The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph VenningThus in all these ways, sin by the commandment and the law becomes and appearsexceedingly sinful. But it may be said by someone that, though the law is severe tosinners, yet the Gospel is propitious and merciful to them. Therefore sin does notseem to be so vile a thing as before. To this I must answer, and make it evidentthat the Gospel also bears witness against sin.6. THE GOSPEL ALSO BEARS WITNESS AGAINST SINTruly it is the greatest and purest testimony against sin. Though sinners find favourfrom the Gospel, sin finds none. The Gospel is not in the least indulgent to the leastsin. The whole voice of the Gospel is, 'These things are written that ye sin not'. TheGospel is the declaration of the life and death, the design and doctrine of our LordJesus Christ, which was and is wholly against sin. The design of Christ was indeedto save sinners (1 Timothy 1.15) but to destroy sin (Romans 8.3; 1 John 3.5,8). Hecame to save his people from their sins; not from the petty and contemptible evilsof reproaches and afflictions, but from the great and formidable evil of sin; fromthe guilt for time past, and from the power for time to come. He came to redeemus from all iniquity (Titus 2.14). And this is the blessing with which he blesses us:to turn us every one away from every one of our iniquities (Acts 3.26). Thuswhoever names and calls upon the name of the Lord, that is, makes a profession ofbeing a Christian, is thereby obliged to depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2.19). Howthe life and death of our holy and blessed Saviour witnessed against sin I showedbefore. I shall now deal with the doctrine of the Gospel which so fully comportswith and is adequately fitted to his aim and design, which is the taking away of sin.The sum of Gospel doctrine preached by Christ himself, and confirmed to us bythem that heard him, was and is repentance and faith (Mark 1.15); under these,the Apostle comprises the whole counsel of God (Acts 20.21,27). Now both thesedoctrines speak loudly against sin as being exceedingly sinful. Repent, says theApostle, for the remission of sins. What an evil then is the thing which man mustrepent of, and which none but the God of all grace who is rich in mercy can remitand forgive! This forgiveness proves him to be a God of great love and rich mercy,or else sin could not be forgiven. For as our Saviour tells us, it is easier to healdiseases than to forgive sins (Matthew 9.5,6). To forgive sins is a manifestation ofpower, as Moses said in his prayer: 'Let the power of my Lord be great to pardon'(Numbers 14.17-20). Repentance takes in many things. It is made up of sorrowand shame, confession and reformation, all of which speak of sin's sinfulness.Repent, that your sins may be blotted out' (Acts 3.19); if sin is not blotted out thenman is undone, and his name will be blotted out of the book of life.Faith also, like repentance, speaks against sin. Faith says men are void ofrighteousness and life, for these are both only by faith. If men do not repent, theywill not be forgiven. Likewise, if they do not believe, they will be damned; for notonly those who do not know God, but those who do not obey the Gospel of our LordJesus Christ will have vengeance taken on them, and be punished with everlastingdestruction from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1.8,9). And how canthey escape (that is, there is no possibility of escaping) this great damnation whoneglect the great salvation (Hebrews 2:3)?82