1426. Death–Sin's Destructibleness

Death–Sin's Destructibleness

"Lazarus come forth. And he that was dead came forth * * Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go" (Joh_11:43-44).

We started the story of this lesson with a picture of sin's heinousness, we have gone on down the way and seen sin's restlessness, sin's irresistibleness, sin's darkness, sin's helplessness, sin's hopelessness, and now we come to the saddest story of all, sin's destructibleness.

1. Sin brings death. "As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin" (Rom_5:12).

There are three statements concerning sin and death which we will observe.

(1) "The wages of sin is death" (Rom_6:23). God gave Adam fair warning: "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen_2:17). Adam chose to eat, and he received by his disobedience the wages of his sin,–death.

The wages of sin is physical death.

Everywhere about us are the marks of death. The crape often hangs upon the door; the dreary hearse passes down the street; the casket is lowered into the tomb; the dull and doleful thud of the sod is often heard. All because sin brings death.

The wages of sin is spiritual death.

Men are separated from God; they have ears which hear not; eyes which see not; minds which know not. Men are walking up and down the streets, dead in trespasses and in sin. They are alienated from the life of God and without hope in the world, spiritually dead.

(2) "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Eze_18:4). We have before us now the fact of eternal death. To the sinner the blackness of darkness is reserved forever. Not a ray of light, not a vestige of peace, shall ever be his.

(3) "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (Jam_1:15). Sin may present roseate pictures before the youth; it may tell of gaiety and of gladness; of health and of happiness; of peace and prosperity; but sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. No picture should be judged until it is completed, until the last touch has been put upon it. In order to get the finished picture of sin, it is necessary to go into the regions of the damned, to see the gnashing of their teeth, and to hear the wail of their cry.

Such is the finished picture of sin.

2. Christ brings life. The Lord Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

Once more, there are three passages to which we call your attention:

(1) "Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes. * * Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go" (Joh_11:43-44).

Jesus Christ can save a soul from sin and death. When we were in our sins, He passed by and said. "Live;" and we had eternal life.

The Lord Jesus Christ tells us that "he that believeth on Me hath passed from death unto life" (see Joh_5:24).

(2) "O death, where is thy sting?" (1Co_15:55). To the one who has received the Lord Jesus Christ, physical death should have no more fear. The believer may look at death and say, "To die is gain" (Php_1:21).

(3) "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death" (Rev_2:11). The believer has no fear of the great White Throne and its judgments. He can stand and look down into the lake of fire without a quiver. He knows that he is an heir of life.

Thanks be to God that giveth us the victory!

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR