The Popular Estimate of Sin
Jeremiah 44:4
However, I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh…


I. WHAT IS SIN? Theology is determined by the answer. "Sin is only negation — as cold is the negation of heat; darkness, of light; disease, of health." So we are told. Well, I know that I shiver to-night under the "negation" of heat. I grope under the negation of light, and feel a very positive "thorn in the flesh." Away with this juggling of words! Sin is a fact and must be dealt with.

II. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE NEW LIFE? If Sin be easy to control, no helplessness is felt, no great change of being is accepted, no outside help is needed. If you fancy that one bad deed is cancelled by another good one, and that you are "all right at heart," although often wrong in action, you will not seek salvation.

III. WHAT DISCLOSURE DOES SCRIPTURE MAKE? "An abominable thing." What does sin propose to do? It defies God and would usurp His throne were it possible. The smallest infringement of the principle of honesty in social life breaks up the confidence of man in man and introduces destructive tendencies. The greater the transgression, the more destructive are the results.

IV. WHAT ABOUT THE REMEDY OF SIN? We know not all the counsels of God, but we know enough of the covenant He made with His Son Jesus Christ to say that by His vicarious atonement we are freed from the penalty of sin, and by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost we are made pure — the past and future are covered by His meritorious work.

(C. S. Robinson, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.

WEB: However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, don't do this abominable thing that I hate.




The Mind of God Towards Sin and Sinners
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