THE BARRIER TO REFORMATION...cherishing iniquity in our heart

"If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to my prayer." -Psalm 66:18

To begin with... a silent prayer

"O Lord, what evil have we not done? Or if there is evil that we have not done, what evil is there that we have not spoken? If there is any that we have not spoken, what evil is there that we have not thought to do? But you, O Lord, are good. You are merciful. You saw how deep we were sunk in death, and it was your power that drained dry the well of corruption in the depths of our hearts. All that You have asked of us was to deny our own wills and accept yours. Forgive us for every failure to do so and help us to follow You in every way and always, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." [Adapted from Augustine's Confessions, IX, x]

To cherish sin means to hold it dearly in our hearts; to love it; to embrace it; to treasure it.

We all have PhD's in rationalizing our sin don't we? We have all graduated with high honors in its schooling and it comes naturally to us all. But like David, until we can say, "against You and You alone have I sinned" we will not be broken of it. Sin may hurt others and ourselves, but all sin ultimately is an afront to and against God Himself.

The hypocrite when caught in a sin may say, "wash my garments and make them clean" - make me presentable again; just clean up my outward appearance, etc. But the one who is truly broken, contrite and repentant over their sin will humbly say before a holy God, "Lord wash me, make me clean, forgive me and restore me to the joy of my salvation." No excuses; no self-justification; no spin; no blaming Mom and Dad or others; no therapeutic diversions. Just alone before God owning our sin, confessing it to Him holding nothing back; then turning from it in repentance, and by His sanctifying grace continue to live in obedience to His Word.

The Sinfulness of Sin
Sin strikes at God and says,

“I don’t care what You said, I’ll do what I want.” It is God’s would be murderer. Sin would un-God God if it could. Sin defiles the conscience. Sin is irrational and forfeits blessing. Sin is painful—it hurts. Sin is damning. Sin is degrading it mares the image of God and man. Like Samson, it cuts the locks of purity and leaves men morally weak. Sin poisons the springs of love and turns beauty in leprosy. Sin defeats the mind, the heart, the will, the affections and it has made a whole world of people—all of mankind—children wrath by nature; objects of God’s wrath. Sin brings man under the domination of Satan and his sick sin system, which he controls. Man and the world is a slave to sin, open rebellion and defiance to God and a slave to Satan."

Jonathan Edwards reflecting on this says these powerful words:

"Sin is naturally exceeding dear to us; to part with it is compared to plucking out our right eyes. Men may refrain from wonted ways of sin for a little while, and may deny their lusts in a partial degree, with less difficulty; but it is heart-rending work, finally to part with all sin, and to give our dearest lusts a bill of divorce, utterly to send them away. But this we must do, if we would follow those that are truly turning to God: yea, we must not only forsake sin, but must, in a sense, forsake all the world, Luke 14:33 'Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.'"

Pastor Ralph Venning (1662, St. Olave's Church in Southwark, England)
says,

"Sin is a cheat, a lie, and therefore lurks privily and puts on false names and colors; for if it were to appear like itself--as sooner or later will do to all, either for conversion or confusion--it would frighten men into dying fits, as it did the Apostle, and when they come to themselves they would abhor and hate it, as Paul and the Prodigal did. Men would never be so hardy in sinning but that sin hardens them by deceiving them; so the writer of Hebrews says, 'Take heed lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin' (Hebrews 3:13). Sin uses all manner of arts, methods and devices to attract us and inveigle us. It uses many tricks on us and has all the knacks of deceiving and cheating us. So I may with truth say that sin has not learnt but taught all the deceits dissimulations, flatteries and false diplomacies that are found in courts; the stratagems of war; the sophisms and fallacies of the schools; the frauds of tradesmen, whether in city or county; the tricks of cheaters and jugglers, the ambushes of thieves, the pretensions of false friends, the various methods of false teachers--these and every other kind of cheat and deception in the world, sin teaches and practices upon us all to make us sin."

That is why beloved, Proverbs 28:13 so convictingly says, "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." What man uncovers (or confesses), God will by His grace covers (forgiveness); but what man covers up, God will uncover.

My favorite Puritan divine, Thomas Watson, says, "Knowledge without repentance will be but a torch to light men to hell."

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age" -Titus 2:11-12

35 Reasons Not To Sin
by Jim Elliff

1. Because a little sin leads to more sin.
2. Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
3. Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
4. Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
5. Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
6. Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
7. Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
8. Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
9. Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
10. Because my sin saddens the godly.
11. Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
12. Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.
13. Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
14. Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.
15. Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.
16. Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.
17. Because my sin may influence others to sin.
18. Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.
19. Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.
20. Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.
21. Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.
22. Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.
23. Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.
24. Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.
25. Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.
26. Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.
27. Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.
28. Because my sin is adultery with the world.
29. Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.
30. Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.
31. Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.
32. Because to sin is not to love Christ.
33. Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to believe.
34. Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it's own.
35. Because I promised God he would be Lord of my life.

Love the Lord Jesus Christ with an unfeigned, undivided superlative love...

"There is no love but a superlative love that is any ways suitable to the transcendent sufferings of dear Jesus. Oh, love him above your lusts, love him above your relations, love him above the world, love him above all your outward contentment’s and enjoyments; yea, love him above your very lives; for thus the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, saints, primitive Christians, and the martyrs of old, have loved our Lord Jesus Christ with an overtopping love." -Thomas Brooks

1 John 2:1-2 says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

"When your repentance is more notorious than your sin--then it is genuine." -C.H. Spurgeon

How to Live in Victory Over Sin
In a spirit of prayerful submission to the Lord and by His sustaining grace, may each of us long to honor the Lord with a holy life each day.

• Recognize your Transgression
• Repent of your Sin
• Rely on God
• Reverence Christ as Lord
• Read His Word
• Renew your Mind
• Remain in godly Relationships, and
  
• Rejoice and walk in the Holy Spirit

THINK BIBLICALLY - NOT CULTURALLY...is "Stop It" sanctification sound biblical advice or cultural chatter?

Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation for all people,
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright,
and godly lives in the present age,

The Theology of Bob Newhart - A New Source for Sanctification?
There has been floating around the internet for some time a silly little comedy sketch featuring Bob Newhart on YouTube. I won't post it here, but you can watch it if you haven't seen it yet.

It is a ridiculous piece about counseling someone on their issues. His advice for any problem someone might bring up to him in counseling is "stop it... just stop it!" This has all the merit and sensitivity of watching Barack Obama bowling. I think he scored a thirty seven in ten frames; I will give Newhart about the same on this video (that's 37 out of 300).

Some Christians though are recommending this approach as an effective way in dealing with sin issues - "Stop It" sanctification is what I shall now refer it by.

One Christian blogger tried to make the case for this video last week, thankfully no one was really buying what he was selling. Here is what was interesting though: did this blogger offer Scripture to make his case? No. Did he offer a theological explanation to prove his argument? Nope. Did he site church practice from several hundred years of historical resources? Uh uh. Just another opinion placed whimsically without biblical foundation.

"Stop It" sanctification is cultural speak; but not biblical truth. It takes time to produce fruit in our lives; it takes time to overcome the power of certain sins and its sinfulness in our daily lives; it takes time for us even to see beyond our own blind spots, confess those things as sin, and then walk in obedience. Grace is a patient teacher and constant sanctifier. How easy and simple the Christian life would be, if we could all just "Stop It" whenever we wanted. As if sanctification is a matter of the power of assertiveness of ones will. "Stop It" sanctification is a human invention not a biblical one.

One clear word that was left out of his post was grace. An important word to leave out don't you think? Feature Newhart; leave out grace. How postmodern. Now, I don't know about you, but when I am wrestling with a deep biblical issue in how do combat sin in my life, the first thing I never think of is: "what Bob Newhart video can I turn to to give me the strength and counsel I need to overcome sin?" Do you?

Now, at this point, it would be very appropriate for me to say to that blogger who supports "Stop It" sanctification: just "Stop It" - but that would be interpreted by some as being insensitive, counterproductive, and too dogmatic. So I won't say "Stop It" - think biblically; not culturally.

Pelagistic/Finneyism Isn't Grace Based - It is Performance Based
All kidding aside, it is not through some Pelagian Bob Newhart video telling us to "stop it" that men can resist sin and overcome its lure. I'm not strong enough and neither are you. It is not a matter of personal intestinal fortitude; giving a pep talk to my will; or shouting "just stop it" to someone else or my own inner sinful child. It is by God's grace alone! Did you hear that? It is by God's grace alone.

