Knowing Sin: Must We?
April 11, 2024 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
This Sunday at Oak Hills in our sermon series on Genesis we come to chapter 3, the well-known account of the Fall of man. For many who have grown up in the church, this story is familiar, and, maybe, even uninteresting. And yet, it is foundational to our understanding of humanity, the brokenness of the world, God’s justice and grace, and, ultimately, salvation. As we begin several sermons on Genesis 3, I want to answer the question: why should I care to know more about sin and the origins of sin?
Pastor and theologian Mark Jones wrote a book titled, “Knowing Sin: Seeing a Neglected Doctrine through the Eyes of the Puritans.” He opens by saying, “Other than knowing God, your greatest advocate, nothing else in this world is more important than knowing sin, your greatest enemy… Christians should know that a proper understanding of grace requires a thorough grasp of sin. A distorted, weak view of sin will lead to a disfigured, anemic, and unproductive theology” (p. 13).
Taking the queue from Mark Jones, let me highlight four benefits from studying sin.
- The Study of Sin Deepens Our Humility. Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” And Isaiah 64:6 says, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” Growing in our understanding of how sin works and how sin is destructive brings us to our knees. When we think too little of our sin, we tend to think too highly of ourselves. This leads to all sorts of trouble: self-reliance, denial of God, self-righteousness, arrogance towards others, and more. The old Proverbs is essential to keep in mind as we study sin, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5; cf. Prov. 3:34). Mark Jones applies this principle in saying, “My sin is my biggest problem, because it is my sin. I must hate it and deal with it if I would ever properly address the sin of others in true grace” (p. 79).
- The Study of Sin Drives Us to Christ. Isaiah 53:5 says about Christ, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” That verse means nothing to us if the devastation of sin is not understood. The Puritan writer Thomas Watson sums up this relationship between knowing sin and enjoying Christ, “The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ.” Jesus saves us from our sin. If we think too little of our sin, we will think too little of Christ.
- The Study of Sin Deepens Our Spiritual Fervency. Perhaps it seems illogical: the more I understand of my spiritual inadequacies, the more spiritual fervor I will have. True spirituality, however, is an ever-growing dependence on Christ. The more I understand my weakness, and the strength of Christ, the more I will strive to know and cling to Christ. Hear this in Paul’s self-description of his spiritual life, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). He makes the similar statement in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where he says he will “boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses.” In contrast, Puritan John Owen warns, “The great sin of believers is, that they make not use of Christ’s bounty as they ought to do; that we do not every day take of him mercy in abundance.”
- The Study of Sin Deepens Our Joy. The Bible is very clear about the source of joy: God himself. Psalm 16:11 says, “In your presence there is fullness of joy.” Romans 15:13 prays, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy.” And joy is listed as one of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. Apart from God, we will not know joy. Only through Christ do we enjoy fellowship with God. If we do not know our sin, we will not be driven to Christ. Therefore, the study of sin is the impetus to seek mercy and grace from Christ our Savior and so come to the fullness of joy in the presence of God. Another Puritan writer, Thomas Brooks, summarizes this principle in poetic imagery, “The higher the springs of godly sorrow rise, the higher the tides of holy joy rise. His graces will flourish most, who evangelically mourns most.”
As we spend several weeks in Genesis 3, learning of the origins, nature, power, and consequences of sin, do not despise the lesson. God’s graces will flourish most for those who evangelically (i.e. consider their sin in the light of Christ) mourn most.
