Ethan: Good exegesis requires requires the norma norms of Scripture, a comprehensive exegetical method. Transgression of the law is certainly a very important aspect of sin, but it goes beyond the transgression of the written law, as "law" in Scripture has many contexts, from the Law of God given through Moses (the Old Covenant), to the "law of Christ" of the New Testament.
In regard to sin being the "transgression of the law," this is true--but there was certainly sin in the world before the giving of the law (the context of 1 John 3:4):
"For before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law" (Romans 5:13, emphasis mine).
Men are not sinners because they sin, they sin because they are sinful--the reality of our fallen nature causes us to sin, not that we sin upon an autonomous free will and then become sinners.
Mr. Kerchief is offering the ancient heresy of Pelagianism.
The Law was added because of our sin nature, to make sin increase and therefore make our sinful state apparent to us, impressing our need of the Savior and the Cross, and to make God's grace abound even more than sin:
"The Law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21).
Hank Kerchief: "This whole inability teaching is satanic."
Ethan: "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God" (Romans 8:8); "When you were slaves to sin you were free from the control of righteousness" (Romans 7:20).
Hank Kerchief: "God demands sobedience to the extent of our ability, no more and no less. (2 Cor. 8:22)"
Ethan: "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10).
Moreover, 2 Cor. 8:22 reads, "In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you."
It doesn't say a single thing about the demands of the Law, or the sinful nature we all were born with due to the sin of the federal head of the human race, Adam (Romans 5:19ff).
Hank Kerchief: "For if there first be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, not according to that he hath not.
Hank Kerchief: "In the first place the Bible clearly teaches we have the ability to obey."
Ethan: "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God" (Romans 8:8).
Yep!
It is no chicken and egg question..what does sinful man do? Why he sins of course..