1 John 2:16For 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.
1 John 2:17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Those verses that you posted say that everything is a sin!
Actually they do not. They say that those things are in the world. We are 'in the world" , but we are not "of the world" if we belong to Jesus (John chapter 17). When we follow the things that are "in the world" with us (as per the above verses) then is it that we sin.
An evil thought coming into our mind is NOT sin unless we hold onto it needlessly instead of opposing it and asking God to help us against it.
Going to the bathroom? A sin! because it is a ''lust of the flesh''
You need to understand the difference between lust and need.
Everything that is of the flesh is not automatically sin. A thing of the flesh becomes sin when it is pursued outside of what God recogizes as good. In the beginning all that God created was good.
"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." Gen 1:31
Man was not given an evil heart, but rather the ability to disobey God and to change the use to which God wanted men to put His ood creations to... Man did that and died. Until Jesus came and brought Life to men, everyone has been dead in the eyes of God, but from the very first sin, there has always been Hope because Jesus was always in God's plan... even in the Old Testament.
Man lusts because since he, himself opened the door, that is his nature. Pursuing the lustful nature instead of God always results in sin. This is why as Paul put it:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Rom 3:23
You also need to understand the difference between lust and sin.
The lust is that which is attractive to us outside of God's will. When we pursue it in our flesh or even in our then the lust brings forth sin.
"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:14-15
This is why everyone is effectively dead in the eyes of God until and if the person is able to overcome those things that drawn him into sin. This is why a person needs to be born again.
Getting married? A sin! ''lust of the flesh''
The marriage itself is not sin, but there is certainly sin involved in the relationship of any man and any woman to the extent that they do not follow God's Way in every point. This is, of course, impossible for any person... alone!
Eating,drinking? Again,a ''lust of the flesh''
Gluttony is certainly a sin, but that is going beyond our need, isn't it?
Sleeping? That is a ''lust of the flesh''
Sleeping is a need, but people do probably often sleep when they should be doing other things.
Going to Church? a ''lust of the flesh''
Yes, even attending a church service can in certain circumstances be sinful. If our purpose is wrong nearly anything can be sin for us in the eyes of God.
I think it would go on and on....
Yes, you certainly could, but what does it mean when a person follows all of his own ways instead of being directly in God's Way.
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov 14:12
"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jerem 10:23
All of us need a Director and no carnal man qualifies. Every man born to woman, except one, has not been qualified to direct his own steps in a manner pleasing to God. This is why the only one who did qualify was sent.
Probably you have not understood much of what I have written here. To understand God's meaning in anything requires God's help.
ray:
