"Sin" is the harmful consequence of having done something, of having said something, of having thought something. It's not the doing, the saying, or the thinking. I reiterate that it's the harmful consequence set in motion. As such, it is a seed whose nature is to grow and produce more (possibly abundantly more) of itself.
For example, using a piece of information (true or false) can be used to produce harm. It doesn't matter whether the harm was intentional or not. Once the harm is set in motion, it runs its course. Let's say that it's as simple as a bit of false information - like a wrong phone number, or a wrong address, the mispelling of a name or place. When one believes the information to be correct (righteous) when, indeed, it is false, one can easily set harm (even if it's minor) in motion whether intended or not. The harm is planted in ones mind as well as in ones environments as one behaves / acts according to the erroneous belief.
For example, speaking a word (and remember that words are concentrations of thought) and/or a string of words can be used to produce harm. Again, it doesn't matter whether harm was the intended consequence or not. Once harm is set in motion, it runs its course. Think about a child who says a monster is under the bed or an adult who says (believes and acts accordingly) that "science is evil."
For example, uncritically embracing an emotional impulse, can set harm in motion. It doesn't matter whether harm is the intended concequence or not. The effect will run it's course.
For example, a physical action (swallowing, picking up something, hitting something, jumping off of a platform, etc) can plant a seed of harm. It doesn't matter whether the harmful consequence is intended or not. Once planted, it will run its course.
For example, a social interaction can plant a seed of harm that will run its course. It doesn't matter whether the harmful consequnce is intended or not. Once set in motion, it runs its course.
Economic harm, intellectual harm, physcial harm, social harm, emotional harm, spiritual harm not only work individually, but together. The environments in which they can be planted include the internal environment of the planter as well as the external. The harm can flourish in a compounded way.
Jumping off of a platform would not always be sinful. If one is wearing proper gear and uses the gear properly, one can jump out of an airplane flying high in the sky and reap good consequences.
Eating food is not always sinful. But, if one has food allergies, then eating some foods would be sinful. Over indulgence can be sinful. Not eating enough can be sinful.
Drinking wine is not always sinful, but drinking too much can lead to harmful consequences. Drinking too much of anything can be harmful.
Enjoying sex is not always sinful. But, like many other activities sex engages intimacy not only on the physical level, but on emotional, social, intellectual, economic, and spiritual levels as well. Once could be setting harm in motion on one of the levels or on several (if not all) of them. The harm set in motion runs its course within ones internal and external evironments.
Sin is the reward, the punishment for having used ones resource/s towards harm whether intended or not.
The wages of sin is death. Of course! That's the ultimate consequence. One could say "sin is a little bit of death set in motion."
But, the gift of God is eternal life. Righteousness (the opposite of sin) sets life in motion. Once planted (set in motion) it runs its course. Ultimate, the eternal life is the consequence for righteousness.
Chances are, our lives are a blend of righteousness and sin. We're alive, because we've more righteousness working in our favor than sin. Eventually, sin will catch up, and we will experience death as a consequence, but the righteousness of God has been applied towards our account through God's commanded love towards us than "while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us." Death is only an interruption, not an end. It will vindicate God's word about sin and righteousness. We shall see!
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