Such Guilty, Filthy, and Polluted Souls!
The sermon emphasizes the power of God's grace to transform even the most wicked individuals and make them holy.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the transformative power of God's grace in his sermon 'Such Guilty, Filthy, and Polluted Souls!' He reflects on the list of sinners mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, highlighting the severity of their sins and the dire consequences they face. However, he rejoices in the hope that even the most notorious sinners can be washed, sanctified, and justified through Jesus Christ. Brooks encourages listeners to remember that no heart is beyond the reach of God's grace, and that transformation is possible for all who seek it. He calls on sinners to believe in the possibility of change and the cleansing power of God.
Text
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual
offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
What a sad roster of vile people! These monstrous sinners and
prodigious sins were enough to have brought another flood upon
the world; or to have provoked the Lord to rain hell out of heaven
upon them--as once he did upon Sodom and Gomorrah; or to have
caused the ground to open and swallow them up--as once it did
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram!
And yet behold! some of these are changed and sanctified!
"And that is what some of you were! But you were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." verse 11.
Oh, the infinite goodness!
Oh, the infinite grace!
Oh, the infinite wisdom and power of God--which has
pardoned, washed, sanctified, and cleansed such guilty,
filthy, and polluted souls! The worst of sinners should
never despair of being made saints--considering what
notorious sinners have been made holy. There is no
heart so wicked--but grace can make it holy.
Well! sinners, remember this--it is possible that those . . .
proud hearts of yours may be humbled;
hard hearts of yours may be softened;
unclean hearts of yours may be sanctified;
blind minds of yours may be enlightened;
stubborn wills of yours may be tamed;
disordered affections of yours may be regulated;
defiled consciences of yours may be awakened and purged;
vile and polluted natures of yours may be changed and purified.
Sermon Outline
- The Wicked Will Not Inherit the Kingdom
- The Transformation of Sinners
- The Power of God's Grace
- The Possibility of Change
Key Quotes
“Oh, the infinite goodness! Oh, the infinite grace! Oh, the infinite wisdom and power of God--which has pardoned, washed, sanctified, and cleansed such guilty, filthy, and polluted souls!” — Thomas Brooks
“There is no heart so wicked--but grace can make it holy.” — Thomas Brooks
“Well! sinners, remember this--it is possible that those . . . proud hearts of yours may be humbled; hard hearts of yours may be softened; unclean hearts of yours may be sanctified;” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Recognize the depth of your own sinfulness and the need for God's grace.
- Trust in the power of God's grace to transform you and make you holy.
- Remember that no heart is too wicked for God's grace to work in.