Posts Tagged ‘sin’

The Gospel: Our Greatest Weapon Against Sin

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Comments Posted on Aug 11, 2009 Last Updated Aug 12, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

The Mortification of Sin by John OwenIn chapter 9 of The Mortification of Sin, John Owen lays out several symptoms of sin. It is dangerous for us when we have become callous to sin, seek to justify sin, experience sin’s success over our will (even if our bodies don’t comply), or allow sin to remain despite discipline. Our greatest weapon against such symptoms is the gospel. Killing our sin is only possible because of the Jesus on the cross. He shed his blood so that we might have victory over sin and death. Yet some people would attempt to apply the law to mortifying sin. In this case, sin would only be mortified by a certain set of obedient works. This case is not only sad but dangerous. As Owen says, “But now if a man be so under the power of his lust that he has nothing but law to oppose it with, if he cannot fight against it with gospel weapons, but deals with it altogether with hell and judgment, which are the proper arms of the law, it is most evident that sin has possessed itself of his will and affections to a very great prevalency and conquest.” (93-94) The law is powerless against sin. The law can only highlight sin. It cannot mortify or eliminate sin.

How can you recognize this scenario?

Try yourself by this also: When you are by sin driven to make a stand, so that you must either serve it and rush at the command of it into folly, like the horse into the battle, or make head against it to suppress it, what do you say to your soul? What do you expostulate with yourself? Is this all – “Hell will be the end of this course; vengeance will meet with me and find me out”? It is time for you to look about you; evil lies at the door [Gen. 4:7]. Paul’s main argument to evince that sin shall not have dominion over believers that they “are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). If your contendings against sin be all on legal accounts, from legal principles and motives, what assurance can you attain unto that sin shall not have dominion over you, which will be your ruin? (94)

The gospel is good news to all that believe. It has brought us liberation and continues to be our greatest weapon in the battle against sin. Employ it often.

Make Use of Sin in Preaching

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Comments Posted on Jul 29, 2009 Last Updated Jul 30, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

The Mortification of Sin by John OwenIn Chapter 7 of The Mortification of Sin, John Owen exhorts “preachers of the word” to take sin and its effects and make them useful in the pulpit. It is a challenge we would do well to consider and take up as heralds of the gospel. The effects of sin are devastating. Sin seeks to tear apart and utterly destroy every area of our lives. Even as Christians we continue to battle the desires of the flesh (Romans 7:14-25). To neglect sin in the pulpit would be the same as leaving a flock of sheep unattended in the midst of a pack of wolves. Left on their own with no protection, the sheep will be an easy target for the predator. To be clear, I am not talking about glorifying sin. What we know is that God can take what was intended for evil and use it for good purposes (Genesis 50:19-21). He affords us that same opportunity as preachers regarding sin. Sinful situations and occurrences can be used by God for good purposes. So for preachers:

It is their duty to plead with men about their sins, to lay load on particular sins, but always remember that it be done with that which is the proper end of law and gospel–that is, that they make use of the sin they speak against to the discovery of the state and condition wherein the sinner is; otherwise, haply, they may work men to formality and hypocrisy, but little of the true end of preaching the gospel will be brought about.

When I think of pleading, I think about a desperate situation that requires immediate attention. This is how we should think about people who do not profess Jesus as Lord and Savior. When preachers step up to the pulpit, they are pleading with men and women to see the world in its truest sense and profess allegiance to Christ the Savior. Sin has destroyed everything and left humanity destined for eternal damnation and separation from the Creator. But God made provision for us by sending his Son to die on the cross and rise again so that he might be our high priest and intercede on our behalf at the right hand of the Father. Only Jesus has accomplished this. So it is only Jesus who offers eternal life and salvation. There is no other way. Praise God for his love and provision. Praise God for his salvation.

The Monday Muse: Sin to Break Church Unity Over Millennium?

