Greetings sis Reis, et al;
Amen to mr. Hawker's comments. The law does not "cause" sin but rather
"manifests the sin which is in men by nature." Men need no
encouragement to sin nor will sin be held in check by the law. Some
think that because outward motions of sin are somewhat subdued where the
law is proclaimed, yet the inward man is constantly in rebellion against
it and will not be deterred though the terrors of the law be proclaimed
from the housetop. Yet the preaching of CHRIST and HIM crucified does
break the heart of men when applied by HIS SPIRIT and those whom HE
reconciles are made willing subjects to HIS commandments. "My sheep
hear my voice, I know them and they follow me."
Blessings, mike
On 11/18/2021 1:46 PM, Soraya Reis wrote:
*"The strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:56, 57*
*Pause, my soul, over this solemn, but yet sweet verse. "The strength of sin is the law." Doth sin derive strength from the law? Yes, for the motions of sin, which is in our members, gather strength from the precepts in God's holy law, just as pent-up waters, that are increasing from various sources, will swell and rage the more because they are restrained. And this is what the apostle means, when he saith, "Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence." For the mass of indwelling corruption is stirred up, and excited into action by the law.*
*The Lord, in rich mercy, teaching us by this very process; that so totally corrupt is our nature, that we do not know the whole workings of sin, until, by the holiness of his commandment, we are led to see, and feel a disposition to break it; like the first transgressors in the garden of Eden, who lusted to eat of the forbidden fruit, because it was forbidden, so that the very precepts of God, by the sin of our nature, become the means of giving strength to that sin of our nature.*
*The law of God, in this instance, acts upon the heart, as when the gardener's spade uncovers the surface of the earth, and the worms, which before lay concealed, appear. The worms were there before; but. they did not appear before. In like manner, the law turns up the heart, and then appears the sin which, though there before, lay undiscovered.*
*Is this thy case, my soul? And dost thou still carry, about with thee such a body of sin and death-! Well might Paul call it the mystery of iniquity; and well might Paul, from his deeper knowledge in the anatomy of the heart, cry out so greatly under the burden of it.*
*Oh precious, precious, precious Lamb of God! how little understood, and less regarded, even by those that know somewhat of thee in the riches and greatness of thy salvation, is it considered, in ten thousand instances which pass away in the gulph of forgetfulness over our unthinking minds. Lord, give me to see and feel, yet more and more, that in myself I am virtually all sin.*
*And, Oh Lord, give me to see and feel, yet more and more, that thou, and thou alone, art my righteousness. And let the apostle's hymn of praise be henceforth daily and hourly mine" Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ"*
*Robert Hawker(1753-1827)*
