Sometimes as Christians, we are tempted to think that sin is less serious for the Christian than for the non-Christian. Since our sins are forgiven and Christ has paid for them, we think they don’t really matter anymore. But in this sermon, Spurgeon shows from Scripture that the opposite is true: Sin is even more serious for the Christian. After all, remember what you were and the amazing grace that God has shown you “Yet there we were, dying, nay dead, rotten, corrupted, so abominable that it might well be said, ‘Bury this dead one out, of my sight,’ when Jehovah passed by and he said unto us, ‘live.’” By His cleansing, regenerating power, we have been saved. How can we turn back to sin?
In light of God’s grace, for a Christian to turn to sin is a greater offense than for a non-Christian to do the same. “Ah! my brethren, I do think if there be any difference, the sins of disciples of Christ are a thousand times worse than the sins of unbelievers, because they sin against a gospel of love, a covenant of mercy; against sweet experience and against precious promises.” This reality must forever push us away from sin to walk in the goodness, grace, and love of God. We must not live in “vile ingratitude”, but as thankful servants who have been saved from just, eternal punishment.
Excerpt:
Hath the Lord loved us, though there was nothing in our birth or parentage to invite regard or merit esteem? Then surely every sin that we commit now, is aggravated by that sovereign choice, that infinite compassion that doated upon us, though our birth was vile, and our original base. Didst thou take me from the dunghill, O my God, and do I sin against thee? Didst thou take the beggar in his rags and lift him up to make him sit among thy sons and daughters, the very blood-royal of heaven? And has that beggar afterwards become a rebel against thee? Oh sin, thou art an accursed thing indeed! When I think of that grace which has thus honored the dishonorable, exalted the mean things of this world, and saved creatures that were the offscouring of creation, how I blush for the ingratitude that can forget such tender obligations, and do despite to such extraordinary unmerited goodness!
Read the rest of the sermon here.