We have entered into our eternal rest by grace through faith in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8f). But by the same token, we must also never forget it is only by God's grace that we are sanctified (conformed to Christlikeness) each day as well. Beloved, if we have begun in the Spirit we cannot perfect ourselves in the flesh... amen? (cp, Gal. 3:1-3).

Thinking Biblically - Sanctification is of Grace Too
The Christian life is of grace isn't it? We are justified by grace (Roms. 5:1-2); we are being sanctified by grace as our instructor (Titus 2:12); and we will be glorified by grace (Jude 24f). Even our ability to obey is of grace, but as born again believers we are given the power to obey and please the Lord (John 14:15; 2 Peter 1:3-12). Does grace nullify our responsibility to walk faithfully to the Lord? Not at all (consider Roms. 6-7). But when we eliminate grace as the foundation, source, and empowerment for our obedience, then we are in danger of making sanctification a "works righteousness." Strengthened by the grace which is in Christ Jesus so that we will obey His Word and please Him. Show me a Christian who claims to be saved but does not live in obedience to the Word of God without repentance, then I will show you a Christian in name only. We cannot claim to have escaped the flames of perdition and yet live as if we did not know Christ daily.

In our sanctification, we are given grace to have victory over every sin. Grace is our best instructor. Why? Grace never winks at sin (Romans 6:1-2); grace never leads to further ungodliness and worldly desires (Titus 2:12); and grace does not cherish sin (Psalm 66:18; Heb. 11:25f). Grace is our teacher and calls all who know its voice to turn from their sin and to turn to God. That is what repentance is: an abrupt about-face in the face of sin. This takes grace for none of us are strong enough to just say "stop it" and be done with it. That would not be grace; but works righteousness. "Stop It" sanctification exalts man and leaves God out. "Stop It" sanctification makes me the Lord of my own issues and world. "Stop It" sanctification is not even me cooperating with God; it makes out to be god. That would breed something for us to glory in within ourselves which is idolatry (see Roms. 1:18ff). IOW, "Stop It" sanctification is unbiblical, ungodly, and idolatrous.

Evidence That Demands Grace
Metonoia is the Greek term for repentance and it means a complete change of mind; literally all we believe in regards to how we behave. It means to change our thinking about sin and to line up our thoughts with what God has to say about it. And then, empowered by His grace, walk in obedience to His Word. This is a daily struggle for me; is it for you too? We can't negotiate with it; we must submit to God and through submission to His Word, His Spirit, by His grace, and the Lord Jesus Christ live faithfully for Him.

One of the foundational evidences of a truly regenerated man or woman is repentance from sin and their disdain of it. None of us have arrived in our sanctification in this life. As the old country preacher one time said: "we've died once to the penalty of sin; we die daily to the power of sin; and one day, we will be free from the presence of sin."

But we must not be casual about grace. That powerful, truthful word has been exiled and excused from many church pulpits, elder meetings, prayer gatherings, and worship services all under the guise of appealing to the crowds and lifting up self-empowerment, thinking in doing so that God is glorified and Christ is somehow exalted. That is why the seeker-sensitive and emerging/emergent movements can satisfy, but only temporarily - it appeals to man's own abilities and actions to live the Christian life. That is why the emphasis on pragmatics is so prominent. A sandy foundation can support a house for awhile, but when the heavy rains come and the floods enter in the house will topple.

Does this mean that we simply let go and let God? Not at all--I reject that sentimental fatalistic brand of faith. But it is to say that the transforming, sanctifying grace that we need each day to become more like Christ in every area of our lives is not obtained by us doing the work through human initiatives alone apart from God. But it must be lived out daily by us in obedience to His Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is by a complete reliance on the Lord for all things but yet we are doing the obedience. IOW, the Lord doesn't live the Christian life for us, but yet we cannot live the Christian life apart from Him. Amen?

Paul communicates this idea to a young, timid Timothy when he writes, "flee youthful lust and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Tim. 2:22). Notice these three things to living in victory over sin: flee it--be a fugitive from it; pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace; and do so with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Repentance, righteousness, and right relationships. And lest we forget, how does Paul preface this command to young Tim (fitting name isn't it?): "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus," (2 Tim. 2:1). Timothy could not fulfill his ministry, his calling, or live to the glory of God a part from grace.

