The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningreproving them more sharply (1 Samuel 2.27-36). We find Samuel reproving KingSaul. Elihu may say, Is it right to say to a king, you are wicked? (Job 34.18); yetthe prophet says to the king 'Thou hast done foolishly and wickedly' (1 Samuel13.13), and he calls his sin rebellion and stubbornness (1 Samuel 15. 22,23). ThusSamuel touchingly reproved King Saul. John was not afraid to tell Herod of hiswickedness, and to his face too (Luke 3.19). St. Paul would not spare St. Peterwhen he found him erring and dissembling, but withstood him to the face(Galatians 2.11). What does all this teach but that sin is an odious thing to goodmen and that they judge it extremely sinful against God and man.(iii) They withdraw from sinners and their company. They must have no more to dowith them. Now this separation from their persons is only because of their sins. Ifgood men are forced to converse with them, yet they cry out, 'Woe is me that Idwell in Mesech, in the tents of Kedar' (Psalm 120.5). The society of the wicked isvery burdensome to the godly. Lot was in a kind of hell when he was in Sodom, fortheir wickedness was continually vexing his soul (2 Peter 2.7,8). By withdrawingfrom or groaning under the company of the wicked, good men testify against sinand do so in obedience to the command of God (2 Corinthians 6.14).(iv) They mourn over other men's sins. This shows that in their eyes sin is anabominable thing, though only the sin of others. 'Rivers of waters run down mineeyes' -why? 'because they keep not thy law' (Psalm 119.136). Thus we see howdear is the law of God, and how vile is the sin of men, to holy David. The prophetJeremiah expresses this same zeal for God, 'Hear ye, and give ear, be not proud,give glory to the Lord...but if ye will not hear, my soul shall weep in secret placesfor your pride, mine eyes shall weep sore and run down with tears' (Jeremiah13.15-17). When the apostle Paul speaks of the sins of men, he does so weeping(Philippians 3.18). Other men's sins cost good men many a tear and an achingheart because sin is so contrary to God and to the good of men.(v) They pray and endeavour to get pardon for the sins of those who hardly seek itfor themselves. Sinners little think how much they are beholden to good men whopray for their salvation even when the wicked seek their destruction. Thus Stephenasked God to forgive them: 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge' (Acts 7.60). Howearnestly did Abraham pray for mercy on behalf of Sodom, that if possible it mightnot be destroyed! When Israel had sinned a great sin and provoked the Lord,Moses mediates and intercedes for them and offers to die that they might live(Exodus 32.30-32). Now if they did not know that sin was a sinful thing, offensiveto God and destructive to man, would they interpose in such a way? No, they wouldnot. Thus good men witness against sin as the worst of evils.b. Good men witness against their own sin, as well as against other men's sins.They do not only wish for the reformation of others, but they endeavour their own.If possible, they would be so innocent as not to sin at all. It is their ambition andprayer that their thoughts, words and deeds may be all acceptable to God (Psalm19.14). If they could avoid it they would not even dream extravagantly or allow avain thought to lodge within them. It is indeed possible that some men maydeclaim bitterly against other men's sins and yet indulge their own, as if they wouldrather see other men reform than themselves, and as if virtue were a morepleasant thing to talk of than to be possessed of. But godly men dare not do so;62