The Scriptures And Sin # 3

 The Scriptures And Sin # 3

4. An individual is spiritually profited, when the Word produces in him a deeper hatred of sin. "You who love the Lord, hate evil" (Psalm 97:10). "We cannot love God without hating that which He hates. We are not only to avoid evil, and refuse to continue in it - but we must be up in arms against it, and bear towards it a hearty indignation" (Spurgeon). One of the surest tests to apply to the professed conversion, is the heart's attitude towards sin. Where the principle of holiness has been implanted, there will necessarily be a loathing of all that is unholy. If our hatred of evil is genuine, we are thankful when the Word reproves even the evil which we suspected not.

This was the experience of David: "Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104). Observe well, it is not merely "I abstain from," but "I hate". Not only "some" or "many", but "every false way." And not only "every evil," but "every false way."Therefore I esteem all your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:128).

But it is the very opposite with the wicked: "Seeing you hate instruction, and cast My Words behind you" (Psalm 50:17). In Proverbs 8:13, we read, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil," and this godly fear comes through reading the Word. Rightly has it been said, "Until sin is hated - it cannot be mortified. You will never cry against it, as the Jews did against Christ. Crucify it, Crucify it! - until sin is really as abhorred as He was!

5. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word causes a forsaking of sin. "Let every one who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19). The more the Word is read with the definite object of discovering what is pleasing and what is displeasing to the Lord, the more will His will become known, and if our hearts are right with Him the more will our ways be conformed therein. There will be a "walking in the truth" (3 John 4).

At the close of 2 Corinthians 6 some precious promises are given to those who separate themselves from unbelievers. Observe there, the application which the Holy Spirit makes of them. He does not say, "Since we have these promises - be comforted and become complacent thereby" - but "Since we have these promises - let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." (2 Corinthians 2:1).

"Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you." (John 15:3). Here is another important rule by which we should frequently test ourselves: Is the reading and studying of God's Word producing a purging of my ways? Of old the question was asked, "How shall a young man cleanse his way?" and the Divine answer is "by taking heed thereto according to Your Word." Yes, not simply by reading, believing, or memorizing it, but but by the personal application of the Word to our "way." It is by taking heed tosuch exhortations as flee from sexual immorality, flee from odolatary, flees these things - a covetouslove for money, flees also youthful lusts - that the Christian is brought into practical separation from evil; for sin has not only to be confessed, but forsaken. (Proverbs 28:13).

6. An individual is spiritually profited, when the Word fortifies against sin. The Holy Scriptures are given to us not only for the purpose of revealing our innate sinfulness, and the many, many ways in which we come short of the glory of God - but also to teach us how to obtain deliverance from sin, and how to be kept from displeasing God. "Your Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 4)