The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningweak without its sting, which is sin, and sin would be weak without its strength,which is the law. So sinful is sin, exceedingly and beyond measure sinful, it worksdeath by that which is good and which was ordained to life.Even from the mouth of the law several things proclaim the sinfulness of sin. Do wenot hear the law? (Galatians 4.21); what dreadful things it speaks against thetransgressors of it:1. The law will not pardon the least sin. It allows us no favour. If we break it in onething though we observe it in many things, if we do not keep it all, it is as if we didnot keep it at all. There is no compounding with the law nor compensating for a sinby doing a duty. 'Circumcision verily profiteth if thou keep the law: but if thou be abreaker of the law thy circumcision is made uncircumcision' (Romans 2.25); it doesnot profit at all. Just as one sinner destroys much good, so does one sin; it is like adead fly in a box of ointment Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend inone point, he is guilty of all' (James 2.10); for the nature of all sin is in every andany sin. If a man sins once, though only once, the law overthrows him, for the lawis only the one will of God in various particulars. If any one of these istransgressed, it is against the will of God which runs through them all like a silkenstring through many pearis, for if that is cut or broken in only one place, the wholeis broken. Wherever there is only one transgression the law pronounces the curse(Galatians 3.10). Had not God provided a city of refuge, a new and living way, weshould never have found any favour from or by the law (Romans 8.2,3).2. The law cannot justify any man. Since sin entered it has lost its power andgrown weak (Romans 8.3). Even if it were pitiful, compassionate and friendly, yet itlacks the power to justify us. The law cannot give life, though it was made to thatend. If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousnessshould have been by the law. But the Scripture has concluded all under sin that thepromise (of life) by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe(Galatians 3.21,22). 'If the law could have given life'--implying that it was not inthe power of the law. But why not? It could at first! True, but it is weak through theflesh, for all are concluded under sin, the law is transgressed and therefore itcannot give life. Sinful sin has weakened the law as to the justification of sinners,but it has strengthened it as to their condemnation.3. The law makes sin abound and aggravates it greatly. Of what use is the law?'Wherefore then serveth the law--it was added because of transgressions'(Galatians 3.19); to make sin appear in its own colours. The law written in man'sheart was so obliterated that men could not discern sin by it as they had been wontto do. The Apostle says: 'I had not known sin but by the law' (Romans 7.7), that is,as it was newly promulgated and written. I did not know it by the law in my heartfor that let me alone. So the law was added to revive the sight and sense of sin,that men might see what an ugly thing sin is, infinitely worse than men aregenerally aware of until the commandment comes. 'The law entered that theoffence might abound' (Romans 5.20); not that men might sin more, but that theymight see their sin more. It is that men might take a full measure of sin in all itsdimensions, in its height, depth, breadth and length. The holiness, goodness,justice and severity of the law all show sin in its ugly shape and colours.80