In some phases in life, we may feel much fulfilled. Yet, when sadness of heart comes, either because the body is sick or certain needs are not met, or that we cannot particularly understand certain circumstances of life, the natural tendency is to ask WHY? But usually for as long as it takes to come to the knowledge of the truth that every good thing comes from above. This is the point of the beginning of knowledge; self gets to the end of itself. Though unfortunately so, some still remain unaware, and the question continues without end that ends only at death. And even more tragic is to live to that end not aware, or more so confront the need to fill the void; “as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). 

According to sound doctrine, to be in the oneness is to choose to accept the gift of His righteousness. God is love, and in Him there is no variableness. The Bible teaches that sin is what has caused man to fall short of this likeness of God, creating the void. The fundamental difference in these thoughts remains in knowing the reality of sin in man. Sin simply means that a person is contrary to God. If that will not suffice, then, notice that there is not the knowledge of God in every man. For some say, “there is no God,” whom the Bible says are fools indeed: for only a fool says in his heart, there is no God (Psalm 14:1). And again, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

Now note that disagreement with God means we choose to do things our own way, contrary to his standards. The Bible calls it disobedience. Living in disobedience to God is what the Bible calls sin; it is an offense in God’s eyes. And because the invisible things of God are clearly revealed in the things He created, man in his own judicial system pronounces such a one as guilty (or simply, a sinner), and there is always a punishment. Disobedience leads to the separation, which nullifies the contract or His obligation to supply the empowerment to excel in Him. 

Very important, it is, to note how that man and ‘his’ systems mirror the pattern of things in God’s larger universal system. So that as one may be pronounced guilty under the law of man for disobedience, so also one is pronounced guilty at the judgment seat of God for disobeying His laws. This disobedience could be as simple as telling a lie; for the law says, “Thou shall not bear false witness.” Note then, that the essence of the law, whether of the law of man or the law of God, is so that things can work in harmony, eliminating the void. Harmony, I am sure we can agree, is a vital part of the requirements for good living and fulfillment. In fact without harmony all that we have said about oneness ceases to hold, because oneness itself means agreement. But disharmony creeps in once there is a break of order; that is, a deviance from the set rules, which again is called offense in the law court, or simply sin. You probably don’t just like the word sin, but sorry, that’s just what it is called.

Now, the reason for setting boundaries, whether by man or by God, is that the breaking of it causes pain to others or to the offender, which the law of man or God disallows, and only out of love for the offender. To disobey “Thou shall not kill” inflicts bereavement upon the victim’s family or a people. Little wonder how that the 2001 terrorist attack has left so much pain to the nation and to the families of the victims in particular. It is sin (wrong, offense) in the eyes of man or God to indulge in such a heinous act. Which is why the justice system continues to go after the perpetrators and to pronounce them “guilty” when found. Heaven, no doubt, holds them guilty equally. It is called sin (offense) before God and before man. 

The preaching of the cross of Christ is the response of a merciful God to the yearnings of the void in the souls of men. It is calling all to escape the just wrath of the law of God through repentance, and the acknowledging of the price of sin, which Jesus has paid on behalf of ALL, from Adam to now. It is so because God’s law requires that “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.” But God’s love is demonstrated towards us in that His longsuffering endure, allowing that all can come to the repentance, and escape the penalty for sin. To accept the call is to once again make a decisive choice: to choose to forsake all sinful dispositions, which is, to decide to learn the standards of God set out in His word, of how to live in His harmony, His oneness. To forsake the call, is to choose to pay the penalty of sin for ourselves. For the “Soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Death here is really talking about a choice to remain out of the oneness, the consequence of which is the lack of the empowerment to partake of all there is in it. The absence of that empowerment speaks of not being in that oneness anyway, because in the oneness all odds cease. 

If we evaluate ourselves in honesty, we would notice that we occasionally fall short in the application of that knowledge; and we have believed indeed that we have access to that power by it. In effect, we are continuing to grow in the knowledge of the rules; and hence is continually experiencing greater intimacy and benefits of the union. We are learning more and more about the proper use of the means, which argues plainly for the fact that not all has the knowledge of God. This is really to say that we are systematically filling up the void, and so working out our own salvation. 

Sin is therefore the breaking of the law, either knowingly, or unknowingly. And as we know, ignorance is never an excuse when the judge interprets the law. But God’s love today has permitted the preaching of the end of that law, Christ Jesus; so that in hearing, those that will choose obedience may obey it, and therewith escape the wrath of the law.