The Sinfulness Of Sin - Preach The Word

The Sinfulness Of SinRalph Venningexactly the same is said of those who sin: they destroy their own souls (Proverbs8.36); they are felones de se, self-murderers. Sin is devil's work.b. He who sins works for the Devil. Not only does he do such work as the Devildoes; he is the servant and slave of the Devil. The Devil works in the children ofdisobedience and they work for him. He is their prince and their god, whoseservants they are, and whose works they do. 'His servants ye are whom ye obey',the Apostle says (Romans 6.I6). So that they who serve and obey the Devil are hisservants, and sin is the work sinners do for him. What wages then are they whoserve such a master likely to have!Though sinners defy the Devil in words, yet they deify him in works, and at last hewill devil-ize them and bring them into the same nature and misery as himself.Sinners are led by him at his will: they are like his dogs on the end of a string.When men are converted they are delivered from his power (Acts 26.18) and theywho apostatize or who are excommunicated are delivered again to Satan. Thus inwhatever state a sinner is a sinner, whether an infidel, a formalist or an apostate,he is under the power of the Devil, doing the Devil's work for the Devil's wages.c. He who sins is a devil. So much does he belong to the Devil and do his work thathe has the name of a devil. He is a devil to God, to himself and to others. For onesin St. Peter had the name of Satan (Matthew I6.25), but wicked men are calleddevils: Judas was a devil (John 6.70). Sin made angels devils, and it makes mendevils, traitors, as Judas was, to their Lord and Master. It is said, 'The Devil shallcast some of you into prison' (Revelation 2.10); surely the Devil did not appear inperson to do this, but by his instruments and agents, devils incarnate. O sinful sin,the work of the Devil!Let me here take the opportunity to show you some sins which are especially saidto be the Devil's sin. They who do them are of the Devil, work for him, are like him,and are called devils:a. Murder, especially soul-murder. Anti-Christ, the Devil's son, is most guilty of thismaking merchandise of souls (Revelation 18.13). So also are lying prophets thathunt souls (Ezekiel 13.18-20) and devour and destroy souls (Ezekiel 22.25,27). TheDevil was a murderer from the beginning (John 8.44), and they who murder are(as Cain was) of the Devil (1 John 3.12). Murder originates in anger and hatred:'Whoever hates his brother is a murderer' (1 John 3.15). Therefore the Apostlesays, 'Do not be angry so as to sin; let not the sun go down upon your wrath, forthat is to give place to the Devil' (Ephesians 4.26,27). Pride is all for contention,and contention for murder. Pride produces discontent, and discontent envy, andenvy hatred and malice. Hence comes murder. If you have bitter envying and strifein your hearts, this is not only earthly and sensual but devilish (James 3.14,15).Originally the Devil's sin and his condemnation was from pride (1 Timothy 3.6).Pride made him discontented, envious, angry, and a murderer; and so it did Cain,his eldest son. The proud spirit lusteth to envy (James 4.5-7). Thus when St. Peterteaches us how to resist the Devil he tells us it must be by submission and humility(1 Peter 5.5-8).86