God is light - and we have tragic flaws
Mistranslated
There is a serious problem with the modern, simplified concept of sin. We find terrible misunderstanding and misinterpretations of sin, especially among Christian believers.We have to learn about Sin as a state of being, as well as transgression, or tragic frailty, serious weakness, as an act.
ha·mar·ti·a (hä′mär-tē′ə)Tragic flaw.
Greek, from hamartanein: "to miss the mark"
(We are not far from the truth when we say that the competitor did not even hit the target during the shot.)
Why did the apostles use this term instead of the legal concept of 'sin'?
Well, I think it's much more important question than the reader can recognise at first glance. The Apostles were living in a thriving boastful, filthy flesh dominated and prosperous culture which gave practically everything to the carnal self and offered various sacrifices to the gods in the spiritual domain..The early Christians stepped into the post Greek culture where the Romans ruled the western part of the world, often using Iron hand. They kept their order inbalance between various cultural/spiritual forces. They kept a strong centralized unity among the nations which brought strong compromises. The Apostles had an everyday battle for the soul of the believer in this wilde, filthy, colorful and prosperous world.
The apostles were not merely agents of grace; they also waged fierce battles for the physical and spiritual purity of the believers. They were aware of Adam’s legacy and faced its consequences every day.
First, the heritage of the humankind is the devastating status: sin.
Tragic flaw is a defect in the character of a good person /protagonist (as the hero of a tragedy) that causes his or her destruction.
Light vs Darkness
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk1 in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
if we walk1 in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin, frailty, tragic flaws2.
1 this is the continual action or habit
2 frailty, flaw: Christ continually cleanses us because he always lives and prays (Heb 7:25 see below)
2 frailty, flaw: Christ continually cleanses us because he always lives and prays (Heb 7:25 see below)
If we say "we have no tragic flaws", we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our tragic flaws, he is faithful and just to forgive us our tragic flaws and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:5-9
1Jn 1:5-9
We have safety in Jesus Christ
if anyone does tragic flaw, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jn 2:1
⇓ The author of the Hebrew letter gives us further hint of the continual high-priestly interceding:
1Jn 2:1
... because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Heb 7:25
Heb 7:25
Permanent restoration
Finally, a great teaching from Jesus Christ himself about continual restoration:
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Jn 13:12.14
Dear reader! Do you understand why we need constant purification on this path we walk on earth? Jesus has a plan for us. A pro-active plan. This plan has redemption and sanctification. This plan gives warnings and teachings but supports us with preventive treatment too.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Jn 13:12.14
Jesus is the healer. Jesus is the good shepherd. Jesus is the servant Lord who knows our hearts, strengths and weaknesses. He is determined to keep us pure — even if we walk in this drifting and sinking world.