The Scriptures and Sin
By Arthur Pink

Psalm 119, verse 11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

The true measure of our profiting from God's Word is not seen in how much Scripture we can quote, nor in how many sermons we have heard, but in how much power the Word exercises over sin in our lives. One may possess a vast knowledge of doctrine, be skilled in theological distinctions, and yet remain a stranger to genuine piety. Real spiritual profit from the Word is evidenced when the conscience is pierced, the heart is humbled, and the will is brought into submission to God.

The Scriptures reveal sin as God sees it, not as a weakness to be excused, nor as a misfortune to be pitied, but as a vile offense against the thrice-holy God. Sin is lawlessness, rebellion against God's authority, and enmity against His nature. The Word strips away the flattering disguises that man would drape over his iniquities, exposing sin in all its ugliness, guilt, and damning power.

When the Holy Spirit wields the Word, He opens our eyes to see our sin, not merely as the cause of personal misery, but as that which nailed the Lord of glory to the accursed cross. It is then that the soul cries out with the psalmist, Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.

The Word does not merely show us sin, it drives us to forsake it. It does not merely reveal our guilt, it compels us to flee to Christ for cleansing. Profiting from the Word will be evidenced by a deepening hatred for sin, a holy vigilance against sin, and a consistent striving after purity. The believer who treasures the Word will be increasingly sensitive to the least compromise with sin, grieved over every defilement by sin, and quick to confess and forsake transgression. Such a soul is learning to walk in the fear of the Lord.

To merely read the Bible without having our sins exposed, mourned over, and mortified is to handle the Word deceitfully. But when the Scriptures lead us to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, to prize the sin-atoning blood of Christ, and to hunger after righteousness, then we are truly profiting by it.

Oh, that we would not be satisfied with mere intellectual acquaintance with the truth, but that we would daily submit our hearts to its sanctifying power.

Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth. John chapter 17 verse 17