THE EVIL OF SIN
John Flavel
If the death of Christ was that which satisfied
God for our sins, there is infinite evil in sin, since it would not be
expiated but by an infinite satisfaction. Fools make a mock at sin, and
there are few in the world who are fully sensible of its evil- but certainly,
if God should exact of thee the full penalty, thy eternal sufferings could
not satisfy for the evil there is in one vain thought. You may think it
severe, that God should subject his creatures to everlasting sufferings
for sin, and never be satisfied with them any more. But when you have well
considered, that the Being against whom you sin is the infinitely blessed
God, and how God dealt with the angels that fell, you will change your
mind. Oh the depth of the evil of sin! If ever you wish to see how great
and horrid an evil sin is, measure it in your thoughts, either by the infinite
holiness and excellency of God, who is wronged by it; or by the infinite
sufferings of Christ, who died to satisfy for it; and then you will have
deeper apprehensions of its enormity.
If the death of Christ satisfied God, and thereby
redeemed us from the curse; then the redemption of souls is costly; souls
are precious and of great value with God. "Ye know that ye were
not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain
conversation received by tradition; but with the precious blood of the
Son of God, as of a lamb without spot." (I Peter 1: 18,19). Only the
blood of God is an equivalent for the redemption of souls. Gold and silver
may redeem from human, but not from hellish bondage. The whole creation
is not a value for the redemption of one soul. Souls are very dear; he
that paid for them found them so: yet how cheaply do sinners sell their
souls.
If Christ's death satisfied God for our sins, how
unparalleled is the love of God to poor sinners! If Christ, by dying,
has made full satisfaction, then God can consistently pardon the greatest
of sinners that believe in Jesus.
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