"God imputeth righteousness." "The Lord will not impute sin." What gives God the right to 1) impute righteousness, and to 2) not impute sin?

Also, are you implying sin is not a sin if it is committed in ignorance? The reason I ask is because that's not what the angel is saying in the quote you posted. For example, people who break the Sabbath in ignorance are still sinning; it's just that Jesus doesn't hold them accountable until they are convinced of the truth by the Holy Spirit.


But didn't you say God does not impute sin when people do not sin? Whereas the Paul wrote, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."



TE: ??? Dead people don't sin.[/quote]
True. But must people be alive for God to not impute sin? Or, can He not impute sin in the IJ after they die?


Are you suggesting people can sin in the last minute before they die and that it is irrelevant to God? Also, are you suggesting people can sin in ignorance and that God will not impute it unto them in judgment?


Again, are you suggesting God doesn't care if people sin just before they die, that it doesn't matter in judgment? What gives God the right to not impute their last minute sin against them in judgment? Why didn't God disregard A&E's last minute sin and save Himself these 6,000 years of GC?

It is fatal because they are missing out on the blessing that attends Sabbath-keeping. To break one of the ten commandments is to break them all, right? So, how can someone break the 4th commandment without breaking all ten? Ignorance is not bliss.

James
2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.

DA 283
But in order to keep the Sabbath holy, men must themselves be holy. Through faith they must become partakers of the righteousness of Christ. When the command was given to Israel, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," the Lord said also to them, "Ye shall be holy men unto Me." Ex. 20:8; 22:31. {DA 283.3}

It looks like you are using "fatal" to mean "a pity." It's certainly true that keeping the Sabbath is better than not.

I don't see you addressed my question, however: "Before light comes, there is no sin, so how could it be fatal?"

The angel said, " before the light comes there is no sin." What do you think this means?

Regarding sin being imputed after the fact, this sounds like the Catholic idea of praying for the dead. Neither righteousness nor sin is imputed at some other time than when it actually happens. For example, the moment a person exercises faith in Christ, that person's righteousness is imputed, just as Paul explains that "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness."

Regarding what I wrote in relation to last minute sins, it seems clear to me. I don't see the need to clarify further. I basically just quoted well known SOP statements that I'd be surprised if you weren't familiar with them.

The absence of light is darkness, and darkness is the absence of light. Therefore, how can darkness not be fatal? Of course, by "fatal" I am not implying they are lost or condemned to damnation. It is the truth that sets sinners free, but if their knowledge of the truth is partial or wrong, then so is their freedom - which is tragic.

1. "No sin" means sins for which God holds them accountable. God does not count them guilty of sins of ignorance. Nevertheless, God does hold Jesus accountable for sins of ignorance. He had to die for sins of ignorance.

2. True, neither sin nor righteousness is imputed after the fact; instead, it is imputed at the same time. For example, if a person dies the instant they curse, before they have time to repent, I believe Jesus will impute what they would have done had not death taken them so suddenly. God knows what they would have done based on the general tendency of their life and character.

3. Do your familiar quotes agree with what I posted above under #2?

Why didn't God hold Jesus accountable for Lucifer's sins of ignorance?



Agreed to here.



For example? How is this an example of what you are commenting on?

Leaving that aside, if Jesus imputed to them what they would have done, this is not an example of what you just said, but a contradiction of it. Secondly, there's absolutely no necessary to impute something which might have happened. Thirdly, IMO this makes no sense, the whole concept of imputing possible things someone might have done. That certainly isn't in harmony with the concept of free will.



What is relevant is what a person *will* do, not what they might have done. God knows what people will do after being resurrected. That's the important thing.

To put it another way, the actual state of our character is the important thing.

"The absence of light is darkness." This is true.

"and darkness is the absence of light." This isn't.

What we're dealing specifically with is not keeping the Sabbath. You said this is "fatal." I'm asking how, given a person is ignorant of it.



Here's what "fatal" means:



You wrote:



You are using "fatal" to mean "a pity," aren't you?

Because he sinned in light of knowing God fully. There was nothing more God could to do to recommend His love in a way that would impress Lucifer to repent. The instant he sinned he was beyond hope. The same thing is true of people who willfully sin after knowing God as well as t hey can in this lifetime.

Hebrews
10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.


Because Jesus imputes, at the moment of death, what he would have done (i.e. repent), rather than waiting to impute it sometime later.

More like - tragic. You agree, don't you, that they are missing out on a wonderful blessing? If so, just how bad is it to miss out on this wonderful blessing? Would you agree it is tragic?