What is Sin?

First Commandment: Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Second Commandment: Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Third Commandment: Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Fourth Commandment: Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Fifth Commandment: Exodus 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Six Commandment: Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

Seventh Commandment: Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Eighth Commandment: Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.

Ninth Commandment: Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Tenth Commandment: Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

Jesus identified the two most important of the Ten Commandments. Notice that the other eight commandments fall under these.

Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Are all Church doctrines based on the Word of God?

If I didn't mention topics of interest on the following pages, then I recommend that you go to the Word of God and study to find God’s views. If a Church doctrine can’t be identified by commandments or fundamental truths of the Bible, then it must not be based on God’s desire, but man’s. In the book of Revelations, we can see what God thinks about adding undue hardships to the Word or ignoring selective verses.

Revelations 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

In the first chapter of Philippians (text below), Paul warns that some ministers preach with envy and strife to add afflictions to the hearer. The principles of Holiness should not be compromised, but they should be presented with God’s love and compassion as the Christian experience is one that requires continual spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2 and 1 Corinthians 3:2 describe new Christians as “newborn babes” that desire the sincere milk of the word). We definitely do not want to add unnecessary afflictions that are based on man made doctrines. As a sinner, would you be most receptive to a sermon presented in anger or with one presented with the Love that God represents?

Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

1Corinthians 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

"The Holiness Handbook" document.

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