The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningnot have forbidden it on such peril, on pain of death. More will be said of this whenwe consider the execution of these threatenings and the just judgment of God onsinners.(4) God is angry with the wickedGod is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7.11) and that proves that God isangered by them; for he is displeased with none save those who displease him, andnothing displeases him but sin. Is that not an evil thing then that tempts God,provokes him to jealousy, to anger, to wrath, and even sometimes to swear in hiswrath (Hebrews 3)? Though judgment does not come every day, yet God is angryevery day. David prayed that God would not rebuke him in anger (Psalm 6.1) forwho knows the power of his anger (Psalm 90.11)? If his anger and wrath bekindled but a little, how happy are those who trust in them (Psalm 2.12)! 'If Godwill not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him' (Job 9.13), allthe helpers of pride, as it reads, for man is apt to be very proud and has helpers ofpride. Now it is noticeable that the word which we read as 'pride' signifies strengthalso, to denote that man is very apt to be proud of his strength. But all the stronghelpers of pride must stoop if God does not withdraw his anger. The strength ofriches (Proverbs 10.15), the strength of friends and family (Psalm 49.7), strengthand stoutness of spirit, must all stoop if his anger break forth, if he take but one ofhis arrows and discharge it against a sinner, if he strike him with only one blow ofhis sword (Psalm 7.11-14). 'Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and ye perish from theway' (Psalm 2.12). Perishing is at the heels of his anger. The fear of a king is as theroaring of a lion; whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul'(Proverbs 20.2). How dreadful then is the anger of the King of kings! When Godsets our iniquities before him, we are consumed by his anger and troubled by hiswrath (Psalm 90.7). We know therefore that if God's anger is so terrible and that itis sin which makes God angry, then certainly sin is extremely sinful and contrary toGod. Otherwise the God of all grace, the God of patience, whose name is love,would never be so angry at it and for it.(5) Sin alone made God repent that he had made man (Genesis 6.5,6)God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that everyimagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, and it repentedthe Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Andso in verse 7, God says, It repenteth me that I have made them. Now therepentance of God argues a very great dislike of and displeasure against thewickedness of man. There was a time, although it lasted only a little while, whenthere was no sin, and when God looked on what he had made, he was very farfrom repenting, and was infinitely pleased. But when sin had spoiled the fashionand beauty of his work, then indeed, speaking after the manner of men, he grievesand repents. So it is not the work of his own hand but the work of man's heart thatmakes God repent. Is God man that he should repent? What a horrible thing mustthat be which makes the unchangeable God change! For such a thing isrepentance, a change. It repented the Lord that he set up Saul to be king (1Samuel 15). When men do wickedly God repents that he has done them good(Jeremiah 18.7-10). If men do evil against God, God repents of the good he hasdone men. But such is his goodness that If men repent of their evil God will repent50