= E FOR THE SERMON, BIBLE READING, , GOSPEL ADDRESS § Hom iletical Helps B y W I L L I A M E V A N S
SERMON OUTLINES
T h em e: T h e G reatest Sin in th e W orld. T ext : John 16:8-11. I ntroduction . The tremendous task committed to the disciples causes them to shrink. Christ • assures them that the Holy Spirit is to be the prime agent in their work. I. What is the greatest sin in the world f A score of different answers are offered by different persons. 1. This sin has a definite relation to Jesus Christ. Human persuasion cannot convince men of this fact; hence the need'of the Holy Spirit. . This sin is not one against the Deca logue, nor the breaking of one of the Ten Commandments. 2. • It is the sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ, which is Negatively : (a) Not a mere want of historical faith. (b) Nor the confession that Christ was, a good man, even the best man that ever lived. 0 .('c)Nor even that He was •a great . teacher and philanthropist. Bût positively : (a) A: refusal to believe that Christ was all lie claimed to he : Sinless; infallible teacher; the only ‘ way to Heaven ; thé one who raises the dead ; the judge of all mankind; etc. (b) A refusal to believe that His death is what He claimed for it—namely, the sacrifice for the sins of the
(c) A refusal to believe that He was raised from the dead as the divine attestation of all His claims. (d) A refusal to accept Jesus Christ as f, Redeemer and Lord. Thus we see that the greatest sin in the world is a state,,a condition, an attitude of the will rather than a definite, tangible act. It is something inward rather than out ward. It is an atmosphere. It has no definite outward form or shape as, other sins; nor does it make any such noise in the heart. It .may not even be recognized by the world as a sin. II. Why is it the greatest sin in the world f 1. Because it ,is the root of all other sins.. All other sin has its root in unbe lief. 2. Because it is the strongest form of resistance to the person and work of Christ. “To be in the presence of goodness and hot love it ; to see Christ in all His beauty, suffering, and glory and to see Him with unmoved and unlbving hearts; to hear His call and not heed it; to,recognize the holiness and beauty of His character anil yet turn away from 'it to the lust and selfishness of the world and by so doing show that all thesej things have no attrac tion for us”’—this is awful indeed! It is the stoutest form of obstinacy; it repudiates God’s testimony; it gives the lie fo the claims of Christ; or, what may be worse, it says, I believe, but I do pot ‘ want to accept.
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