Tampering With the Label
The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and naming sin accurately to foster true moral reformation and spiritual forgiveness.
John Henry Jowett emphasizes the seriousness of sin as deliberate disobedience to God's law, highlighting the importance of recognizing sin for what it truly is, regardless of attempts to soften its impact or disguise its nature. He warns against deceptive teachings that seek to minimize the gravity of sin and urges listeners to confront sin head-on with honesty and humility. Jowett stresses the necessity of confession and repentance, reminding believers that God is faithful and just to forgive when we acknowledge our sins.
Text
1 JOHN iii. 4-10.
Sin is transgression. It is the deliberate climbing of the fence. We see
the trespass-board, and in spite of the warning we stride into the
forbidden field. Sin is not ignorance, it is intention. We sin when we are
wide-awake! There are teachers abroad who would soften words like these.
They offer us terms which appear to lessen the harshness of our actions;
they give our sin an aspect of innocence. But to alter the label on the
bottle does not change the character of the contents. Poison is poison
give it what name we please. "Sin is the transgression of the law."
Let us be on our guard against the men whose pockets are filled with
deceptive labels. Let us vigilantly resist all teachings which would
chloroform the conscience. Let us prefer true terms to merely nice ones.
Let us call sin by its right name, and let us tolerate no moral conjuring
either with ourselves or with others. The first essential in all moral
reformation is to call sin "sin." "If we confess our sin He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sin."
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Definition of Sin - Intentionality in Sin - Consequences of Sin
- II points: - Misleading Labels - Impact on Conscience - Need for Clarity
- III points: - The Importance of Truth - Confession and Forgiveness - Moral Reformation
Key Quotes
“Sin is transgression. It is the deliberate climbing of the fence.” — John Henry Jowett
“To alter the label on the bottle does not change the character of the contents.” — John Henry Jowett
“If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin.” — John Henry Jowett
Application Points
- Be vigilant against teachings that dilute the seriousness of sin.
- Practice honesty in self-reflection and confession of sins.
- Encourage others to recognize sin for what it is to promote moral clarity.