Let this Mind be in You, which was also in Christ: #14 Grief over Sin

Q: What does the Bible say about grieving over sin?

The Bible teaches that grieving over sin is a necessary response to our fallen state and a reflection of our desire for holiness. Scripture highlights how godly grief is essential for believers as it mirrors the heart of Christ, who grieved over the hardness of the hearts of the Pharisees (Mark 3:5). This grief over sin is not solely about personal failures but also encompasses sorrow for the world's sinfulness and the condition of those around us. In Romans 9:3, Paul expresses deep sorrow for his kinsmen's state apart from Christ, sharing a similar grief for others as Christ did. Our grief over sin should motivate us towards confession and repentance, reflecting a heart aligned with God's desire for holiness.

Q: How do we know that Jesus grieved over sin?

Jesus exhibited grief over sin by His reactions to the sins of others, especially evident in His interactions with the Pharisees. Jesus' grief over sin is poignantly illustrated in Mark 3:1-6, where He expresses anger and sorrow over the hardness of hearts around Him. This grief demonstrates not only His divine compassion but also highlights sin's impact on humanity. The words of Christ indicate His deep sorrow for His creation, especially as He confronted sin directly, as seen in His compassion for those trapped in their transgressions. His lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 further emphasizes His grief, showcasing His desire for repentance and relationship with His people despite their rejection.

Q: Why is grief over sin important for Christians?

Grieving over sin is crucial for Christians as it leads to repentance and fosters a heart aligned with God's holiness. The importance of grieving over sin lies in its role in our spiritual transformation. Grief displays our recognition of the seriousness of sin and our need for redemption. In 2 Samuel 12, David's response to his sin after Nathan’s confrontation illustrates a crucial step towards restoration with God, as he immediately acknowledges his wrongdoing. Additionally, this practice encourages us not only to seek personal holiness but also to intercede for others, as Paul exemplified in Romans 9:1-3. Embracing this grief cultivates a deep-seated reliance on the grace of God, reminding us of both our frailty and the abundant mercy available through Christ.

Let's read the first six verses. Mark chapter three, first six verses. And he, that is Christ, entered again into the synagogue. And there was a man there which had a withered hand, and they watched him. whether he would heal this man on the Sabbath, that they might accuse him. And Christ said unto the man which had the withered hand, stand forth. And he said unto them, he's talking to the religious folks that are in the synagogue or in church, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they held their peace. Pretty easy to answer that question, you would think. They held their peace.

And when Christ had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he said unto the man, stretch forth thy hand and he stretched it out and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees, Went forth and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Christ, how they might destroy him. Now, what I wanna look at tonight is the lesson number 14, let this mind be in us that was in Christ, how he grieved over sin, how Christ grieved over sin. over sin. But before we do that, I'm going to look at a few words and look at the Greek and see, well, these words which were said that came from our Lord, from our dearest Lord, the most tender, they arose in him because of the attitude and condition of the religionists around him. Verse five, and when Christ had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their heart.

That word anger means abhorrence, indignation or wrath. So Christ was looking on them with indignation, being grieved. That word means sorrow or distress. He was distressed. And thirdly, the word hardness, hardness of their heart. That word means stupidity, which makes sense, callousness, and blindness.

Now he knew they were blind, but still, they were trying to trap him, and he knew this. He could have had a, you know, he could have had a cure for, and he did cure diseases. They still hated him. As the scripture says, they hated him without a cause. And if we, and we, before we knew the gospel, we were right here with him. We despised the mention of his name, despised the mention of his grace, and so on and so forth. But all these terms, our words, are a direct result of sin in the peoples around him, in their heart towards our gracious Savior. This is all a direct result.

These three, well, the hardness of heart, it's because of their sin, but he was angry. Our Lord gets angry. It's called holy wrath. We are to be angry and sin not. But the Lord Jesus Christ, He could be angry and sin not because He was perfect. But He was angry with them. and he was grieved, was very sorrowful.

Tonight, let's look at how sin grieved our Master and let us desire the same mind towards sin as well. Now, there's going to be differences in him and our anger, our grief, our sorrow. It needs to start within. It needs to start with us, not pointing fingers, because it's real easy to do that and get upset and angry when people don't do what you want them to do or whatever it may be. But let's look, we need to have the same mind to grieve over sin. Let's look at our Lord first. In verse four, Christ said unto them, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill it?

