Wallowed in Sin Like Swine in the Mire
The sermon warns against self-deception, highlighting the dangers of thinking we are good and holy when in reality we are still sinful and in need of cleansing.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the danger of self-deception in his sermon 'Wallowed in Sin Like Swine in the Mire,' warning that many people consider themselves pure while being deeply entrenched in sin. He cites Proverbs 30:12 to illustrate that those who are filthy in heart and actions often maintain a facade of holiness, believing in their own goodness despite their moral decay. Brooks argues that true holiness is essential for a genuine relationship with God, and that those who live in contradiction to their claims of righteousness will ultimately face shame. The sermon serves as a call to self-examination and repentance, urging believers to seek true purity rather than a false sense of righteousness.
Text
The worst men are commonly best conceited of themselves.
"There is a generation which is pure in their own eyes--and
yet is not washed from their filthiness." Proverbs 30:12
They were very bad--and yet they had a great opinion of their
own goodness. They were very filthy, and yet they stood very
much upon their own purity. Their hands were black, their hearts
were black, their works were black, and their ways were as black
as hell--and yet they were pure in their own eye. They were
filthy within, and filthy without; filthy in body, and filthy in
soul, and filthy in spirit. Filthiness had quite overspread them,
and yet they thought to cover their filthiness with a mask of
holiness. There has always been such a generation of men, who
have wallowed in sin like swine in the mire--and yet have
kept up in themselves a strong opinion of their own goodness
and holiness.
There are many who are shining Christians, who are pure golden
Christians in their own eyes--who are vile in God's eyes!
Those who pretend their hearts are as good as the best, when
their lives are as bad as the worst--shall experience this truth
at last to their shame and cost--that without visible holiness
here, there can be no fruition of God hereafter.
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Self-Deception
- The Nature of Self-Deception
- The Consequences of Self-Deception
- Without visible holiness here, there can be no fruition of God hereafter
- Experience of shame and cost for those who deceive themselves
Key Quotes
“There is a generation which is pure in their own eyes--and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” — Thomas Brooks
“Those who pretend their hearts are as good as the best, when their lives are as bad as the worst--shall experience this truth at last to their shame and cost--that without visible holiness here, there can be no fruition of God hereafter.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must be honest with ourselves and seek God's truth to avoid self-deception.
- Living a life of visible holiness is essential for a true relationship with God.
- Self-deception can lead to shame and cost, and ultimately, separation from God.