January 12, 2010

Sinfulness of sin - Venning - I

Required reading
Sinfulness of sin by Ralph Venning (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example). Read the Introduction, Section One and begin reading Section Two by reading all of the first point, 'Sin's contrariety to God.'

My summary
In the introduction Venning deduces seven truths from Romans 7:13 and its context about sin and the law:
(i) The law of God as a whole and in every part is good;
(ii) This good law, when transgressed, makes man over to death;
(iii) Though the law condemns man's fault, and man for his fault, yet still the law is good and not to be blamed;
(iv) It is not the law, but sin, that works man's death and ruin;
(v) Sin works man's death and destruction by that which is good, namely, the law;
(vi) Sin is therefore exceedingly sinful and wicked;
(vii) Sin by the commandment appears to be excessively sinful.

Then, in the very brief Section One, Venning defines sin as a transgression of the law.

Next, in Section Two, Venning looks at the sinfulness of sin.  Today's reading is the point that 'Sin is contrary to God' and we are given eight reasons why this is true:
(i) Sin is contrary to the nature of God;
(ii) Sin is contrary to all the names and attributes of God;
(iii) Sin is contrary to the works of God;
(iv) Sin is contrary to the law and will of God;
(v) Sin is contrary to the image of God, in which man was made;
(vi) Sin is contrary to the people and children of God;
(vii) Sin is contrary to, and set against the glory of God;
(viii) Sin is contrary and opposite to the being and existence of God.

What grabbed me
A nice illustration was given to defend the law from blame in exposing sin: 'It is as if a criminal said to the judge, Oh, my Lord, how cruel and unmerciful you are to condemn me to die!  No, says the judge, it is not I, it is the law.  I am only the mouth of the law.  No, says the law, it is not I, it is sin.  If you had not sinned, I would not have condemned, for the "the law is not against the righteous" (1 Timothy 1.9).

We cannot blame God for condemning us.  Our sin is what has brought about our condemnation.

Next week's reading
Continue reading Section Two starting at point 2, Sin's contrariety to man, and reading all of the subpoint, 'In a natural sense', but not beginning the subpoint, 'In a moral sense'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.

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