In this week's lesson from Matthew chapter 27, Cody taught us about a very important distinction that has eternal consequences.  Scripture and experience teach us in unison that we (all of us) are sinners.  On that point, there is little debate to be had.  And when we sin, we will unavoidably respond in one of three ways.

          The first response is indifference.  That is, to simply not care.  This response is not uncommon, nor should it be surprising to us.  When speaking of the condition of the human heart, the prophet Jeremiah writes, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"  The Bible teaches us that because of the first sin, the hearts of all men are tainted with sin.  That is to say, we are born with a sin nature.  Therefore, for us to sin is natural to who we are in the flesh.

          You and I have no more power or ability to resist our will to sin than a wild beast can resist its animal instincts.  A dog can't just decide to be a cat, because it is a dog...and it will act like a dog.  It will do what dogs do.  The great reformer, Martin Luther, says it this way, "
For if man has lost his freedom, and is forced to serve sin, and cannot will good, what conclusion can more justly be drawn concerning him, than that he sins and wills evil necessarily?"  Indifference to sin is the sign to all men that they are enslaved to it...that they serve it...and it is their master.  This is the testimony of a heart that is spiritually dead.

         However, indifference to sin isn't the only response that we encounter.  It is primarily these next two responses upon which this week's lesson focused.  On the surface, they may be hard to differentiate between, but it is what lies beneath and what drives and motivates one to elicit such a response that makes all of the difference.  It is because they can be so similar, that I believe it is of the utmost importance that we learn to tell them apart.  Especially in our own lives.

          Sin has consequences...sometimes, big ones!  People we care about can be hurt.  Relationships can be damaged or destroyed.  We can suffer pain and loss.  Any number of unpleasantries may occur.  When this happens, we will likely encounter our second possible response to sin...grief.  Regret, remorse, shame...call it what you will, this is another common reaction.  Often times, when the consequences of our choices catch up to us, we may, for the first time, become aware of the gravity of our actions.

          This is a gut check moment and how we respond tells us a lot about our spiritual condition.  The question we need to answer is, are we grieved by the sin, or the results/consequences that the sin produced?  If the latter, we are experiencing worldly grief.  Wordly grief is rooted in our flesh and motivated by our own sinfulness.  Some may be inclined to object, saying, "How can it be sinful to feel bad about my sin?"  In response, I would point us back to the earlier quote from the prophet Jeremiah concerning the deceitfulness of our own hearts.  Nothing is less trustworthy than the heart of a sinner.

          Worldy grief, as the name implies, is rooted in the things of this world.  It isn't driven by spirit led conviction, but rather by selfish preservation.  When sin costs us something, we don't like it.  Sin tends to allure us with false promises, and when we find out we have been fooled, we feel regret.  Whatever the case may be, the important thing to recognize is that the focus is still on US and what WE have lost.

          Conversely, when we rightly grieve sin for what it truly is, a betrayal and rejection of our God and our Creator, then we are experiencing godly grief that leads to repentance.  You see, it isn't enough for us to feel bad about our sin, but rather, our remorse over our sin must lead to action...a turning from sin, back towards God.  However, before we become too proud of our own moral ability, let me remind us that such ability is empowered by the Holy Spirit and is only capable for a heart that has been radically transformed and reborn in the power of the Gospel.

          Godly grief is oriented (or more correctly, reoriented) on God.  One who is godly grieved confesses sin, seeks forgiveness, accepts consequences, flees from temptation, and pursues reconciliation...all for God's glory and their good.  To the observer, the distinction between worldly and godly grief may be subtle and nearly imperceptible.  However, in the heart of the sinner, they make all of the difference in the world...and in eternity.


In Grace,
Chris Morris


If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

Part 94 - Judas Hangs Himself

Questions discussed in this sermon:
1.  Why is Jesus taken to Pilate?
2.  Is feeling remorse over our sin considered repentance?
3.  How is Jesus our new and better High Priest?

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