Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped… "Sin," in the New Testament, means, literally, "missing that which is aimed at." A sin done for the sake of happiness never brings happiness; and if man's true aim is the glory of God, certainly no sin ever reaches that mark. "Sin is the transgression of the law," for if there were no "law," there would be no "transgression." "Transgression" is a stepping over a certain line, and the only line is "the law." I. THERE ARE MANY "LAWS." 1. The natural "law" of conscience. By this the heathen are governed — for they, "having not the law, are a law unto themselves," etc. The transgressors of this law will be "beaten with few stripes." 2. The Old Testament "law," which is chiefly negative. "Do not." This law is higher than the law of nature, more clear, minute, stringent. 3. But above both there is the "law" of love — the law of the gospel. God loves you, love Him back, and show your love by obedience. II. AS THESE LAWS RISE IN THEIR CHARACTER, SO DO THEY ALSO IN THEIR OBLIGATION UPON US; and the sins committed against them grow in the same proportion. By the higher standard we shall be judged! Now I do not speak of the grosser sins forbidden by the Ten Commandments, but of such as appear, to some, almost to be no sins at all, but which, measured by the law of the gospel, are perhaps most grievous to God. As is the light, so is the shadow; and the comparatively small sin of a son grieves a father more than the greatest sin of a stranger.From this point of view, then — 1. It must be a sin in a Christian not to be happy. For this must be because you do not trust the Father, who has said that your sins were "blotted out." 2. Or, if believing that you love and are loved by God, you are anxious, you not only disobey a command, but question a Father's care and promise. 3. Or, if your religion is only a religion of fear, obedience without affection, it is in God's sight worth nothing, for "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Therefore it is sin. 4. Or, if you love the world as much as you love God, how can the great God who says, "Give Me thy heart" — not a part of it — be satisfied? And if He is not satisfied that is a sin. III. IF YOU WOULD MEASURE SIN, CALCULATE IT IN EDEN, OR ON MOUNT CALVARY. In Eden, one bit of forbidden fruit ruined the world! On Calvary, it needed the death of the Son of God to repair the wreck. Remember this the next time you are tempted to sin. Think — "If I do that sin, it will cost the blood of the Son of God to wash it out." That is the law of heaven; and by that law we know sin. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. |
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