One Sin Never Goes Alone
Thomas Brooks warns that little sins can lead to greater sins if not cut off in their first motion.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that small sins often lead to greater sins, illustrating this with biblical examples such as Cain, Ahab, Jeroboam, and Judas. He warns that yielding to minor transgressions can predispose the heart to commit more serious offenses, creating a dangerous cycle of sin. Brooks stresses the importance of addressing even the smallest sins before they escalate into habits that can ultimately destroy the soul. The sermon serves as a call to vigilance against sin in all its forms, urging believers to cut off sin at its inception.
Text
Little sins make way for greater sins.
Cain's anger is seconded with murder.
Ahab's covetousness is attended with bloody cruelty.
Jeroboam's rebellion is attended with idolatry.
Judas' thievery is attended with treason.
One sin commonly disposes the heart to another sin.
Yielding to lesser sins, draws the soul to the
commission of greater sins.
Oh there is a prodigious evil in the least of sins; it will
quickly multiply itself into all manner of evils. Unless sin
be cut off in the first motion, it will proceed to action,
and from action to delight, and from delight to custom,
and from custom to a habit--and then the soul will be
undone forever!
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Little Sins
- The Progression of Sin
- From motion to action
- From action to delight
- From delight to custom and habit
Key Quotes
“Oh there is a prodigious evil in the least of sins; it will quickly multiply itself into all manner of evils.” — Thomas Brooks
“Unless sin be cut off in the first motion, it will proceed to action, and from action to delight, and from delight to custom, and from custom to a habit--and then the soul will be undone forever!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Recognize the danger of little sins and take steps to cut them off before they lead to greater sins.
- Be aware of the progression of sin from motion to action, delight, custom, and habit.
- Seek to live a life of obedience to God, cutting off sin in its first motion to avoid a prodigious evil.