What is Sin?

I was reading the puritan Thomas Watson in his body of divinity, (great book btw) and he listed ten sins that Adam and Eve committed in disobeying God. The command from God was, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Gen. 2:16-17 I will not quote Watson word by word but this is his work.

1) Unbelief. Adam and Eve believed not that they should die; they could not be persuaded that such fruit had death at the door. Therefore, by unbelief they made God a liar, but worse they believed the devil rather than God.
2)Unthankfulness. Adam's sin was committed in the midst of Paradise. God gave Adam everything, yet he still disobeyed.
3)Discontent. One would think Adam had enough, yet he was not content, he wanted more.
4)Pride. He wanted to be like God, he supposed the tree of knowledge would have anointed his eyes, and made him omniscient, but by climbing too high, he got a fall.
5)Disobedience. God gave Adam his word, therefore it was but right Adam should give God his allegiance.
6)Curiosity. He flirted with that which was out of his sphere, and did not belong to him.
7)Wantonness: Adam had a choice of all other trees that God gave him, yet he must have this tree.
8)Sacrilege. The tree of knowledge was none of Adam's, yet he took of it, and robbed God of his due.
9)Murder. Adam was a public person, and all his posterity were involved and wrapped up in him; and he, by sinning, at once destroyed all his posterity, if free grace did not interpose.
10) Presumption. Adam presumed of God's mercy, he blessed himself, saying he should have peace; he thought, though he did transgress, he should not die; that God would sooner reverse his decree than punish him.
How many sins were in Adam's sin! What an awful thing sin is!

As Scripture teaches Adam was our representative, so we would have committed the same sins he did, and we have committed the very same sins. Oh, how far we have fallen from our original state of righteousness!
Yet rejoice believer, though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool! Christ has suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust to bring us to God!
Let this make us beware of sin and all its horrible effects, and let us also magnify our Savior who washes all our stains of sin away!

The Darkened Mind

No man will see truth clearly at all and truly believe it unless God first opens his eyes to see it.

I sit listening to two college professors over a cup of coffee discuss their work and the intricacies of academic life. It's obvious they are smart men intellectually. But what is also obvious is that they are self-confident, arrogant men. I desire to walk to their table and after introducing myself, say to them, "Gentlemen, is it at all real to you that one day soon you will stand before Jesus Christ, the Judge of the universe, and give account to Him for everything you've ever done and every word you've ever spoken. You will give account for every word in your classroom, every motive you've ever had, and every thought of your heart. Are you now ready to meet Him?" Such men, unless they are Christians, would think I was either a dinosaur or mentally imbalanced.

As I think about it, it is clear. Men's minds are so darkened, prideful and blind, they could sooner be persuaded that they could build a ladder to the moon with spagetti noodles than be persuaded of their personal accountability to God. Their darkened minds have convinced themselves He doesn't even exist. If they believe He exists at all, in is obvious that He is not pertinent to this life and will not factor at all in their death.

Men more easily believe there is life on other planets than believe they will stand before God one day.

Men more easily believe that they came from monkeys than from their Creator.

Men more easily believe they will be re-incarnated as a bug than that their soul is to live forever.

Men more easily believe they will cease to exist after death than that they will exist consciously in an eternal state. 

Men more easily believe that life originated here by the arrival of aliens than that they were created.

Men more easily delude themselves into thinking everything will somehow be all right when they die than face the truth that they will perish in their sins.

Why will people more easily believe a lie than the truth? Because the natural mind is darkened. It is at enmity with God and wants to believe a lie. They don't want God to exist; they want Him gone and out of the picture as a non-factor. If they can delude themselves into believing the lie, then they are free from any personal responsibility and accountability.

What an awesome and terrifying prospect awaits the secular, proud man upon death--to awake in eternity, only to realize too late that all you denied IS true and all you believed is a lie. Then its too late, for the eternity condition is irreversibly set. 

The most terrifying thought an unbeliever can have--"Hell is real and what if I am there forever?"

The second most terrifying thought--"My personal accountability to the living God--when I die, I will stand before God in judgment."

- Mack Tomlinson

Jesus and Sinners

All that Jesus does for lost sinners--He does freely, out of pure pity, kindness, and love.

