Profiting From the Word # 3

The Scriptures and Sin - continued


4. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word produces in him a deeper hatred of sin. "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil" (Psalm 97:10). "We cannot love God without hating that which He hates. We are not only to avoid evil, and refuse to continue in it, but we must be up in arms against it, and bear towards it a hearty indignation" (C. H. Spurgeon). One of the surest tests to apply to the professed conversion is the heart's attitude towards sin. Where the principle of holiness has been planted, there will necessarily be a loathing of all that is unholy. If our hatred of evil be genuine, we are thankful when the Word reproves even the evil which we suspected not.


This was the experience of David: "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104). Observe well, it is not merely "I abstain from," but "I hate"; not only "some" or "many", but "every false way"; and not only "every evil", but "every false way." Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:128). But it is the very opposite with the wicked: "Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee" (Psalm 50:17). In Proverbs 8:13, we read "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil," and this godly fear comes through reading the Word: (see Deuteronomy 17:18, 19). Rightly has it been said, "Till sin be hated, it cannot be mortified; you will never cry against it, as the Jews did against Christ, Crucify it, Crucify it, till sin be really abhorred as He was" (Edward Reyner).


5. An individual is spiritually profited when the Word causes a forsaking of sin.  "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" ( 2 Timothy 2:19). The more the Word is read with the definite object of discovering what is pleasing and what is displeasing to the Lord, the more will His will become known; and if our hearts are right with Him the more will our ways be conformed thereto. There will be a "walking in the truth" (3 John 4). At the close of 2 Corinthians 6 some precious promises are given to those who separate themselves from unbelievers. Observe, there, the application which the Holy Spirit makes of them. He does not say, "Having therefore these promises, be comforted and become complacent thereby," but "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all the filthiness of the flesh and spirit" (2 Corinthians 7:1).


~ A. W. Pink~


(continued with # 4