Sin

The perfection of our obedience in the sight of our heavenly Father lies not so much in attainment as in endeavour. Reserves spoil obedience. We may be dealing honestly with Sin that is seen outwardly, and yet not skilfully and effectually, because of not striking at the deep roots of evil within.

God indeed, as our Father in Christ Jesus, does not blame us for Indwelling Sin; but He does require that we should contend against it.

It is one thing to be blameless before men, and another to be aiming at that perfect obedience which Christ rendered to the Father: “I do always those things that please Him.”

The first sign of spiritual life in the soul is generally the cry of distress from the sight of that which never gave trouble before - the pollution of Sin. The mere natural man may dread the punishment of Sin, its uncleanness he cannot feel, he cannot discern.

David said, “Horror hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake Thy law.” If we be spiritually-minded, we shall in like manner mourn over the unregenerate. Lot did not apprehend as did Abraham the state of Sodom, because, without God’s leading, he was in it, and, alas! too much of it.

God would ever have us regard Sin in its pollution and guilt, and deal with it as done against Him. (Ps. 51:4.)¹

Those who deny the Godhead of Christ, and atonement by His blood, know not their sickness; and such need not the Physician that God hath sent, nor the remedy that God hath provided.

It is a great principle of God’s government, that a sin not repented of becomes a seed which greatly multiplies.

The slack conscience that questions the everlasting punishment of the ungodly, betrays the soul’s neglect of solemn dealing with the death of the Son of God on the tree, and of the testimonies of the scriptures thereto.

Sin does not lie in being tempted, but in not resisting temptation. The Lord Jesus Himself was tempted, and, because of His holiness, suffered pain unspeakable, yet could not be defiled. So far as we have His mind, we, His members, suffer pain in temptation; and the greater the pain of the soul the less the defilement.

How precious the words of Rom. 6:10.11²! “In that He died, He died unto Sin once… Likewise reckon ye also yourselves.” “He liveth unto God.” We with Him live to God. He died to Sin by dying for Sin. It was once imputed to Him. He put it away by the sacrifice of Himself; and now, with the glory of His atonement, lives at the right hand of God. The poor and needy one, by faith in the Son of God, is in Christ as Christ in God’s sight. Is no Sin now imputed to Christ? - so none to the believer. Is Christ, with the glory of His atonement, accepted of God? - so the believer. The apprehending by faith these great things is the true way of mortifying Sin. “Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (v. 14)³.

The sinner thinks to improve himself by lopping off this or that branch of his Sin; knows not that thereby he does but nourish the evil root.

The greater power we have over Sin, the more intolerable do we feel the burden of it, and the more earnestly do we seek the cleansing of that blood which purges the conscience from its defilement.

Let us not be discouraged by any humiliating discoveries we may make of the evils of our hearts. God knows them all, and has provided the blood of Jesus Christ His Son to cleanse us from all sin.

God regards our Sins with the heart of a father, but not with the eye of a judge; for his sin-avenging justice has no further demands: the cross made satisfaction.

The imaginations of man’s heart are only evil continually. Oh to come to close quarters with this truth! to be willing to be judged by it! There must be something more than man’s own will for this; there must be the working of the Spirit of God.

We little know the deep mysteries of the human heart: it is because of our deep sin and pride that we bear correction with so much impatience; but if we had a dangerous malady, and knew it, we should not complain of the bitter taste and troublesome effects of the medicine given us to heal our disease.

Romans 8:13.14⁴. One blow will sometimes take the life of the body; but to mortify sin we must be always striking, because Sin is always struggling.

If we contend with Sin, be assured that we shall be victorious sooner or later: there is not a single sin but the defiling power thereof may be subdued. (1 John 1:7.)⁵

The so-called innocent amusements of the world are only contrivances to forget God.

It is the nature of Sin to obtain great power by little beginnings.

Fußnoten

1. Psalm 51: 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

2. Romans 6: 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

3. Romans 6: 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

4. Romans 8: 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

5. 1 John 1: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.