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Thomas Watson

One sin lived in!

Colossians 3:5; Romans 8:13
Thomas Watson • December, 9 2009 • Audio
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The sermon "One Sin Lived In" by Thomas Watson addresses the theological concept of sin and its serious implications for the believer's life. Watson argues that harboring even a single sin can lead to dire spiritual consequences, drawing from Scripture references such as Colossians 3:5 and Romans 8:13. He emphasizes that one sin can give Satan a foothold, lead to more sin, obstruct the believer's relationship with Christ, and ultimately jeopardize one's salvation. Watson illustrates that any indulgence in sin, regardless of its degree, equates to a breach of God’s law, undermines one's spiritual duties, and destroys peace of conscience, reinforcing the Reformed conviction of total depravity and the necessity of mortification of sins. This sermon serves as a significant exhortation for believers to actively reject and kill any remaining sin in their lives, highlighting the doctrine of perseverance and the continuous need for sanctification.

Key Quotes

“One sin lived in gives Satan as much advantage against you as more sins.”

“One sin lived in will be a canker-worm to eat out the peace of conscience.”

“One disease is enough to kill. If offense is made ever so strong, and only one gap is left open, the wild beast may enter and tread down the corn.”

“Therefore, beware of cherishing one sin. Give a certificate of divorce to every sin.”

What does the Bible say about the danger of one sin?

The Bible warns that one sin can lead to greater dangers and obstruct our relationship with God.

The Bible highlights the peril of indulging even one sin, as it can provide Satan with a foothold, leading to further transgressions. In James 2:10, we read that failing in one point of the law makes one guilty of breaking it all, illustrating that no sin is insignificant in the eyes of God. This principle is echoed throughout Scripture as sin is often portrayed as a gateway to more sin. For instance, David's adultery paved the way for murder, exemplifying that one sin can snowball into greater offenses. Furthermore, one sin allows for a breach in our armor against spiritual attacks, posing a tremendous danger to our spiritual lives and peace.

James 2:10, Romans 6:12, Colossians 3:5

How do we know that one sin can lead to more sins?

Scripture teaches that sins are interconnected, and indulging in one sin opens the door to more.

The biblical understanding of sin is that it is not merely an isolated action but part of a greater web of unrighteousness. When one sin is tolerated, it brings about a spiritual degradation that makes the heart susceptible to further sin. For example, as mentioned in the sermon, David's single act of adultery led to a sequence of grave sins, demonstrating the chained nature of sin. In Romans 8:13, we are warned about living according to the flesh and not mortifying our sinful actions, indicating that neglecting even one sin can result in spiritual death and further sinfulness. Therefore, the interconnectedness of sin emphasizes the importance of actively addressing each sin rather than allowing any to linger.

Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5

Why is mortifying sin important for Christians?

Mortifying sin is essential for maintaining a healthy relationship with God and ensuring spiritual growth.

Mortification of sin is a critical aspect of the Christian life as it reflects our commitment to holiness and our desire to be in right fellowship with God. In Romans 6:12, we are admonished not to let sin reign in our bodies, which underscores the necessity of actively putting sin to death through the work of the Holy Spirit. Indulging in sin, even in small amounts, can corrupt our spiritual life and hinder our ability to experience the fullness of Christ's presence. Additionally, Colossians 3:5 calls us to 'put to death' earthly things that linger within us, highlighting the active nature of battling sin. Engaging in this spiritual fight is vital for maintaining peace of conscience and ensuring we do not allow any gaps for the enemy to exploit.

Romans 6:12, Colossians 3:5

What are the consequences of cherishing one sin?

Cherishing one sin can block our relationship with Christ and lead to eternal ruin.

Cherishing even one sin can have grave consequences for a believer's spiritual life. It creates a barrier that obstructs the flow of God's grace, much like a stone blocking water from a pipe. As Thomas Watson illustrated, one indulgent sin can corrupt the whole, analogous to a drop of poison spoiling good wine. This principle points to the reality that allowing one small sin to reside in our hearts can lead to spiritual decay and potentially shut us out of heaven, as all sin is a transgression against God's law. By failing to take sin seriously, we risk compromising our witness and peace of mind; hence, it is crucial to actively eradicate any cherished sin to maintain the vibrancy of our faith and our assurance of salvation.

Romans 8:13, James 2:10

Sermon Transcript

Auto-generated transcript • May contain errors

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. One Sin Lived In by Thomas Watson A godly man considers the mischief which one sin lived in will do. One sin lived in gives Satan as much advantage against you as more sins. The fowler can hold a bird by one wing, Satan held Judas fast by one sin. One sin lived in proves that the heart is not sound. He who hides one rebel in his house is a traitor to the crown. The person who indulges one sin is a traitorous hypocrite.

One sin lived in will make way for more, as a little thief can open the door to more. Sins are linked and chained together. One sin will draw on more. David's adultery made way for murder. One sin never goes alone. If there is only one nest egg, the devil can brood on it.

One sin lived in is as much a breach of God's law as more sins. Whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all. James 2.10 The king may make a law against felony, treason, and murder. If a man is guilty of only one of these, he is a transgressor.

One sin lived in prevents Christ from entering. One stone in the pipe keeps out the water. One sin indulged in obstructs the soul and keeps the streams of Christ's blood from running into it.

One sin lived in will spoil all your good duties. One dead fly will spoil the whole box of precious ointment. A drop of poison will spoil a glass of wine. Abimelech, a bastard son, destroyed seventy of his brethren. Judges 9, 5. One bastard sin will destroy seventy prayers.

One sin lived in will be a canker-worm to eat out the peace of conscience. Alas, what a scorpion lies within! One sin is a pirate to rob a Christian of his comfort. One jarring string puts all the music out of tune. One sin lived in will spoil the music of conscience.

one sin lived in, will damn as well as more sins. One disease is enough to kill. If offense is made ever so strong, and only one gap is left open, the wild beast may enter and tread down the corn. If only one sin is allowed in the soul, you leave open a gap for the devil to enter. A soldier may have only one gap in his armor, and the bullet may enter there. He may as well be shot there, as if he had no armor on at all. So if you favor only one sin, you leave a part of your soul unprotected, and the bullet of God's wrath may enter there and shoot you.

One sin lived in may shut you out of heaven. What difference is there between being shut out of heaven for one sin or for many sins? One millstone will sink a man into the sea as well as a hundred. Therefore, beware of cherishing one sin. Give a certificate of divorce to every sin. Kill the Goliath sin. Let not sin reign over you. Romans 6.12

In the original it is, Let not sin king it over you. Grace and sin may be together, but grace and the love of sin cannot. Therefore parley with sin no longer, but with the spear of mortification spill the heart-blood of every sin. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die. But if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. Romans 8.13

So put to death the sinful earthly things lurking within you. Colossians 3.5
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