Yet we are always looking for something in ourselves--to encourage us! On the other hand, we tend to look at some sincommitted by us--which discourages us. Whereas we should look only to Jesus. I want now, for a few minutes, to fix the eye of your mind on what Jesus does for sinners--how He acts toward them at the present day.

Jesus calls the sinner. He says, "Come unto Me. Come, just as you are. Come, this moment. Come, for all that you need. Come, for all that you desire. Come, and be saved. Come, and I will satisfy you. Come, and commit all your concerns to Me, and I will make all things that occur, work together for your good." 

Jesus receives the sinner when he comes. He receives every sinner, however base, vile, or unworthy he may be! He receives the sinner graciously--pardoning every sin, forgiving and forgetting all that he has done amiss, and treating him with the utmost kindness.

Jesus cleanses the sinner. In the fountain of His precious blood, and in the laver of His holy Word--He cleanses him from guilt and pollution--fitting him for holy service on earth, and for holier service in heaven. Nor is there any getting rid of guilt--but by His blood; nor of impurity--but by His Spirit working with His Word!

Jesus clothes the sinner. Cleansed from guilt and filth--we are clothed in His garments of salvation, and are covered with His robe of righteousness. All that is necessary for our honorable appearance in heaven among the glorified--He undertakes to provide.

Those who trust in Him, are completely nourished by Him. Jesus feeds the sinner. His flesh and blood becomes our daily food. We can no more live and be healthy, without nourishing food for the body--than we can live and be happy, without sweet and frequent nourishment from Christ. There is in the renewed soul--a craving for Christ, and it is never satisfied--but as it realizes His presence, meditates on His Word, or is solaced with His love!

Jesus employs the sinner. Having called, received, cleansed, clothed, and nourished him--He sets him to WORK. He gives him a cross to carry, and a plot in his vineyard to cultivate. He sends him to speak to others of His grace, and tomanifest to others His temper and disposition. He sends him to the poor widow's cottage, to the sick man's chamber, and to the ignorant soul's home--and says, "Feed them for Me; comfort them for Me; and teach them for Me!"

Jesus comforts the sinner. Yes, when he is depressed and discouraged, when he is low and cast down. He consoles by some special providence, by some seasonable portion of His Word, by the counsel of some friend, or by the sweet whispers of His Spirit.

Jesus assures the sinner. Assures him of His love to him, of a saving interest in His finished work, and of a title to heavenly mansions! When Jesus assures us--our doubts and fears depart, our unbelief is destroyed, and our souls are filled with peace and joy.

Jesus visits the sinner. He says, "I will come unto him." And He does come, and brings with Him--pleasant light, precious fruits, and joy and peace. He says, "I will come and sup with him--and he with Me." And He draws him out into such sweet, near and dear communion with Himself--that no costly meal, no delightful company--can be compared to it.

Jesus restores the sinner. For as astonishing as it may appear, it is nevertheless true--that we are prone to wander!
We leave light--for darkness!
We leave plenty--for poverty!
We leave joy--for sorrow!
We leave a paradise--for a desert!
And having wandered, we would never find our way back--if He did not come after us! But, blessed be His holy name--He does! And then He restores our souls, and again feeds us in green pastures, causing us to lie down beside the still waters!

Jesus reproves the sinner. However He may spare our persons--He never spares our sins! He visits our transgressionswith the rod, and our iniquities with stripes! His reproofs are often sharp. Cutting convictions, heavy losses, severe trials, perplexing troubles, bodily sickness, and painful bereavements--are some of the RODS which He employs. But howevernumerous and heavy His strokes--they are lighter than our guilt, and fewer than our sins! He deals with us as with sons. He chastens us for our profit--and to make us partakers of His holiness!

Jesus glorifies the sinner. Glorifies him with Himself--and confers on him an eternal weight of glory! What it is to be glorified--we do not fully know. At the least, it is to be freed from all that is sinful, painful, and degrading--and to beinvested with all that is bright, beautiful, and blessed. It is to be made as like Jesus as possible, and to be with Him where he is forever!

O wondrous grace, of a wondrous Savior!

Believer, this precious Savior is yours! 

Will you not love Him then?

Will you not bear witness to the power and sweetness of His love, to the joy and happiness that are found in His ways?

Will you not observe His statutes and keep His laws? 

