The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningthen swore in his wrath (Hebrews 3.11). He waited on the Jewish fig tree threeyears, but at last cut it down.God has set you a day and that is today. While it is called today, hear his voice,and harden not your hearts. When this day of patience is over, if you are still foundunprovided, woe to you, for you are undone for ever! I pray you, think of it, haveyou not grieved God enough yet? Nor wronged your own soul enough yet? Are youafraid of being happy too soon? Or of going to Hell too easily and cheaply, that youwill not repent or that you delay it? If in this your day you do not consider thethings of your peace, you may have them hidden from your eyes, and go blindfoldto Hell and be damned for ever; and then God will require payment to the utmostfarthing (Matthew 18.23-34). He will be paid all that is due; for time, for talents,for means, for mercies, for patience and forbearance, he will be paid for all. If he isnot glorified by you now, he will be glorified upon you then. I hope, however, thatyou realise this, and that I shall not need to urge or press this any further uponyou. Therefore I shall pass to the second counsel:(2). Believe the GospelIt is not only repentance toward God but faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that isrequired for the pardoning and purging of sin, for destroying sin and saving you.Repentance is not enough, for righteousness is not by repentance but by faith(Philippians 3.9). Prayers and tears, sighs and sorrows are not our saviour; it isJesus only who saves from sin (Matthew 1.21). None can put our sins to death buthe who died for our sins. Do not think you can strike a bargain with God; if all theriches of the world were yours to give, and if you were to give them all, it mustcost more than that to have your soul justified and saved (Psalm 49.6-9). If all themen in the world were to lend you their blood, and you were to offer it up, and withthat, your own and that of your firstborn too, it would all be too little (Micah 6.7).Bring all your repentance and righteousness, and it cannot compensate or makeamends for one sin. If all the angels in heaven lent you their whole stock ofrighteousness--and it is a great one--yet it would not do.No satisfaction could be made nor anything merited for you but by the Son of God;he and he alone is the Saviour from sin, neither is there any name given underhaven except his whereby we must be saved, nor is there salvation in any other(Acts 4.12). Look to him, then, and be saved, for whatever your sins are he cansave to the very utmost all who come to God by him, for he ever lives to makeintercession for them Hebrews 7.25).But if you do not believe in Christ Jesus, though you repent of sin and live, astouching the law, a blameless life, as Saul of Tarsus did (Philippians 3), though youenjoy the reputation of a saint and may seem too good to go to Hell, yet withoutChrist and faith in him you will not be good enough to go to Haven. Though there isa Christ to be believed in who has died for sinners, yet if you do not believe in himyou may die and be damned notwithstanding that. Come then, come to and closewith Christ, not with an idle and dead, but with an effectual and lively faith. Receivea whole Christ; not only Jesus, but Lord; not only Saviour but Prince (Colossians2.6). Be as willing to die to sin as he was to die for sin, and as willing to live to himas he was to die for you. Be as willing to be his, to serve him, as that he should be123