2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. I. THE ACTUAL NATURE OF SIN: "Iniquity." The new revision will prove somewhat clearer than the old version upon this passage. 1. A crime which must be reckoned according to fixed law. The word is "lawlessness." So "iniquity" means inequality, or that which is not up to the standard. 2. A crime which is inherent in personal free will. "That wicked" is the lawless one: a person, nor a community. 3. A crime which is the vitiating force of our humanity: "already." It poisons and corrupts the age. II. THE INEXPLICABLE PECULIARITIES OF SIN. "Mystery of iniquity." This verse need not be wasted on the Pope; all sin is Antichrist (1 John 4:8). 1. Its origin. We found it in the universe we entered: where did it come from? 2. Its power. It crushes barriers of the mightiest resistance. 3. Its omnipresence. It urges its way in at our purest moments. 4. Its gloom. It shadows every life and every age it touches. III. THE TREMENDOUS ACTIVITY OF SIN: "Doth work." The verb is the one which gives us our word "energy." 1. Perpetuating itself. No effort needed to keep it alive. 2. Propagating itself. Myriads of new shoots and species every year. 3. Intensifying itself. Malignity of spirit in old poisonous plants; greater responsibility comes from greater light in this age of ours.A proper consideration of this text will throw illumination upon several others in the Bible: 1. "This abominable thing that I hate" (Jeremiah 44:4). Sin is the one element of disturbance. 2. "The plowing of the wicked is sin" (Proverbs 21:4). The warmth of even honest industry quickens poison in the blood. 3. "The ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12). All sin in the system is absolutely fatal; it works. 4. "The latter end is worse" (2 Peter 2:20). Relapses find men weaker to contend with corruption. 5. "There is no hope: no" (Jeremiah 2:26). Sinners are, positively helpless. 6. "A falling away first" (ver. 3). Things in the world are going to grow worse before they are better. 7. "Come, Lord Jesus." The whole cure is on the way (ver. 8; Revelation 22:20). (C. S. Robinson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. |
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