"Be Killing Sin or Sin Will Be Killing You"

Piper, while recently at Driscoll's church, delivered this message on the text of Romans 8:13.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- Romans 8:13

The Deadliness of Sin

He who plays with the deadliness of sin is like one who strolls through a den of vipers. He and one who drinks poison are the same. Both volunteer to consume a fatal toxin.

With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
- Proverbs 7:21-23

"Evidences of God's Work in the Soul"

"Some of the evidences of God's work in the soul,
are: a lively interest in the things which concern
our eternal welfare, a trembling at God's Word
and being suitably affected thereby, hatred of sin,
loathing of self, and a childlike love for the Lord.

Ah, we never prize Divine grace so much--as
when we have been afflicted by indwelling sin.
It is a sense of our pollution and filth--
which moves us to turn again to the Fountain
open for sin and for impurity!"

- Arthur Pink, "Experimental Preaching" 1937

A Treacherous & Treasonous Exchange

Romans 1:23b
exchanged the glory of the immortal God for...

Romans 1:25
...they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Sin is exchanging the infinite glory of God for things infinitely less glorious.

Adam and Eve exchanged the truth that God is ultimately sufficient for the lie that something else could fulfill them, that something else was better for them. In the process they worshiped and served the creature - self rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!.

David exchanged the truth that God is ultimately satisfying for the lie that a temporary pleasure is greater than the infinite One. In the process he worshiped and served the creature - himself rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!.

Judas exchanged the truth that God is the ultimate source of value for the lie that finite treasure is more precious than infinite treasure. In the process he worshiped and served the creature - himself rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!.

What have you exchanged His glory for?

We're all guilty here. Have you repented?

If not, what would you continue to exchange His glory for?

That's NOT the point...

Romans 1:24-25
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

The creation was never meant to become the recipient of worship. Rather it was created in such a way as to display the magnificence and excellence of the One who designed it. These are my thoughts after an unusual experience at work this evening.

"That's not the point..." I thought to myself as I pondered the condition of those who gathered in the small building to engage in severely misplaced worship. Thoughts of the end time reference to the "days of Noah" (Mat. 24:37) passed through my mind.

"That's not the point..." The creation was not meant to be an end in itself, but a means to the ultimate end - the worship of the Living God. Eternal majesty neglected for things infinitely less glorious and infinitely less satisfying.

At this point you're probably wondering what this unusual experience was. Suffice it to say that it was a vivid example of idolatry. A living illustration that will leave a lasting impression on me as to the folly of worshiping finite things and the evil of the wayward human heart. It would not be appropriate considering the focus of this blog to delve into further detail.