SIN
WAGES 13
AND ITS
became a living soul', far from teaching man's spiritual and immortal nature, actually teach the reverse. The
following passages taken from Genesis will prove this without any doubt:
`The moving creature that hath life (margin soul)' (Gen. 1:20).
`Every living creature that moveth (margin living soul)' (Gen. 1:21).
`Let the earth bring forth the living creature' (Gen. 1:24).
`Every thing ... wherein there is life (margin a living soul)' (Gen. 1:30).
The two words nephesh and psuche, the Hebrew and Greek respectively, for `soul', occur 857 times in the
Scriptures. Yet not one reference can be found that speaks of an immortal or never-dying soul. Consequently we
reject such teaching as untrue. A reading of Genesis 3:22,23, moreover, shows that the tree of life was such that
man by partaking of it could live for ever, but that as a result of sin, God took special precautions to prevent man
from living for ever, by banishing him from the garden. Immortality can only be obtained through Christ, and will
be entered upon at resurrection (1 Cor. 15:53,54).
The question is more fully discussed in a booklet, Hell, or Pure from the blood of all men - same author and
publisher.
CHAPTER 6.
SIN AND ITS WAGES
1.
THE DECLARATION.
Sin is the negation of law, righteousness, faith, and the whole purpose of man's creation. It was introduced into
the world by Adam, through the temptation of Eve by the Devil. Sin is universal in its embrace so far as mankind is
concerned, and its end is death. Death and destruction are the words that summarize its punishment, and eternal
conscious suffering finds no warrant from Scripture. John 3:16 teaches that without eternal life men must perish.
Hell is a misused and misunderstood term.
2.
SCRIPTURAL GROUNDS.
`Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law' (1 John 3:4).
`All unrighteousness is sin' (1 John 5:17).
` ... whatsoever is not of faith is sin' (Rom. 14:23).
` ... all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God' (Rom. 3:23).
` ... the wages of sin is death' (Rom. 6:23).
` ... by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin' (Rom. 5:12).
`He that committeth sin is of the Devil' (1 John 3:8).
3.
AN EXAMINATION OF THE SCRIPTURES ON THE QUESTION OF SIN AND ITS PUNISHMENT.
There are three passages of Scripture that categorically assert the nature of sin:
Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).
Sin is unrighteousness (1 John 5:17).
Sin is anything not of faith (Rom. 14:23).
Sin is the negative of law, of righteousness, and of faith. Scripture defines sin, in the first instance, by what it is
NOT. God alone is positive; evil is only able to deny, refuse, obstruct, disobey. It is darkness and death, the
negatives of light and life.