But they held their peace. They held their peace. such purity, such sinlessness, weeping over, angry over, and yes, grieved over the gracelessness, the hardness, and sinfulness of his own creation. He, in his own handiwork, he was despised and rejected by his own handiwork. He's the creator. He mourned over his ruined world. This world was created perfect, and now it's fallen. And he has a front row seat, humanly speaking. He's right there. And he sees what all this, when Adam fell in the garden, we didn't just partially fall, we completely fell. We completely fell. So his own handiwork despises and rejects him. He's creator, he's mourning over his ruined world. We who were created in God's own image now fallen, vindictive, and insulting to his own majesty. That's why he's grieved.

He was exceeding sorrowful, the scripture says, even unto death, but not for his own sins. Turn to Daniel chapter nine. Not for his own sins was he grieved, but for the sins of His people and sin in the world. Daniel chapter 9 and verse 26, And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah, that's the Lord Christ, He'll be cut off, but not for Himself.

He had no sin. He was sinless. He was perfect, pure, holy, harmless, undefiled, says Hebrews. So this grief is much different than ours. He had a burning desire to heal the sick of heart, to cleanse the polluted, and to forgive his wayward children. And he was grieved. And when he stood over Jerusalem and said, oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft I would have gathered you. But you would not. Well, let's look at grieving over sin in other saints, and this is more along our lines. This is how we are to have the mind of Christ, though they had the mind of Christ.

Let's look at 1 Timothy 1.15, Paul. Let's look at Paul's example here.

1 Timothy 1.15. This is Paul writing, verse one of chapter one, Paul, an apostle, Jesus Christ, by the commandment of our God and Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope. Now this is what he's writing to young Timothy, verse 15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.

So we ought to grieve over ourselves first. and the sin that's always there. And then it took me to Romans 9, verse 3. This is Paul again, Romans 9. Verses 1 through 3 Romans 9 verses 1 through 3 Paul says I say the truth in Christ I lie not my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost that I have a great heaviness and continues sorrow That's what we said. One of the words was for grief sorrow in my heart for I could wish that I Myself were a curse from Christ for my brother and my kinsmen According to the flesh so he grieves over his own sin and then he grieves over his fellow nation, those in his nation.

Well, what about David? Let's look at 2 Samuel chapter 12. What about David? Well, just several examples. There's a bunch more. 2 Samuel chapter 12. We'll just read bits and pieces of this, but the context is Nathan comes to David and the Lord sent Nathan unto David and he came unto David and said unto him, He gives them an illustration.

There are two men in one city, one rich, one other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up and it grew together with him and with his children. And he did eat of his own meat and drink of his own cup and lay in his bosom and was unto him as a daughter. So the man loves this lamb. And then this rich man, he's got all this abundance, he's got all these other lambs.

And then verse four, there came a traveler to the rich man and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man that was coming to him. But he took the poor man's lamb, dressed it for the man that was coming, he killed the lamb. So Nathan says, David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, the rich man, and he said to Nathan, as the Lord liveth, the man that had done this thing shall surely die. Verse seven, and Nathan said to David, you're the man.

You're the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul. I gave thee thy master's house, thy master's wives, and thy bosom, and I gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah. And if thou had been too little, I would have moreover have given you these such and such things.

Verse 13, and David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, the Lord hath also put away thy sin. Thou shalt not die. First of all, David was grieved over his own sin. That's what we ought to do, grieve over our own sin. Let's turn to 2 Samuel chapter nine, pack a couple of chapters. 2 Samuel chapter 9. Secondly, in verse 1, David says, is there yet any left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

So first of all, you blame ourselves. I can't remember who it was, years and years ago I read somebody and they said blame yourself. Don't blame God, blame yourself. confess, forsake, and then go about doing good. So that's what he did. The first thing he did is he's, I'm the man. And the wonderful lesson, we could go deep into this, is that the Lord already forgave him. Isn't that like our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful, compassionate Redeemer? How many times we sinned against him. When we walk out this door, we walk in, We sin, we are sin of whom we are. Paul didn't say I was the chief of sinners, I am. After I knew the gospel and understood Christ and bowed to him, I am right now the chief of sinners. This is David's attitude, this is Paul's attitude.

What about Isaiah? Turn to Isaiah chapter six. Isaiah chapter 6, verses 5 through 7. Isaiah sees the king in his beauty, and verse 5 says, Isaiah, then I said, woe is me, for I am undone, I am a man of unclean lips. I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts.

