What Is Sin?

Proverbs 14:34 states, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." 1John 2:15 states, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." What is the world? Many born again christians are not told what John was talking about. 2John 1:9 also states, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." 1John 2:16 then states, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 
Lust of the flesh - that's an easy one we hear about a lot, but every day born again christians are guilty. 
Lust of the eye - another easy one to define, but every day it's going on among us. 
Pride of life - again, every day born again christians are guilty.

In Romans 7:13, Paul wrote, "Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful."

Folks, we have pastors to teach us, we cannot be offended when he tells us what we're doing is sin. This could be a heaven or hell decision. I Peter 4;17 says, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

We Must Remember

At this time of year, the three words on most of our minds are Christmas is coming. Christmas is a wonderful time if we have the right reason on our mind. That is, everyone thinking of Jesus' birth. But we must not think only of His first coming. We must remember that He is coming back and I believe it is soon!
Between the rapture in  I Thessalonians 4:17 (Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.) and the Marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19:7 (Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.) we will all have to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ in II Corinthians 5:10 (For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.)
In Revelation 19:7 we need to remember that they were not getting ready, but they had made themselves ready. My prayer is that you will search the scriptures and see that these things are true and do what you need to do.