Sheryl Ann Law

The answer to whether or not such an action is sinless depends on whether the people giving the money or credit/debit card is fully cognitive of the transfer & the reprecussions. Also, whether or not the activity is sinful is whether the reciever of the money or card will be purchasing things in line with the intent of the giving of the money. In addition, whatever is being purchased with the money should be ethical & righteous; this is paramount.

Scripture reveals that a 10% tithe of one's income was to be saved toward the travel costs to, from, & while visiting Jerusalem. The savings was to be spent on travel expenses such as: food, lodging, purchasing livestock to offer as sacrifices, & wine even liquor for one's enjoyment during the festivities. So neither wine or liquor are innately sinful. Jesus/Yeshua miraculously turned ordinary water into fine wine. Yet we also know that scripture cautions pregnant women from drinking wine & liquor for the health of her unborn child. 

Yet we know that drunkards will be forbidden from entering into the Kingdom. On the other hand, the terminally ill who are upon their deathbed are to be allowed such to ease their distress. So, if someone knowingly gives money or a card to someone to go purchase alcohol for a drunkard, a pregnant woman, a child or teenager, a spiritual sin might occur, while a similar giving of money or a card for the purchase of alcohol for a wedding, anniversary, birthday, holiday meal, or intimate meal would not be wrong.

Without knowing the intent, circumstances, item(s) to be purchased, the identity of the final recipient of the goods, & whether consent & proper authorization for the expenditure has been given, & whether that individual has ability to afford it, it is virtually impossible to whether any of it is sinful, righteous, or neither.

The viewpoint of onlookers can make a sin out of something as simple as disciples grabbing handfuls of raw grain from stalks while walking through a field on a Sabbath day as they are hungry & grateful to the Father above. The Pharisees claimed the disciples had sinned. The Son said they were not sinning. Even the oxen are not to be muzzled while plowing the field. Along with his men, soldiers, David, the future king of Israel, who was not a priest & therefore ineligible to eat the shewbread, all are the shewbread of the priests yet were not condemned.

Doing things to the glory of God or due to wonderful provision by God are oftentimes more important than playing a blame game. Depending on the angle, anyone can claim a foul.

October 22 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

All sin was forgiven when Jesus Christ died on the cross (Colossians 1:14, Ephesians 1:7). We are no longer judged by our sins. We are judged by our faith, or lack thereof, in the gospel of our salvation (Romans 2:16), the gospel that saves today: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

When we believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and that He was buried, but rose again on the 3rd day, we are receiving God's free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9), and receiving Jesus Christ as our savior (Ephesians 1:13). We are also instantly sealed with the holy Spirit of promise until Christ returns to redeem us as members of the church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:30). We are no longer seen as a sinner by God, we are complete in Christ and seen as the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Remove the yoke of bondage my friend and live in peace with the understanding that Jesus Christ fulfilled the law for you, and died for all of our sins on the cross. We are currently living under God's "dispensation of grace" (Ephesians 3:1-7), and not under biblical Israel's Mosaic law. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14). "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1). "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?" (Galatians 4:21).

We have been given the free gift of salvation by God's grace through our faith (Ephesians 2:8), so upon our belief we have the freedom to serve God by focusing on Christ and His accomplishment on the cross for us. When one has let go of themselves, good or bad, and have trusted in Jesus Christ being their ONLY means of salvation (there’s nothing you can do to save yourself), then the rest will fall into place. You will desire to remove yourself from a sinful life, and in doing so you are allowing the Spirit to better work through you to serve God (Romans 12:1). We are still sinners even after salvation, but we should not dwell on our failures and shortcomings. Work to improve on these things, but understand that your success does not alter your position in Christ. You have been sealed by the holy Spirit of promise until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30)! 

"I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:25).
KJV

October 24 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report