Category Archives: preaching on sin

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Help from Jonathan Edwards for Preaching on Sin: What I’m Learning from Reading Edwards’s Early Sermons

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Edwards sure thought a lot about sin!

In his sermon, Way of Holiness, Jonathan Edwards lists “reasons why none that are not holy can be in the way to heaven, and why those who never are so can never obtain the happiness thereof.” (p. 474, Kimnach)

Edwards’s fourth reason taught me much about the nature of sin and its affect on all of us. Take a moment and check this against your own understanding of sin and how you normally explain it to your congregants. If you’re like me, you will say something like, “Wow! My definition is a bit light!”

“The nature of sin necessarily implies misery. That soul that remains sinful must of a necessity of nature remain miserable, for it is impossible there should be any happiness where such a hateful thing as sin reigns and bears rule. Sin is the most cruel tyrant that ever ruled, seeks nothing but the misery of his subjects….Sin is a woeful confusion and dreadful disorder in the soul, whereby everything is put out of place…” (pp. 475-476, Kimnach)

The last part is extremely insightful. Unlike anything I’ve read in theologies.

This kind of analysis helps me whenever I try to communicate the meaning of sin. My definition or understanding of sin isn’t as robust as Edwards’s. What I’m learning from Edwards’s preaching is that he is working so hard to convince his listeners that they should avoid sin at all cost.

If your preaching portion for this coming Sunday contains explicit or implicit references to sin, maybe Edwards’s keen understanding may help you help your congregants. I know, as we do this our Lord will receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21).

Randal

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A Fresh Definition for the Next Time You Preach on Sin

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What’s your go-to definition for explaining what Adam did?

One of the values of reading theology is that we can gain more precision for explaining key doctrines such as sin.

I have been enjoying and profiting from Bavinck’s one volume, The Wonderful Works of God. In his chapter on sin and death, he provides some non-mainstream definitions of sin.

My standard definition of sin takes me back to my theological training days in the early ’80’s:

Sin is any lack of conformity to the character of God, whether by act, disposition, or state.

I don’t know whether that is a quote from a theology book or from one of my professors. I just know I never forgot it. It’s a pretty good definition.

But, when you preach on sin in the future, see if the following definitions help you communicate this important doctrine:

“It is a deprivation of that which man, in order to be truly human, ought to have; and it is at the same time the introduction of a defect or inadequacy which is not proper to man. (emphasis added)” (p. 211)

“…sin is not a substance in itself, but that sort of disturbance of all the gifts and energies given to man which makes them work in another direction, not toward God but away from Him. (emphasis added)” (p. 211)

What I’ve appreciated is the fresh angle on a very familiar biblical concept (at least, very familiar to most of my congregants). So, this helps them process sin differently than they have before.

And for those that haven’t been introduced to the subject yet, what a great place for them to begin. They can begin to think about their own humanness or what it means to be fully human (sounds a little like C. S. Lewis on the Christian Life, I know). They can think about their purpose in life, a question which I’m told, evidently continues to plague our younger generation.

So, tuck these robust definitions away so they’re ready for use and our Lord will receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21).

Randal