But sin is a subtle foe and wants us to be self-dependent rather than completely and wholly trusting and relying on God for all things in our lives.

Sin strikes at God and says,

"I don't care what You said, I'll do what I want." It is God's would be murderer. Sin would un-God God if it could. Sin defiles the conscience. Sin is irrational and forfeits blessing. Sin is painful-it hurts. Sin is damning. Sin is degrading it mares the image of God and man. Like Samson, it cuts the locks of purity and leaves men morally weak. Sin poisons the springs of love and turns beauty in leprosy. Sin defeats the mind, the heart, the will, the affections and it has made a whole world of people-all of mankind- children wrath by nature; objects of God's wrath. Sin brings man under the domination of Satan and his sick sin system, which he controls. Man and the world is a slave to sin, open rebellion and defiance to God and a slave to Satan." (author unknown)

We must be careful even in our worship not be distant from grace:

"To pretend to pay homage to God and intend only the advantage of self is, rather, to mock Him than worship Him. When we believe that we ought to be satisfied than God glorified, we set God below ourselves. Imagine, that He should submit His own honor to our advantage-we make our selves more glorious than God." (Stephen Charnock)

That great puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards brings us to the crossroads when he so powerfully says:

"Sin is naturally exceeding dear to us; to part with it is compared to plucking out our right eyes. Men may refrain from wonted ways of sin for a little while, and may deny their lusts in a partial degree, with less difficulty; but it is heart-rending work, finally to part with all sin, and to give our dearest lusts a bill of divorce, utterly to send them away. But this we must do, if we would follow those that are truly turning to God: yea, we must not only forsake sin, but must, in a sense, forsake all the world, Lk 14:33 'Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.'

Sin's consequence causes:
* the precious Holy Spirit to be grieved (Eph. 4:30);
*our prayers to go unanswered (1 Peter 3:7);
*prohibits our service (1 Cor. 9:27);
*causes our praise to be unacceptable (Psalm 33:1);
*withholds God's blessing from us (Jer. 5:25);
*forfeits our joy (Psalm 32:3-4; 51:12);
*hinders our spiritual growth (1 Cor. 3:1-3);
*causes our fellowship to become polluted (Ibid 10:21; 11:28f);
*our lives to be endangered (1 Cor. 11:30; 1 John 5:16);
*our holy God dishonored (1 Cor. 6:19f).
*sin can cause the whole church to suffer (1 Cor. 12:26);
*provoke discipline (Matt. 18:15-20);
*and may bring the chastening hand of God (Heb. 12:1-12).

Is it any wonder that the great preacher, Thomas Watson, said, "...a sign of sanctification is a hatred of sin... one who not only leaves sin, but loathes it."

Matthew Mead insightfully says, "If sin be as terrible as you say it is why then are our lives not lived more holy; and if sin is not as terrible as you say it is, why then do you preach against it with such fury?"

That is precisely what Solomon wrote in Proverbs 28:13, "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes [repentance] them will find compassion." IOW, he who covers his sin (deception), God will uncover; but he who uncovers his sin (confession), God will cover. (cp, Psalm 32:1-5).

So how do we live in victory everyday over sin?
By insensitively say to someone, "just stop it you idiot! Don't do it anymore... That's it, counseling session over." Hardly.

The biblical answer? By His grace.

Paul says in Titus 2:12 “ [grace] instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,” Grace not only saves us, but sanctifies us. "We stand in grace..." everyday. But here is our hope: our finite sin can never exhaust His infinite grace. Amen?

It is by a daily dependence on God’s grace that we live in victory as overcomers each day. We must rest fully and assuredly on His sanctifying grace; partial dependency will yield only partial fruit. How is this grace manifested? A few things: we stay in fellowship with other believers; we daily read and study His Word; humble to receive the faithful rebukes of another; and live in obedience to what the Lord commands.

And remember the words of the Apostle John, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).

Run to your Advocate for strength in the journey my friend and He will grant you the grace to honor Him in all areas of your life. Cast your cares and burdens upon Him for He cares for you. And remember, Jesus Christ on the cross has already defeated the penalty of sin so that we may live to His glory and by His grace over the power of sin.

From the crucible of grace,
Steve
Roms. 12:1-2