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I. WE HAVE ALL SINNED.

1. What is sin?

(1) Its Scriptural appellations. Injustice (Hebrews 8:12; Jeremiah 31:34). Error (Hebrews 8:12; Jeremiah 31:34; Judges 20:16). Unlawfulness (Hebrews 8:12; Exodus 34:7).

(2) Its nature (1 John 3:4).

(a)  Contrarity to God's law, either habitual or actual.

(b)  Provocation of His anger (Psalm 95:8, 10; Psalm 106:29, 32).

(c)  A separation from God (Isaiah 59:2).

(d)  A loss of innocency or righteousness.

(e)  A staining or defiling of the soul (Titus 1:15).

(f)  Guilt or obligation to the penalty denounced (Galatians 3:10). Hence all sins are called debts (Matthew 6:12).

2. How does it appear that all have sinned?

(1)  From Scripture (1 Kings 8:46; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8).

(2)  From reason, because all descend from Adam (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3).

(3)  From experience.

3. Uses. Hence we may learn —

(1)  The sad effects of the first sin (Romans 5:19).

(2)  That we have no reason to complain of any of God's judgments (Lamentations 3:39).

(3)  That no salvation can be expected from ourselves (Galatians 2:10; Galatians 3:10).

(4)  That it highly concerns us to search our own hearts, and view our lives, and find out our sins, and to condemn ourselves for them.

II. SIN IS THE CAUSE OF GOD'S JUDGMENTS

1. What are judgments? Toe effects of God's anger.

2. How are sins the cause of God's judgments (Ezra 9:13; Job 11:6; Psalm 107:17; Lamentations 1:5-8; Lamentations 5:10).

3. How does it appear that sins are thus the cause of judgments?

(1) Sin brought misery in general upon mankind at first (Genesis 3:16-19); for man at first was made as upright, so happy (Genesis 1:26; Ecclesiastes 7:29); yet he was mutable. Hence God, to awe him to obedience, threatened death if he sinned (Genesis 2:17). But man, notwithstanding this, sinned, and God therefore could not but in justice inflict the punishment (Genesis 18:25). Hence all mankind became liable to all the judgments of God.

(2) Sin is the cause also of particular judgments; as appears —

(a)  From Scripture (Psalm 107:17; Ezra 9:13, etc.).

(b)  From reason for all judgments came from an offended God (Lamentations 1:12), and nothing offends God but sin.

(c)  From experience: the old world, Sodom, etc.

4. Uses.

(1) Therefore, in time of adversity, consider (Ecclesiastes 7:14) our sinfulness, God's sovereignty and power (Isaiah 45:7; Amos 3:6), and the danger of incurring His displeasure.

(2) Rend your hearts and turn to the Lord (Joel 2:12, 13).

III. HOW ARE WE TO BEHAVE WHEN DELIVERED FROM ANY JUDGMENT?

1. Resort to public ordinances —

(1) To make public confession of our sins in offending God (2 Chronicles 7:13, 14), and of God's justice in afflicting us (Psalm 51:4).

(2) Make public acknowledgment of our thankfulness to God for His power and mercy (Lamentations 3:2).

(3) Make our public prayers to God —

(a)  For the pardon of those sins whereby we have deserved His judgments.

(b)  For a blessing upon His judgments.

(c)  For grace to live like those who have been under the rod.

2. It must be our greatest study and endeavour to sin no more.

(1) How sin no more. Not with love to sin, nor delight in it (Psalm 119:113; Romans 7:22), nor with allowance of it; but do our utmost to avoid commission of it.

(2) What must we do to keep ourselves from sin. Search the Scriptures; frequent ordinances (Romans 10:17); avoid occasion of sin, such as vain thoughts, idle words, loose company, etc.

IV. GOD HAS YET WORSE judgments in store for us if we still go on sinning (Leviticus 26:15, 16).

1. Temporal, and these —

(1)  National — a worse plague (Numbers 16:49; 2 Samuel 24:15); a worse fire (Genesis 19:24); a worse sword, civil war or invasion (Leviticus 26:37; Lamentations 1:1-3); a worse famine (2 Kings 6:25).

(2)  Or personal, for He can curse our remaining blessings (Malachi 2:2), or deprive us of them, or send a disease upon us (Acts 12:23).

2. Spiritual.

(1)  He can remove His ordinances (Revelation 2:5).

(2)  Withdraw His blessings (Matthew 21:43).

(3)  Blind our eyes (Isaiah 6:9, 10).

(4)  Suffer us to be led into heresies (2 Thessalonians 2:11).

(5)  Withhold His restraining grace (Romans 1:24-27).

(6)  Let us alone in our sins without control (Hosea 4:17; Isaiah 1:5).

(7)  Harden our hearts (Exodus 4:21; 2 Kings 6:33).

(8)  Startle and affright our conscience into despair.

3. Eternal (Matthew 25:41).

(Bp. Beveridge.)

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KJV: After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

WEB: After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.