SIN by J. H. Durland

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 22, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 28.

SIN.

By J. H. Durland

WHEN we look around and see the miseries, sorrows, and perplexities of this life, we are prone to ask, Why is this? It can all be answered by the little word, sin. All sorrow and misery is the fruit of sin, and originated with the great author of sin. "He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning." 1 John 3:8.

It was Satan that first brought sin into our world. He was the first to rebel against God, and when cast out from the presence of God, he left the courts of Heaven and carried sin to this world, where our first parents dwelt in peace. But after listening to, and obeying, the tempter’s voice, they found it contained a sting that should go through the world until the world should be redeemed by Him who shall destroy sin and its author.

Before Satan fell from his high position in Heaven, there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator’s will. Love for God was supreme, and love for one another was impartial. This love is the fulfilling of all law. It is said, "perfect obedience is perfect happiness, when there is perfect confidence in the power to be obeyed." Supreme love will give perfect confidence.

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. God’s law is his will revealed to his creatures. Satan chose to disobey, and he was successful in introducing his rebellious spirit on this earth. When man transgressed God’s law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony with Satan. "He that committeth sin is of the devil." If we are transgressing God’s holy law we are in harmony with, and working for Satan.

We say sin is the transgression of God’s holy law; but what is it to transgress? One writer has given the following definition: "sin is any thought, word, action, or mission, or desire contrary to the law of God." In order that we may have the true idea of sin, we should constantly study the law of God. Like the Psalmist, we should meditate upon it day and night. It is a perfect law, and the more we study it, and try to live by it, the more sensitive we become to the presence of sin. Increasing light means increasing self-judgment; and things which were allowed in the twilight of dawn, become abhorrent as the noontide light reveals their true character. God’s holy law is like the great ocean. We cannot stand on the shore and see its length, its power and majesty; but when we sail out into the great deep, we are constantly beholding its beauties, and wonders. When we read over God’s standard of righteousness, we are not able to comprehend its greatness; but when we endeavor to obey it, as prompted by love, we learn of its magnitude. As we read the Saviour’s comments (Matt. 5:21, etc.), we learn that God’s law deals with more than our outward actions. It reaches our secret thoughts, our words, and our acts.

But how does man view these things? Is it not too often that the only view he takes of God’s law, and the nature of sin, is a surface view? Were we to take the account of the late White-chapel crimes, and go down in the lowest dens of iniquity in London, New York, or Paris, and read the details to those men

whose lives are made up of crimes, how much would they be affected? They would laugh at the words, and treat it as an idle matter. Were we to read the same account to a class who are not so deeply stained with sin, they might say, "that is worse than we would do." But take your history of iniquity and read it to those who are anxious to do that which is right before God and man, and they are shocked and horrified. The heinousness of sin may be covered if there is an inclination in the heart to commit sin. Satan has not only succeeded in planting sin in the heart of man, but he has succeeded too well in benumbing the sensibilities of man, so that he may look upon sin as a light thing. Like Eve, we are apt to behold the forbidden fruit, and as we look upon it, we say, "I will not partake," but how oft we find that in continuing to behold, we lose our strength to resist.

"Vice is a monster of so hideous mein, That to be hated, needs but to be seen. But seen too oft, familiar with its face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace."

But how does God look upon sin? "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." Hab. 1:13. While God loved the sinner to that extent that he gave his only begotten Son to die for him, yet he cannot look upon sin with any degree of allowance. Some are apt to think that because God was so merciful as to give his Son to die for sinners, he will not be very particular as to their lives. But would such only stop to consider, they would see that the very idea of God giving his Son for a sin-offering, shows that he is very particular. If he could have excused sin at all, he would have saved from death his dear Son. But his pure eyes cannot behold iniquity, therefore he gave Jesus to take away our sins, that we might be clothed with his righteousness. In making this provision, he does not excuse us from obedience to his righteous law in the future. In our sinful state we cannot keep God's commandments, so he gave his Son, to save us from our past sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, that we may be enabled to walk in the perfect law of liberty from our conversion onward.

Then, how earnest we should be in the study of God's law that we may know its depth. If sin reaches to our thoughts, and secret motives, and God cannot tolerate iniquity, how diligent we should be that we know the promptings of sin and turn from the evil, as we would from the poisonous viper before we are bitten. If we tarry until the monster strikes his poisonous fangs into our hearts, it may be too late before we can cast our eyes upon the all-healing antidote. Should it not be too late, sorrow for our transgressions must follow before we can be washed in the all-cleansing fountain.

"Peace follows virtue as its sure reward; And pleasure brings as surely in her train Remorse and sorrow, and vindictive pain."

Let us seek that peace that can only be had by constantly relying upon Him who has promised to never leave us. "Abide in me and I in you. If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:4,7. When the tempter comes, if we are abiding in Christ he will only test us and pass by. But, should he find us drying up, not drawing daily supplies of grace, he will place before us something that will please our diverted minds, and when we stop to gaze, he will make the deadly strike that may prove our ruin. Oh, that Christian men and women hated sin more, and had greater love for God! There are too many of us that love to think that it is impossible for us to live without sin and then excuse all sins we commit, with this thought. It would be far better, if we would dwell upon the thought, that God wants us to live free from sin, and gave his Son to help us, and then treat sin as we would the deadly serpent. If we were living in India where there are so many deadly serpents in the jungles, we would not be anxious to go into those regions just to see them. We would not reason, that we must go among them, and if among them we could not help being bitten. But we would reason thus: If I go where they are I may expect to be bitten, so I will keep away from the jungles. We would care but little to investigate them. Let us treat sin in the same way.

Temptation is not sin, for Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. But it is sin to willfully enter into temptation. We are weak and have no strength in ourselves, and should we willingly enter the gate of temptation, we leave our Saviour without, and are left alone upon the tempter's ground. But let our eyes be fixed upon the Saviour, and in our hearts inscribed a copy of God's holy law.

"The cross once seen is death to every vice, Else he that hung there suffered all his pain, Bled, groaned, and agonized, and died, in vain."