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From Kristos Vocabulary Booster

Matthew Johnson wrote:
> In article <115.27.15.05.952560000@srcbs.org>, gpatton@bayou.com says...
>
>
>
>>>Robert, I found this post to be very informative, BUT, I do not
>>>agree that anyone except Jesus led a sinless life.
>>
>>How about this?
>
>
> Close, but not quite.
>
>
>>As Job was not sinless, it seems that he could be a sinner, yet still
>>be a "perfect and an upright man".
>
>
> If you hadn't used the word 'sinner', I could agree that you have a plausible
> interpretation. For 'sinner' does not mean "anyone who every sinned at least
> once", but "someone who habitually sins". And that Job was certainly not, nor
> could he have been called 'perfect' if he were.
>
>
>>So sin does not necessarily
>>keep a man from being a "perfect" man.
>
>
> Here you are close. And there is a Proverb that supports you. It is a pity it is
> not more well known. It is:
>
> For a righteous man falleth seven times,
> and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity. (Pro 24:16 JPS)
>
> So THAT is the difference between the righteous and us! The righteous get up
> again.
>
>
>>Therefore, man must be designed to be a sinner, and it is his nature to sin,
>
>
> These conclusions are unacceptable. For God did not make us sinners. Even the
> devil played only an ancillary role in this.
>
> In other words, neither nature nor nature's God made us sinners, we do. Again,
> as the Proverb says:
>
> The foolishness of man perverteth his way;
> and his heart fretteth against the LORD. (Pro 19:3 JPS)
>
> Which, as Keil & Delitzsch pointed out, it paraphrased well in the Wisdom of Ben
> Sirach as Sir 15:11-20 of which I copy only the first few verses here:
>
> Do not say, "Because of the Lord I left the right way";
> for he will not do what he hates.
> Do not say, "It was he who led me astray";
> for he had no need of a sinful man.
> The Lord hates all abominations,
> and they are not loved by those who fear him.
> It was he who created man in the beginning,
> and he left him in the power of his own inclination.
> If you will, you can keep the commandments,
> and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
> (Sir 15:11-15 RSVA)
>
> Hard to believe at times, isn't it? But there it is.

Thanks, Matthew. This was great.

I will take down the quotes.

I think that Augustine said something to the same effect.

Sin is not sin unless we are able to not do it.

A very rough paraphrase.

Gary

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