>>7240896 pb
>But that's not really what "sin" is! We are not born bad, we are just born ignorant, and prone to making mistakes. Sin is not defined as "that which is inherently wrong with us", it is instead defined as "a thing that keeps us from reaching our highest potential"."
Close. Elohim אלהים means God אל separated from his people ים by ignorance ה .
Israel ישראל means man יש joined to God אל by revelation ר .
The revelation is the teaching of the word, works, life, death, resurrection and indwelling Spirit of the Son.
Our flesh nature is instinctive. It puts us first. The nature of God is Love, which means putting others first. While we were sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for us.
We must be taught to put others first. This is that nature of the "Golden Rule" and of agape love.
Our highest potential is reached when we acknowledge God as God, and reach the potential he has for us.
If we continue as an instinctive animal, choosing good and evil for ourselves, then we are still enemies of God having usurped his position of defining good by his nature and character. If you choose your own highest potential, you are still playing god.
The person who decides to feed the poor because he thinks it is good, has made himself to be a god, determining what is good. Good starts by acknowledging our proper relationship with God, not in doing.
After we are in relationship, then 'good' is doing the works he has prepared for us from the beginning.