Enemies!
A Christian should view their sins as enemies and have a sincere desire to abandon and be rid of them.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the necessity of viewing sin as our greatest enemy, urging believers to confront and detest their sins with the same fervor as one would against a formidable foe. He illustrates the destructive nature of sin, explaining how it leads to spiritual death and separation from God, and how it has dire consequences for the soul. The sincere Christian, recognizing the weight of sin, desires to abandon it completely, akin to a sick person yearning for health or a prisoner longing for freedom. Brooks calls for a deep-seated hatred of sin, advocating for a relentless pursuit of holiness and a commitment to eradicate sin from our lives.
Text
One of the first works of the Spirit is to make a man to
look upon all his sins as enemies; yes, as his greatest
enemies, and to deal with his sins as enemies, and to
hate and loathe them as enemies, and to fear them
as enemies, and to arm against them as enemies. He
has earnest and sincere desires, and makes careful
endeavors--to abandon all sin, to forsake all sin, and
to be rid of all sin.
Says the sincere Christian,
"Sin is the greatest evil in all the world!
Sin is the only thing which God abhors!
Sin brought Jesus Christ to the cross!
Sin damns souls!
Sin shuts heaven!
Sin has laid the foundations of hell!
Oh, sin is . . .
the pricking thorn in my eye,
the deadly arrow in my side,
the sharp sword which has . . .
wounded my conscience,
slain my comforts,
hindered my prayers,
embittered my mercies,
put a sting into all my crosses!
Therefore I condemn it to death,
yes, to hell, from whence it came!"
Certainly, a sick man is not more desirous to
be rid of all his diseases, nor a prisoner to be
freed from all his bolts and chains--than the
true penitent is desirous to be rid of all his sins!
Sermon Outline
- Enemies of the Christian
- The Spirit's Work
- Looking upon sins as enemies
- Dealing with sins as enemies
Key Quotes
“Sin is the greatest evil in all the world!” — Thomas Brooks
“Sin is the only thing which God abhors!” — Thomas Brooks
“Sin is the pricking thorn in my eye, the deadly arrow in my side, the sharp sword which has wounded my conscience, slain my comforts, hindered my prayers, embittered my mercies, put a sting into all my crosses!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- A Christian should have a strong desire to abandon and be rid of their sins.
- A Christian should view their sins as enemies and have a strong hatred for them.
- A Christian should be willing to condemn and seek to be rid of their sins.