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Jeff Shepherd
Questions about
The Ten Commandments
(Continued)
8.     "What does it mean to covet some-one/thing? To my way of thinking coveting is what makes free enterprise and our economy work; so is our system in violation of the "Ten"?” There is a distinction between desiring something and coveting it. I can only give my opinion on this but I do not think it is inappropriate to want to improve your circumstances or to desire prosperity. That would mean that the entire capitalistic system was based upon “coveting.” There is a difference between desiring something and desiring something so much that we are willing to compromise our standards to get it. If I can earn something legitimately without compromising my values then I don’t see any problem but if I covet something then it occupies my thoughts and my desire for it causes me to do things that I normally would not do to get it. It may cause me to steal or to lie or to betray someone that I love. That is the difference between desiring something and coveting it.

I hope that by answering your questions I haven’t created more questions but I suspect that I have. As a child of God our question should not be how close can I get to the line between obedience and disobedience but how can I avoid sin completely. Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) If I really love Jesus that would mean I would prefer to avoid anything that might cause me to be tempted to sin.

It is not a sin to be tempted but if I am vulnerable to getting drunk then I should avoid situations that might cause me to be tempted to drink. The same illustration could be applied to any sin. Even if we are a Christian we will still sin but if we sin then we only need to confess our sin to receive forgiveness. John wrote in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” Jesus paid for our sin and his blood is the only acceptable sacrifice for sin. I cannot make up for sins that I have committed by living a good life. I can only confess them to God and ask Him to forgive me. If you are trying to stop sinning on our own I can assure you that you will fail. (Rom 7:14-25) The harder you try not to sin the more you will sin.

God promises that if I accept His Son as my Lord and Savior and accept His death on the cross as payment for my sin then He will forgive me of all unrighteousness, (1 John 1:9) having done that I can know for sure that I have eternal life. (1 John 5:13) But if I have done that I will also want to obey Him as he commanded His disciples. “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) That is how I know that I am saved because I want to obey His commandments!
  
 
Jeff Shepherd
If we confess our sins He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness! (1 John 1:9)
Since 3/12/02

 

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