"Sin" Part 3

As we continue our discussion of Chapter 1 in Holiness, we read Ryle's thoughts on the "guilt, vileness, and offensiveness of sin in the sight of God." He asserts that we cannot truly comprehend the "sinfulness of sin" in the sight of God. We are born sinners and are surrounded by sin, "living in a constant atmosphere of weakness, infirmity, and imperfection." As a result, we "can form none but the most inadequate conceptions of the hideousness of evil." (Jer. 44:4, Hab. 1:13, James 2:10, Ezek. 18:4, Rom 6:23, Rom. 2:16, Mark 9:44, Psalm 9:17, Matt. 25:46, Rev. 21:27)

We all agreed with this assessment as we discussed this chapter. Is not one of the reasons we continue struggling with certain sins related to our failure to see our sin as God sees it? When disciplining our children and then praying with them, I often pray that God would help them see their sin as He sees it, as it is described in His Word. This is my prayer, too, as I often battle some of the same sins repeatedly.

Ryle goes on to remind us that Christ's work on the cross speaks volumes about the "fullness of sin." "Terribly black must that guilt be for which nothing but the blood of the Son of God could make satisfaction." How heavy the weight of our sins must have been, says Ryle, for Jesus to have sweat drops of blood and groan and cry out, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46)

I think it is often tempting, especially for those of us who have grown up exposed to God's Word, to be so familiar with "sin" that we fail to remember the "sinfulness of sin." May God keep our hearts and the hearts of our children tender towards sin so that we will not fall prey to what we'll discuss in our next post, what Ryle describes as the "deceitfulness" of sin.

Humbly,
Queen Mom