What Can Be More Just?
The sermon emphasizes the self-destructive nature of sin and the justice of God's judgment, highlighting the importance of personal responsibility and the consequences of choosing sin over God.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the self-destructive nature of sin, illustrating that just as various figures in history faced their demise through their own actions, so too will individuals face eternal destruction due to their own choices. He presents a stark choice between life and death, urging listeners to recognize the justice in their fate if they choose to reject God. Brooks warns that if one opts for sin over salvation, they will ultimately bear the consequences of their folly, shame, and misery, which are of their own making.
Text
Remember this, that as Noah was drunk with his own wine,
and as Goliath was beheaded by his own sword, and as the
rose is destroyed by the canker that it breeds in itself, and
as Agrippina was killed by Nero, to whom she gave breath;
so if ever you are eternally destroyed--you will be destroyed
by yourselves! If ever you are undone, you will be undone
by yourselves! If ever you are scourged to death, it will be
by rods of your own making! And if ever the bitter cup of
damnation be put into your hands, it will be found to be of
your own preparing, mingling, and embittering!
Behold, I have set life and death, heaven and hell, glory
and misery, before you in this treatise; and therefore, if
you will needs choose . . .
death rather than life,
hell rather than heaven,
misery rather than glory,
what can be more just--than that you should perish
to all eternity? If you will not have God for your portion,
you shall be sure to have His wrath for your portion,
and hell for your portion! Every man shall only thank . . .
his own folly for his own bane,
his own sin for his own everlasting shame,
his own iniquity for his own endless misery!
Sermon Outline
- The Self-Destructive Nature of Sin
- The Choice Before Us
- The Justice of God's Judgment
- The justice of eternal punishment
- The role of personal responsibility in judgment
Key Quotes
“If ever you are eternally destroyed--you will be destroyed by yourselves!” — Thomas Brooks
“If you will not have God for your portion, you shall be sure to have His wrath for your portion, and hell for your portion!” — Thomas Brooks
“Every man shall only thank . . . his own folly for his own bane, his own sin for his own everlasting shame, his own iniquity for his own endless misery!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must take responsibility for our own choices and actions, and acknowledge the consequences of our sin.
- Choosing sin over God leads to eternal punishment and misery.
- We should strive to have God as our portion, rather than His wrath and hell.