The Sabbath Hour

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Sabbath Hour

(Being a sermon written by Rev. E. A. Way, Presbyterian Church, Mangapai)

one great disturber of the peace of the individual and the world is sin. It cramps life and makes it just an existence instead of a full-orbed glory.

God’s Word explains to us just what sin is. In Janies, chapter 4, v. 7, we read: “Therefore to hi'm that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” So often we think only of the sins of commission: the things that are done, or thought, or said, that are evil. If a man were to steal from his neighbour he would be looked on as a sinner in this respect, because he is breaking God’s Igw of love. Realising this he would in many cases refrain from stealing, but he might at the same time withhold from his neighbour something that he ~ needs and which he has the power to supply. He is equally a, sinner as if he stole from his neighbour. “To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is sin.” ■

Again in John’s First Epistle, chapter 3 and 4, we read: “Sin is the transgression of the law.” To transgress is to step across or to break. What , law is it a sin to break. Is it not God’s law of love towards Himself and towards men? The Ten Command-

ments are a guide to us regarding many of our obligations in this way. And When Christ was upon earth He emphasised still more fully what God’s will for man is. He stressed the point that it is man’s heart attitude that counts and not necessarily what he does or does not do. If I cherish an impure desire in my heart, in God’s sight it counts as bad a sin as the actual deed. If I harbor hatred towards iny brother I am as blameworthy as if I did him actual bodily harm. Christ commanded “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” and ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” “Sin is the transgression of the law.”

In John’s First Epistle, chapter 5 and 17, we read that “all unrighteousness is sin.” It is any thought, word, action omission or desire contrary to the law of God. God’s law is His will for man. His word and the Holy Spirit are our guides.

Briefly, then, we see what sin is. Next we note its action or working. In Hebrews, 3 and 13, we see that sin is deceitful. It blinds the eyes of one’s

Sin and Mail s Need

soul to the great realities of life and eternity. , It dulls the conscience that it cannot be looked to as a satisfactory guide. It fools one Into thinking all is well, or near enough, when it is nothing of the kind. It leads the individual into imagining that the things of time and the flesh are the all-im-portant. It brings forth that attitude of mind which says: “Let us eat, drink and be merry, for to-morrow we die.” Sin is deceitful.

In Proverbs, 14, v. 34, we read that “Sin is a reproach.” A reproach is a condemnation —that which should cause a real sense of shame in the sinner. It is a' thing to be avoided because of its belittling character.

Again in Isaiah, 59, v. 3, we learn that “Sin is defiling.” It pollutes the soul. The soul was made for holiness, but when sin comes in it is corrupted. We are not very keen about defiling our hands by handling filth; and to have our souls besmirched by the defiling agency of sin should be still more abhorrent to us. It is interesting to note this,threefold disastrous action of sin. '“Deceitful,” “a reproach,” and defiling. It is unfruitful of any good. Any fruit there may be is diseased. Sin strikes deep at the roots of life and saps away all fruitful tendencies. Once . again we come back to the old yet ever new truth that we can only live fruitful lives as we abide in Christ'. Finally, “the' wages of sin is death.” Continuation in sin brings spiritual death, and unless God’s gift of life in Christ is accepted, it means eternal separation from God and all His gracious benefits.

And this is what happens to all men until a need is realised. “For all have sinned and come short of the’ “Glory of God.” So we pass from sin to man’s supreme need. This need is “new life” in place of the death wrought by sin. iChrist said: “I am come that ye might have life, and have it more abundantly.” God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This New Life is found only in Christ. All other so called remedies are broken cisterns. Having realised one’s need of being cleared from the defilement of sin, repentance. confession and God’s forgiveness are the first things necessary. Then having surrendered oneself to

God the New Life commences and includes a: (1) New Outlook: A steadfast purpose in living for Christ; seeing life through Christlike eyes; (2) New Joy; deep in the fountains of Christ’s joy; (3) New Love; Noble, pure sacrificial; (4) New Power: to overcome evil, and to live largely. Are you interested?