where does it say "for one to sin, they must believe it is a sin"?

Question

i know it says this in the bible but i cannot find where... i have someone tearing my head off right now because i said this... the only example i could give them was from a mormon website.. which i know it did not orginate from because the church i heard it in, belives that mormons are the devil or something (but the preacher to the church i went to, i swear he was the devil) but anyways can someone give me where in the bible did this quote come from?? thanks!!!

Answer 1

OK- we commit sins even when we don't realize we are sinning. Sometimes it is through ignorance- but it is still sin and still causes us to fall short of the glory of God. We sin when we disobey God's Word- even when we don't know what His word says or when we sin without thinking.

I think you are talking about Romans 14. In ROmans 14 it talks about doubtful things. "Doubtful things" are things that are not mentioned as sin in the Bible- but still may not be considered God's best will for us.

For example- some people think it is wrong to go to movies or to dance in my denomination (which completelty gives away what denomination I belong to ; ) )However, some people don't think it is wrong. Obviously, the Bible says nothing about movies and dancing is either mentioned as a form of praise or kinda Pagan- like with Salome- not just for "fun".

So, people have to make up their own mind about things like this. If they go against that their conclusions about the sinfuness of these types of actions it is sin to them. For example- if I went to a movie with expicit sex or blaspheme it would be sin for me but many movies would be OK for me to see. But, if someone at my church who was convinced everything from hollywood was sin went- to them it would be sin.

This ONLY applies to things that are not mentioned as sin in the Bible.

Answer 2

I am confident that quote does not come from the bible. Like you I have heard that quote before but I'm not sure where. I think I heard it from someone who was caricaturing New Age religions.

There are at least a couple verses in the bible that clearly say you can sin in ignorance. I find Leviticus 5:17 (from the New International Version) especially clear: "If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible."

Answer 3

That quote is not in the Bible, or the Book of Mormon. The Mormon position is that ignorance of sin is no excuse. If you do something wrong, it doesn't cease to be wrong because you didn't know it to be wrong.

I think the preacher you heard it from was a nutcase.

Answer 4

Part of your problem is the mormon website. It's bound to say anything. It has nothing to do with the Word of God. Your pastor is 100% correct to tell you that the mormon church is a satanic cult. And the New Age religion is just as bad.

"And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Romans 14:23

"And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity." Leviticus 5:17

Answer 5

I can assure you that it is not in the Bible.

But it does sound like a twisted version of this verse below.

Romans 14:23 "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.."

There are many gray areas where we may not be certain if something is a sin and the Bible may be silent about it. If we decide to do something that bothers our conscience it is sin.

Answer 6

I don't believe that statement is in the Protestant Bible.
We all sin without knowing it; '... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23).

Answer 7

Think of this:

If there were no religions, there wouldn't be any sin......

There would only be appropriate, social behavior and inappropriate anti-social behavior.