It seems that MOST of you have missed my point altogether, and I take responsibility for that in not communicating more clearly.
My point is, that even under the NT, sin is defined by violation of the law of God, ie, the 10 Commandments. We are NOT bound by the law, but still will pay the penalties of it if/when we violate it, except as John puts it:
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
I encourage you to continue reading this passage.
The 10 commandments are the definition of sin, even as Paul tells us:
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
And it directs us to Christ himself:
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
For those of you who are troubled by the Sabbath, you forget or overlook it's purpose, which Jesus stated as being a gift, a blessing for us as men.
Mar_2:27 ...The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath...
It is a scientifically proven fact that the body needs one day in 7 to rest and recuperate properly. If you look on a sabbath day (notice I said, "a sabbath day") as something that hinders or binds you, then you have missed the intended blessing. The term "sabbath" means "rest". If you forsake it, it is to your own detriment. Do you HAVE to? No, but you will miss the blessing and pay the price for not receiving your rest. It is also a reminder/symbol of our ceasing from our own works for salvation and accepting God's gracious gift that is not of works. Please do remember, however, that we are created in Christ Jesus "unto good works".
I fear that the traditions of men are robbing many of you of your adherence to scripture and the blessings of God found therein. As Anabaptists who often are strong on man made traditions and laws, you are trading away God's blessing found in his word and set forth in the 10 commandments, which are not there to hurt but to help and provide a blessing.
When we get to heaven, God's laws will be adhered to without exception, because we will have perfect obedience without the lusts of the flesh that distract us here on earth.
I commend you all to HIS grace.
George