The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningproportionate. That all sin should undergo all misery is not unjust; God renderssufferings to man only according to his doings (Jeremiah 17.10).3. Consider the impenitent state in which sinners die. Thereby they treasure up thiswrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God(Romans 2.5). They who die impenitent continue as they die; consequently they sinand are impenitent for ever. Is it unreasonable that everlasting sinning should beeverlastingly punished? It is no severity in God to damn such men for ever. Letman repair the injury he has done and pay the debt he owes God to the utmostfarthing and he shall go free. If he says he cannot, that is his crime as well as hismisery, for he chose whether or not to do the injury and to run into this debt.Besides, he cannot plead the satisfaction made by Christ, for he made nosatisfaction for final unbelief and impenitence; a man who never accepts Christ onthe terms of the Gospel cannot plead Christ's name or righteousness before God,and there is no salvation in any other. Thus on all accounts sin's sinfulnessvindicates the justice and judgments of God. But though God's judgment is just,yet he is pleased to pardon and forgive some sinners, which brings me to my thirdinference.(3) How precious a mercy is the forgiveness of sin!It is a wonder that anyone is pardoned. The preciousness of this mercy, in theforgiveness of sins, may be seen in various ways:1. It is a New Covenant mercy. The New Covenant is called a better covenant, andits promises better promises (Hebrews 8.6). The old Covenant, that of works,granted no pardon; but this is the mercy of the new Covenant, that it is a Covenantof grace (Hebrews 8.12).2. Forgiveness of sins is the fruit of the precious blood of Christ. His blood was shedfor this end. Now that which costs so great a price must needs be precious. Wewere redeemed with no less than blood, and no worse blood than that of the Lamband Son of God (1 Peter 1.18). This redemption is called forgiveness of sins(Ephesians 1.7; Colossians 1.14).3. By forgiveness of sins we have the knowledge of salvation (Luke 1.77). Theywho have their sins remitted are blest, and they shall be blest (Romans 4.8).4. By the forgiveness of sins we have ease and rest for our souls, and cause to beof good cheer. The sense of pardon will take away the sense of pain. What! are yousick when pardoned? No! I am no more sick (Isaiah 33.24). When sin is takenaway, the sickness which remains is as nothing. The sense of sin makes us sick,but the sense of pardon makes us well. We can say, like the psalmist, 'Return untothy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee' (Psalm 116.7). Aman who is sensible of sin and not of pardon can hardly sleep or take any rest; butwhen the joyful sound of a pardon is proclaimed and received, the soul which isjustified by faith has peace with God and within itself and is at rest. Though theman sick of the palsy was not cured, he had good cause to be of good cheer,because his sins were forgiven him (Matthew 9.2). This is called speakingcomfortably, or to the heart: 'Comfort ye, comfort ye my people. Speak ye108