This Week's Sermon

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IN TODAY'S Sermon, I come to speak about the best thing to do with sin.  I John 1.9.  In this consideration, there are two things.  I. What is commonly done.  II. What the best thing is.

     I. What is commonly done.  In regard to sin, what is commonly done?  For one thing, sin is often loved. In Jeremiah 44.17, when the Prophet Jeremiah preached to the Jews, they said to him: “We will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth.”  And so it often is.  There are those who have no real plans of doing what's right.  They shall do whatsoever they please.  In the Scripture, GOD defines sin.  GOD discourages sin.  GOD condemns sin.  But what is done?  GOD'S Word is not regarded.  Instead, that which GOD in the Scripture has spoken against is both embraced and loved. 

     Sin is often excused.  In Luke 14.18, in JESUS' Parable of the Great Supper, those who were bidden to the great supper are said to have made “excuse.”  The Verse reads: “They all with one consent began to make excuse.”  And is this not sometimes the human response to GOD'S Word in the Scripture?  There are many who give excuses.  In their minds, they have their good reasons for their sinning.  They so excuse and explain their sins as that they fancy all is well.  Proverbs 30.11-14. 

     Along side of this, sin is often blamed on someone else.  What happened in the first sin that ever happened in this world?  In Genesis 3.8-12, when GOD spoke with our First Father Adam about his sin, the first words out of his mouth were: “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”  In the Words, our First Father blamed his sin on his Wife.  What is worse: he also blamed his sin on GOD.  For, he said, it was GOD Who gave him his Wife.  This is the course that many take.  They always blame their sins on someone.  They blame their sins on their Parents.  They blame their sins on their Friends. 

     II. What the best thing is.  Right here is a good place for a question.  Question. What is the best thing to do with sin? The best thing to do with sin is what JESUS said.  You know why? It's because of Who JESUS is.  There is no one in the history of the world who was like JESUS.  JESUS lived a Sinless Life.  I Peter 2.22 says: “He did no sin.”  JESUS is THE SAVIOUR of the world.  John 4.42 expressly says JESUS is “the Saviour of the world.”  JESUS is GOD in the flesh. Isaiah 9.6 gives Him the high Name of “the mighty God.”  If JESUS lived a Sinless Life—if He is THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD—if He Himself is GOD—then it follows that what He would say would be the best thing to do with sin. 

     And what did JESUS say?  JESUS and His Apostles said: “If we confess our sins.”  They said that the best thing to do with sin is to confess sin.  Now why is this true?  1. This is the way of obedience.  What is commonly done with sin cannot be the best thing to do with sin.  GOD did not tell us to do those things with sin.  Whereas the confession of sin is spoken in the Scripture.  GOD Himself commands the confession of sin.  We may be thankful that GOD has told us there is something we can do with sin.  Therefore when sin is confessed, this is going in the path of obedience.  The path of obedience is the best way to go. 

     2. The confession of sin is a most singular deterrent of sin.  When sin is treated commonly—I mean to say, when sin is loved, excused, and blamed (as I showed in today's Sermon)—sin is allowed.  Sin is strengthened.  Sin grows.  But when sin is confessed—when sin continues to be confessed—this is the sweet means whereby GOD brings down the rule and the habit of sin.  After confession, sin becomes a dying thing.  The soul more and more dies to sin.  The soul more and more lives to GOD.

     3. The confession of sin follows in the path of the Cross. Confession pays respect to the Cross.  It acknowledges that something has already been done about sin and something Gracious may now be received.  For at the Cross, what took place?  Isaiah 53.6 says GOD laid our sins on JESUS.  In Philippians 2.8, JESUS accepted the imputation of our sins.  In Isaiah 53.5, JESUS received in Himself the punishment for our sins.  In Hebrews 9.26 & 10.12, when JESUS received in Himself the punishment for our sins, He paid the full price for those sins.  Now in Romans 8.1 & 9.33 the Gospel says that if you confess your sins to GOD in Prayer and accept JESUS as your SAVIOUR, GOD will forgive you of your sins.  Through these things, it may be seen how surpassing confession is.  Confession minds what JESUS did.  It humbly comes behind what JESUS did.  It reaps where JESUS sowed.  Confession meets GOD right where GOD meets us.  It was at the Cross JESUS took away sin.  It is trusting in what JESUS did at the Cross where confession confesses sin, hopes, and believes in GOD'S Forgiveness of sin.  Amen.