healed. The sickness in this society is the result of rejecting God’s Laws over the time since creation.

Satan’s world

Under Satan’s system things are being mismanaged and individuals, families and nations suffer. Individuals who obey and keep God's Laws prosper and receive blessings which would lead to the planet being able to support the people who inhabit it.

We were instructed how to treat our fellow man and the planet. But the world by and large has chosen to disobey God’s Laws. Look at where all the mismanagement has got us: right now the list is endless regarding the suffering of both mankind and the planet that is being endured by not obeying God.

Things could be so different if people repented and started obeying God. When we obey God’s Laws we receive blessings and have peace of mind that we are doing the right thing (Jas. 1:25). Individuals, families, and the entire planet would be better off by keeping God’s Laws.

We are told not to love the world or anything in the world. If we love the world, the love of the Father is not in us. The world and its sinful desires will pass away. But the one who does the will of God lives forever (Jn. 15-17).

God’s Plan for His Creation

Though the Earth is cursed because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve, God had set up a plan to minimise the problems. When sin occurred, the Jubilee system was started. The Jubilee/sabbatical system is the complete economic, environmental, moral and social system for mankind. It protects all individuals and their families. But mankind still attempts to design its own systems and rebel against God’s System.

Jubilee means 50. The Jubilee is based on seven 7-year cycles, which equal 49 years. The Jubilee year is the 50th year. Leviticus 25:10 states, “You shall thus consecrate/sanctify the 50^th year and proclaim the year of liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee”. God owns all and He allows us to use the Earth.

The next Jubilee is in 2027/28 and that will be the Jubilee of Jubilees being the fiftieth from the restoration in Ezra and Nehemiah.

At a point in the future God the Father and Jesus Christ will rule the universe from Earth. When there is no longer any sin on the planet, God will move His Throne that is currently in the Third Heaven, to the Earth. There will no longer be any sun or moon because God will illuminate or light the Earth (Rev. 22:5). A river of the water of life will flow from the Throne of God and the Lamb (Rev. 22:1). The curse on the Earth will be removed (Rev. 22:3).

It is truly amazing what wisdom, power and mercy God the Father possesses. He established a Plan that allows man and the fallen Host to make their own decisions, but which resulted in sin and death. Yet God established a way before He created anything, to restore unrepentant mankind and the fallen Host to Himself. (See God’s Plan of Salvation (No. CB30.)) It is hard to imagine a time when all people ever created will be keeping God’s Law and all mankind will be spiritual beings, worshipping and obeying the One True God, Eloah.

It is up to us now to obey God’s Law out of our love for God. It is also our responsibility to take the gospel to the entire world so all men know of God’s Plan and can repent and change their ways. All will be given a chance to repent and live God’s way. Since God does not want any to perish, it appears all beings will choose to obey God’s Laws. For more information of the reconciliation process see God’s Holy Days (No. CB22) and God’s Plan of Salvation (No. CB30).

There is such a better time coming in the future, but there is much work to be done before the two Witnesses arrive (Rev. 11:1-12) followed by the return of the Messiah.

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