The consequences of violation of God's law is intrinsic. God does not kill, sin kills, and this is all over EGW writings. Perhaps you should read DA chapter 79 again sometime.

So long!

You're going to have to refresh my memory.

Sin is a legal process - Can someone please explain how sin causes the cancer?

If sin is a legal problem, then for us sinners, just keeping the law would set us right. Funny thing is that the law can't set us right. Is that because it can't change the paper work? Of is the sin problem much deeper than a legal problem?

The atonement of Christ is not a mere skilful way to have our sins pardoned [legal solution]; it is a divine remedy for the cure [healing] of transgression and the restoration of spiritual health [healing]. It is the heaven-ordained means by which the righteousness of Christ may be not only upon us, but in our hearts and characters. {Lt406-1906}

How does sin cause the cancer of sin? The question delves into mysteries beyond finite comprehension, perhaps, because, in fact, we are clearly told that there is no excuse for sin. No good reason can be given for it. How is sin transmitted, as a contagion, from one person to the next? How does the cancer spread? I think ignorance plays a big part, which is why Jesus, on the cross, asked the Father to forgive us, saying "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." If we knew the truth of how damaging sin would be, we would not choose to break God's law by sinning. As Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." This is how the law saves us--knowing it lifts us out of the ignorance into the glorious saving light of Christ.

Originally Posted By: green

How does sin cause the cancer of sin? The question delves into mysteries beyond finite comprehension, perhaps, because, in fact, we are clearly told that there is no excuse for sin. No good reason can be given for it.

Having no reason for the existence of sin does not mean we do not know what sin is. Those are two very different things.

EGW: To many minds the origin of sin and the reason for its existence are a source of great perplexity. ... It is impossible to explain the origin of sin so as to give a reason for its existence. yet enough may be understood concerning both the origin and the final disposition of sin to make fully manifest the justice and benevolence of God in all His dealings with evil. ... But there was one that chose to pervert this freedom. Sin originated with him who, next to Christ, had been most honored of God and who stood highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven. ... Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." Ezekiel 28:12-15.

Sin is disguised, and many are deceived in regard to its nature.

What she is saying is that we cannot explain why Satan needed to author sin, but that he did. This is not saying we cannot know what sin is and how it affects us, in many ways.

EGW: It is the nature of sin to spread and increase. Since the first sin of Adam, from generation to generation it has spread like a contagious disease.

Originally Posted By: green

If we knew the truth of how damaging sin would be, we would not choose to break God's law by sinning. As Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." This is how the law saves us--knowing it lifts us out of the ignorance into the glorious saving light of Christ.

OK - you know how bad sin is, not stop. But you can't, not of yourself. No "legal" solution will work because sin is not a "legal" problem. Sin is bad, why? Because it destroys God's creation. How does it destroy God's creation and how does it affect all living things! Legal problem? I don't think so.

EGW Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world as the unwearied servant of man's necessity. He "took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses," that He might minister to every need of humanity. Matthew 8:17. The burden of disease and wretchedness and sin He came to remove. It was His mission to bring to men complete restoration; He came to give them health and peace and perfection of character. {MH 17.1}

NOTE - He bore ouf SICKNESS. It does not say our legal status. He ministered to remove the burden of disease, wretchedness and sin, to REMOVE it, not legally dismiss it. He came to bring complete restoration, of health, peace and perfection of character.

EGW: The Scriptures teach us to seek for the sanctification to God of body, soul, and spirit. In this work we are to be laborers together with God. Much may be done to restore the moral image of God in man, to improve the physical, mental, and moral capabilities. Great changes can be made in the physical system by obeying the laws of God and bringing into the body nothing that defiles. And while we cannot claim perfection of the flesh, we may have Christian perfection of the soul. {2SM 32.3}

When human beings receive holy flesh, they will not remain on the earth, but will be taken to heaven. While sin is forgiven [caused to go into remission] in this life, its results [our deformed sinful flesh] are not now wholly removed. It is at His coming that Christ is to "change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21). . . . {2SM 33.3}

Jesus tells us what we need: John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:7 Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again.

Salvation required power, or as EJ Waggoner says, CREATIVE POWER, not legistative legal power. Ephesians 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Ephesians 3:20 Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

The power comes to us by FAITH: 1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of his power.

Redemption, re-creation, salvation is CREATIVE POWER and works on our inward parts, New Covenant, Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
It is in the "seed" the DNA, God rewrites our code. 1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and stays for ever. 1 Peter 1:22-23 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and stays for ever.

FAITH is the receiver. Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.

FAITH works on our brain circuitry, for there is where God communicates with us. God has given us faith which we exercise by the use of the WILL. Everything depends on the right exercise of the WILL. God gives us faith and will give us more if we ask. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. Hebrews 12:2 Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Luke 17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith.

No faith…..no salvation! It is not legal, but real.

The post number of yours is #182862. It is in the rejection of the testimonies thread and it is dated 3/21/2017.

I wonder if apl even understands his own quote?



This quote points out the fact that, as the rest of us have said all along, that there is a legal part to sin. The atonement is not merely legal, but also healing in nature. The quote does not deny the legal aspect of sin.

What follows is interesting. It points out how the devil has attempted to make sin appear legal.





Note again the use of the word merely. What does merely mean?



There is not a person here who has said sin is "merely" legal. In other words, nothing more than a legal problem. To say that is all anyone here has said is that sin is only a legal issue is nothing more than a complete fabrication. It is a complete misrepresentation of the facts.

Here is more from Ellen White showing that obedience to God is both legal and relational.



What was that? Obedience must not be merely/only legal. It must be accompanied by a change of heart and character. Once again, the legal aspect of sin and obedience is highlighted by Ellen White by saying obedience cannot be only legal.

Here is more from Ellen White on the legal aspect of salvation.



Notice there will come a time where there will be no veil between the legal, prophetic, and gospel aspects of salvation for all will be seen as a complete whole.

The atonement of Christ is not a mere skilful way to have our sins pardoned [legal solution]; it is a divine remedy for the cure [healing] of transgression and the restoration of spiritual health [healing]. It is the heaven-ordained means by which the righteousness of Christ may be not only upon us, but in our hearts and characters. {Lt406-1906}

What she is saying here is that the atonement of Christ is NOT a skilful way to pardon sin, it is not a legal solution, but a divine REMEDY for the CURE of transgression.

A legal religion has been thought quite the correct religion for this time. But it is a mistake. The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those who have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion. {1SM 388.1}

Though some want a cold legal religion. Why?

The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely--because he is required to do so [legally required to do so]--will NEVER enter into the joy of obedience. HE DOES NOT OBEY. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right--because right doing is pleasing to God. {COL 97.3}

Keeping the commandment of God because you are legally required to do so produces a rebel. Love is not legal and Love cannot be commanded, it can never be forced.