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‘That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.’
Rom_7:13
I. ‘Sin,’ the vicious principle in the breast.
II. ‘Trangression,’ the act by which that vicious principle shows itself.
III. ‘Iniquity,’ the violation of God’s law, which is committed both by the principle in the breast and by the act which is outward.
It makes but a very little difference, whether it be a thought, or a feeling, or an omission, or a word, or an act—it indicates equally a rebellious state of mind—it is a spot of treason in the midst of God’s government; and though it may be only, as man speaks, a little thing—that you have neglected an opportunity—that you have resisted a conviction—God views it, and it is, the rebellion of the creature and the treason of the subject.
IV. Every ‘sin’ which a man wilfully does is another and another step in advance towards the unpardonable state: and in all ‘sin’ there is a tendency to run faster, faster, as it makes progress. It may be an only just perceptible move down the incline to-day, but to-morrow the rushing abyss! To-day it may be only the grieving of the spirit, in a stifled conviction; but it will be resistance to-morrow! and it will be habit next day! and it will be the quenching of the Holy Ghost next day! and how rapidly the quenching of the Holy Ghost may be going round a man—the Spirit going and never returning, and the door finally and irrevocably shut! There is not a ‘sin’ which has not death bound up in it. So the Apostle traces it. A ‘sin’ leads to a habit; a habit leads to a godless state of mind; and the godless state of mind to death. ‘When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.’