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Comments Posted on Jul 13, 2009 Last Updated Jul 14, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

A recent sermon by Mark Dever has been buzzing around the blogosphere. In his sermon on Revelation 20 and millennial views, Dever makes the bold statement that to break church unity over a difference in millennial view is sin. As transcripted by A.J. Gibson:

I think that millennial views need not be among those doctrines that divide us. . . . I am suggesting that what you believe about the millennium—how you interpret these thousand years—is not something that it is necessary for us to agree upon in order to have a congregation together. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed in John 17:21 that we Christians might be one. Of course all true Christians are one in that we have his Spirit, we share his Spirit, we desire to live out that unity. But that unity is supposed to be evident as a testimony to the world around us. Therefore, I conclude that we should end our cooperations together with other Christians (whether near-ly in a congregation, or more at length in working together in missions and church planting and evangelism and building up the ministry) only with the greatest of care, lest we rend the body of Christ for whose unity he’s prayed and given himself. Therefore, I conclude that it is sin to divide the body of Christ—to divide the body that he prayed would be united. Therefore for us to conclude that we must agree upon a certain view of alcohol, or a certain view of schooling, or a certain view of meat sacrificed to idols, or a certain view of the millennium in order to have fellowship together is, I think, not only unnecessary for the body of Christ, but it is therefore both unwarranted and therefore condemned by scripture. So if you’re a pastor and you’re listening to me, you understand me correctly if you think I’m saying you are in sin if you lead your congregation to have a statement of faith that requires a particular millennial view. I do not understand why that has to be a matter of uniformity in order to have Christian unity in a local congregation.

So let’s get right to the point. Do you agree with Dever? Is it a sin to break church unity over the issue of the millennium?

(HT: Justin Taylor)

The Word 7.5.09

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Comments Posted on Jul 05, 2009 Last Updated Jul 04, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

I love this passage because it highlights the real center of Jesus’ purpose and mission. This action by Jesus illuminates his true identity (though many would still deny it). Yes, he can certainly heal the sick. But Jesus came to do much more. He came so that we might have forgiveness for our sins. He died so we could be right with a holy God. It is beautiful. I commend this passage to you today.

Matthew 9:1-8 (ESV)

9:1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Online Reading Group

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Comments Posted on Jun 02, 2009 Last Updated Jun 02, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

The Mortification of Sin by John OwenOvercoming Sin and TemptationFor anyone who likes reading and discussion…some friends and I are starting an online reading group. It was created as a way for my Sunday School class to read books together and discuss what we’re reading without having to set up a formal meeting (since we all have plenty on our plates as it is). However, I thought it might be good to throw it out there for anyone who might be interested in joining us. Here’s how it works. A book is chosen. We all buy the book. Each of us read the specified amount per week. A blog entry will be posted every Monday on our SS class blog following each week’s reading. The initial blog entry will give us a starting point for discussion on what was just read. Everyone will be able to leave comments on the reading and interact with each other under the respective blog post. And that’s it. Pretty simple. It’s a convenient way to read books with others since you can post and read comments whenever you have time during the week. The group will be hosted by our SS class blog called Pursuing the Truth (make sure to bookmark it).

Now…here are the details for our first book. We’ll be reading The Mortification of Sin by John Owen. John Owen was a Puritan pastor who lived during the 17th century. You can learn more about John Owen by visiting the website dedicated to him and his works. There are two versions of the book to choose from: The Mortification of Sin paperback or Overcoming Sin and Temptation (which includes The Mortification of Sin as one of three works by Owen). Both of the links that I have given you are the cheapest prices that I could find for those books. You’ll need to order your book soon because we will begin reading on June 8th with the first blog post going up on June 15th. We will read one chapter per week which means we should finish the book in about 3 months. If you want to read the book online as opposed to buying it, you can find it here at Google Books.

So there you have it. Order your book and visit the blog often as we can begin wrestling with the idea of killing our sin. I look forward to seeing how the Lord will use our reading and discussion to draw each of us closer to Himself.

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