For centuries, basing our knowledge on history, the people of Iceland were convinced their main ancestors were the pagan vikings who came to Iceland in the ninth century AD. Recent DNA tests have shown that there is about as much irish Christian blood in our veins. The DNA does not indicate how much paganism er Christianity is present, only the nationality. The religion we know from history. There was a disposition to accept the Christian faith, but that may have come through the testimony of the Irish Christians, whose pretense we are discovering more and more.

It seems very difficult to trace sin through through. But do we need any such devise?

How and why does Jesus define sin as originating in the thoughts?

Which of the 10 commandments tells us that sin is in our thoughts? Applying the definition of Jesus does that apply to all of the ten commandments?

What does this mean for our salvation?

Thank you, Pastor. It warms my heart. Happy Thanksgiving.

Interesting about the DNA and Iceland. Good point. No, it doesn't really matter if we can trace sin through and through; the main thing is to know we are "by nature the children of wrath". We desperately need to be born again and to abide in Jesus. All sins break all law. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." One God, one law.

Yes, it is what is in the mind that is sin. It is not the outward acts. The outward acts are just sin played out. So then, how is it that sin causes death of all living things? Now are thoughts generated? Are thoughts dependent on biological, physiological systems? If you take "mind altering drugs", what happens to the thought patterns? If you remove part of the brain, say a frontal lobotomy (these experiments have been done), your personality and character change. The circuitry of the brain is based on physiologic receptors which are all coded for in the DNA. Study, thought, mental exercise, physical exercise, diet, all affect the physiology, and affect DNA gene expression. If you look at the locations in the DNA where much of the added DNA is located, you find it around genes that code for the CNS. Why? Satan was not out to kill us, he was out to take us captive. EGW:By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: "Dead in trespasses and sins;" "the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;" "no soundness in it." We are held fast in the snare of Satan, "taken captive by him at his will." Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. {SC 43.2} The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness. {SC 43.3}

As for the 10 commandments, which one is hallmark signature coded for in our DNA? I believe there is one. One that is the mark of the Creator. And not only in the DNA of humans, but all life. Which one is it?

WOW!

You skipped over what I asked earlier. Are you a Seventh Day Adventist? Do you belong to our church? YES/ NO?

Yes I am. Most look at sin as a breaking of the rules, and the solution is a legal payment of the penalty. Sin is not a legal problem. It is a real problem. Legal rules, while they may be based on good reasoning, are arbitrary. A speed limit of 55 MPH is arbitrary. It may be a good rule, but it is arbitrary. Is 56 MPH better, or 54 MPH? The 10 Commandments are not arbitrary. They are descriptive. "God's law is written by His own finger upon every nerve, every muscle, every faculty which has been entrusted to man." This is a literal statement. Do you believe it is literal? Sin is transgression of the law. It is a transgression of our very makeup. And it affects all living things.

I am not saved by being or not being a Seventh Day Adventist[sic]. I'm saved by Jesus Christ. Not one in 20, not one in 100 who claim to be Seventh-day Adventists are ready to meet their creator.

We have little enough of Christ's character. We need it all through our ranks, We must reveal that love which dwelt in Jesus. Then we shall keep the commandment [that we love one another], which not one in a hundred of those who claim to believe the truth for this time are keeping. . . . {7MR 389.3}

Nice response, APL. Very well said.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

I appreciate you emphasizing the fact sin is systemic. As you say, it impacts every fiber of our person and planet. However, I don't understand why you work so hard to refute the fact Jesus will resurrect and punish unsaved sinners with fire. When Jesus "commanded" Moses to kill the blasphemer (Lev 24) and the Sabbath-breaker (Num 15) it was perfectly consistent with law and justice. Their sin did not cause stones to kill them. Their death was the result of capital punishment - not natural law.

What to know a good way to punish with fire?

• Romans 12:19-21 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord. 20 Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

The ministration of the law under Moses was stoning for the willful transgressor. Under Jesus, there is mercy. Look at the women taken in adultery, in the very act, what did Jesus say? Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone, and to the women, I do not condemn you, go and sin no more. Christ is long suffering, with tender mercy. Israel was a not only a religion but a nation. We have nations today, with governments appointed to keep order. It is ideal? No. But are the nations of the world reflective of how God runs His universe? We have to ask the question, why was sin permitted? If the natural consequences of sin had played out, then Satan's charges may have appeared to be right, and people would have served God from fear. (See Patriarchs and Prophets, Chapter 1, and The Great Controversy chapter 29)

• The law of God is immutable. Were it otherwise, no confidence could be placed in his government. God rules the world in omnipotence, and all that His love inspires He will execute. He who rules the world in wisdom and love is a God who changes not. He does not abolish today that which He enforced yesterday. {RH, June 4, 1901 par. 7}
  Through all the ages Satan's work has been the same, -- to make of none effect the law of God. He has infatuated men and women, leading them to mistake darkness for light, and error for truth. He began this work in heaven, and ever since, he has been trying to deceive. He tells men and women that God has abrogated all law, and will now open the gates of heaven to transgressors. He declares that his expulsion from heaven was a severe and uncalled-for action, and that those he led in rebellion may now enter into heaven; for his effort to abrogate the law has been successful, and God's government has been changed. But were this so, Satan would have done on earth that which he attempted to do in heaven, and he would therefore be entitled to the throne of heaven as the chief ruler. {RH, June 4, 1901 par. 8}
  Those who accept Satan's reasoning are terribly deceived. They accept a position which has no true foundation. God is unchangeable. He is satisfied with nothing short of perfect obedience. Perfection is the only title which will gain admittance to heaven. The law is the only standard of character. {RH, June 4, 1901 par. 9}

So if perfection is the ONLY title to gain admittance to heaven, how is a LEGAL solution to the provide this perfection? It does not. Only by applying the blood of Christ is perfection obtained. Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Only in trusting in God and the healing He provides can we be saved. And it will require effort and battle against self on our part. BTW - How many can read this last verse and accept it as it reads? EGW:"If men would but take the Bible as it reads, ... {GC 598.3}" This genomic model explains much to my mind.

I did not just think one day, hm, how can I fit genetics into the Bible? No, it just fell out of my studies of science and the Bible, and by a pointing out of key elements by one who is much more versed in both Science and the Bible than I. The science fits all the verses which were hard to understand. Even on the subject of circumcision! MM, can you give a clear, logical, non-arbitrary reason for circumcision? Or course circumcision by itself means nothing, but why was it chosen as a sign?