Will you not come out of the world, which is peopled by His enemies--and be separated to Him? Can you mingle with the carnal, and frequent places of worldly amusement? Must you go to the world to be gratified and amused?

Beware how you wound your precious Savior's loving heart!

-James Smith

Spurgeon and Owen on Particular Atonement

"We are often told that we limit the atonement of Christ, because we say that Christ has not made satisfaction for all men, or all men would be saved.  Now, our reply to this is, that, on the other hand, our opponents limit it: we do not.  The Arminians say, Christ died for all men. Ask them what they mean by it.  Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of all men.   They say, "No, certainly not."  We ask them the next question--Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of any man in particular?  They answer, "No."  They are obliged to admit this, if they are consistent.  They say, "No, Christ has died that any man may be saved if..." --and then follow certain conditions of salvation.  Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ? Why, you.  You say that Christ did not die so as to secure the salvation of anybody.   We beg your pardon, when you say that we limits Christ's death; we say, "no my dear sir, it is you that do it."  We say Christ so died that he infallibly secured the salvation of a multitude that no man can number, who through Christ's death not only may be saved, but are saved, must be saved and cannot by any possibility run the hazard of being anything but saved.  You are welcome to your atonement; you may keep it.  We will never renounce ours for the sake of it."
Charles Spurgeon


"[If Jesus died for all men]...why then, are not all freed from the punishment of all their sins?  You will say, "Because of their unbelief; they will not believe."  But his unbelief, is it sin, or not?  If not, why should they be punished for it?  If it be sin, then Christ underwent the punishment due to it; If this is so, then why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which he died from partaking of the fruit of his death?  If he did not, then he did not die for all their sins."  John Owen

Pleasure or Peace?

I was reading Matthew Henry's commentary and he said something that caught my attention.
The quote is this: "Are not the best of us unwilling to come under God's yoke, though there is no other way to find rest for the soul? Do we not for a little pleasure often part with our peace?

I want to focus on that second phrase, do we not for a little pleasure often part with our peace.

How about when we have a chance to witness to somebody, but we choose not to? We lose our peace.
How about when somebody tells a dirty joke and we laugh at it? We lose our peace.
How about when we worry about something? We lose our peace.
How about when we indulge in some sin that brings a temporary pleasure? We lose our peace.
How about when we waste time with the vanities of this world? We lose our peace.

Those are just some examples that came to my mind, if anybody has any others to share that would be great.

I'm very thankful, that even when we choose to lose our peace it it is only temporarily. Because Christ has overcome by His blood, or as Romans 5 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Let us praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His great work on our behalf, even though sometimes we choose to lose our temporary peace.

Encouraging Prayer Quotes

I know for me that praying is often a struggle, I find myself continually fighting in this immeasurably important spiritual discipline. Here are some quotes that have helped me from godly men.

"Why will you run and labor and sweat and fret? There is greater benefit from striving in pray than from striving in the flesh." Paul Washer
"I know this to be true by the Word and experience. The return on our prayers is far greater than the investment made. Heaven will reveal it." Paul Washer
"The neglect of prayer is a grand hindrance to holiness." John Wesley
"The main lesson about prayer is just this: Do it! Do it! Do it! You want to be taught to pray. My answer is pray and never faint, and then you shall never fail." John Laidlaw
"Prayer can do anything that God can do. The pity is that we do not believe this as we ought, and we do not put it to the test." E.M. Bounds
"The prayer chamber, while it is the test of the sincerity of our devotion to God, becomes also the measure of the devotion." E.M. Bounds

Jesus Is So Kind

I was encouraged last night as I was reading Spurgeon again in his Morning and Evening.

"Our poorest actions Jesus accepts; our deepest sorrow He feels; our slenderest wish He hears; and every transgression He forgives. Jesus is still our servant as well as our Friend and Master. What condescending patience it is when the Savior with much long-suffering bears the repetitive follies of His wayward disciples, day by day and hour by hour washing away the multiplied transgressions of His erring but still much-loved child! While we find comfort and peace in our Lord's daily cleansing, its legitimate influence upon us will be to increase our watchfulness and quicken our desire for holiness."

This so encourages me, because I see my sin, I see my follies, yet Jesus still loves me. It reminds me of the gospel, it rivets my affections on Christ, it makes me treasure Him and His work on my behalf. I need the gospel!