p. 791 | THE STING OF SIN by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 22, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 50.

THE STING OF SIN.

By H. A. St. John

BY ELDER H. A. ST. JOHN.

THE sting of insects is painful—sometimes very painful. Yea, the sting of some insects and vipers is exceeding painful, poisonous, and dangerous, being followed by swelling, suffering, inflammation, and death. The sting of sin is always fatal in its results. Adam and Eve, the father and mother of all the human race, were stung by sin in the beautiful Eden. It produced their death, and all the untold and unmeasured suffering and death of their posterity is the result of that sting.

The strength of this sting is the law of God, and God's law has all the strength of God himself; hence its dreadful power. Mortality, corruption, disease, decay, pain, infirmities, and suffering, are but the symptoms of this sting manifest in all fallen humanity, and death is the sure result. All have sinned in Adam, hence all are stung in Adam, and must die. This is why death has passed upon all men. Many have sinned in themselves also, and hence are stung on their own account, or doubly stung, and must die a second death, unless a remedy can be found.

But thanks be to God for his infinite love. We may lay hold upon One who is mighty to save. Jesus is able and willing to cure every soul that will come to him. He will deliver all from that death resulting from the hereditary sting received through Adam. And he will cure from the sting received for their own sins, all who will come to him, and they will not be hurt with the second death, in the lake of fire, from which there is no resurrection.

Jesus cures now from the sting received for our own sins, but the effects of the sting of sin received through Adam will continue until Jesus comes again in glory. That is the glad day appointed by the Lord for the perfect and eternal cure of all the saints from the hereditary sting of sin. Reader, mark you that it is not at death that this cure is effected, for death is but the fatal result of that old sting; the cure is at the resurrection, at the last trump. For the trump shall sound, and the saints will be raised. Then this corruptible will put on incorruption, and this mortal will put on immortality. Then, and not till then, will be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15: 54-57.

The saints up to that glad hour will have to suffer the effects and result of the sting of sin, never free for a single moment. Then what a glorious victory, what a joyful song will that be when they feel the touch, the final touch, of the great divine Healer, and every cord in their glorified bodies vibrates with immortal life! No marvel that they break forth into singing, "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."