Understanding the sinfulness of sin

Commenting on the great evil of sin, Samuel Bolton (1606 1654) said, "How great an enemy was this that God must send out His Son to conquer it? He can arm flies, lies, frogs, the meanest of creatures, to overthrow the greatest power and force on the earth; but no less than His Son was strong enough to conquer sin.”

I wonder how many of us grasp the weight of that statement and ardently believe it? How bad, how evil, how degenerate, how offensive, how utterly filthy. Is the least of your sins worthy of an eternity in hell?

Be honest with your own soul and with God: When was the last time you wept, grieved, groaned over your sin?

Not because its nastiness, ugliness, or perversity shamed you; not because its humiliation and disgrace made you feel dirty; not because its consequences filled you with panic and fear; not because your guiltridden conscience kept you awake, gave you no rest, and would not stay silent — sin can certainly produce such experiences in our soul. But have you sorrowed for your sin because you, a creature made in the image of God, have chosen the evil of evils against a holy and good God.

How do you answer these questions? Are your eyes dry? Your lips silent? Your heart quiet, undisturbed? Has grace become your license to live like the world or, at least to take sin lightly?

Do you really know what you are doing when you sin? It is safe to say that apart from those suffering forever in the flames of the unquenchable fire of hell, we rarely perceive the depths nor biblically respond to the sinfulness of sin. How will we love Christ, if we have a life few of sin. People of God do you really grasp the horror of sin by meditating on the Christ of God, hanging on Calvary’s cross?

Understanding the sinfulness of sin will drive you to a more profound love of the crucified and resurrected Savior. WILLIE HEBACKER Lodi

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