That's confession. That's grieving over self. And then what's the next step? Look at the same chapter, verses 8 and 9. Verse 7, and thy sin is purged. Also, Isaiah says, I also heard a voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And then I said, here I am, send me. That's what we say.

We'll grieve over our own sin. I'll never forget, and I don't know why it just popped up in my head, but Bruce and I had to go see somebody who was a believer, definitely a believer, but they weren't acting like it. And we went, but before we went, we both said, basically, except for the grace of God, we'd do the same thing. So that humbled us, and then we went and reconciled the brother.

We need it. Sometimes we need it. So this is Isaiah's attitude. What about Job? Turn to Job chapter 42. This to me is very clear. The last chapter in Job. Job 42. And verse 6. Well, let's look up verse 1. Then Job answered the Lord. And Job said, I know you can do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. And who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore I, Job, have uttered that which I understood not, things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Here I beseech thee, and I will speak, and I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee, says Job, by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee.

Wherefore? I walk down the aisle and I'm singing these hymns and I'm having a good time. No, that's not how it works. He's got to take us down, even believers, before he will raise us up. That's just the nature. And here's Job. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. Is repentance important? Absolutely. Is repenting, is grieving over sin? Absolutely. Baptism? Absolutely. It's not just a thing. It's an ordinance to be obeyed.

Okay, then, so that's his first thing, he grieves over himself, then look at what he does in verse eight. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams and go to my servant Job, he's talking to his three friends, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering, and my servant Job shall pray for you, for him will I accept, lest I deal with you after your folly, and that you have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. Grieve over sin, self, and then pray for, it's not self-righteousness, it's not that you were better. The Lord tells to bring a sacrifice to Job, and Job, he's acting as a mediator here, which is a type of Christ. But my point is, is first with believers, not with Christ because he had no sin.

We grieve over our own sin. You know, talking about wearing the, you know, moccasins if you haven't walked that far, you know, that type of thing. We don't know what other person's going through until we go through it with them. So what of ourselves? Well, as I said, Christ could not give, could not grieve over his own sin because he didn't have any.

But we, on the other hand, must start here and ask our Redeemer for a true heart of contrition and a broken one for ourselves, and then we move on to others. Yet we were tender in a way to relieve that in other people, To help others, to see Christ, the spotless lamb of God. As I said, it's easy to be hard and harsh and judgmental, but we are exhorted to be slow to anger, slow to speak, and swift to hear. James 1. That's what we're implored to be. So how do we grieve over sin? If we're a believer, the new nature is going to grieve when we sin against the Holy Spirit, sin against our brother, sin against our neighbors, sin against the believer or unbeliever. Well, here's one remedy.

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee. Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee. This is my earnest plea. More love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee. Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest, now thee alone I seek, give what is best. This all my prayer shall be, more love to thee. Let sorrow do its work, send grief and pain, sweet are thy messengers, sweet their refrain. When they can sing with me, more love to thee, O Christ, more love to thee. Then shall my latest breath whisper thy praise. This be the parting cry my heart shall raise. This still its prayer shall be, more love to thee.

And how about on this one, turn to Genesis 39. Be like our brother. Be like the elder brother, the Lord Christ, but let's be like brothers who honored Christ. Genesis 39, Joseph. And verse nine. Joseph is in the middle of temptation. He says, this is none greater in this house than I. Neither hath the king kept back, or Potiphar, kept back anything from me but thee, his wife, because thou art his wife.

How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? There's a remedy right there. Be more like Christ. Be more in his word, be more in his fellowship, be more, seek to get closer to God through the beloved Savior. Seek to be continually gathering together with like-minded.

This world, I know we got friends, I have no, don't doubt about it, we've got friends who are not believers. But they do not, they can't comfort you. Not in a scriptural way. Because fellowship doesn't have light with dark. So, gather together with those of like mind. Because we have a common unity. A common bond. A common covenant.

Turning and closing to Philippians chapter 4. Prayer. Prayer is very important. Philippians chapter 4 verse 6 and 7. Paul exhorts the Philippians to be careful for nothing, verse six of chapter four, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. I want peace, don't you? This world affords no peace. Turn on the television, or turn it off. It affords no peace.

But the word does, the word does. And in closing, let us close in verse eight, a remedy for our sin and for grieving over our sin. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, just, pure, lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, And if there be any praise, think on these things. And if you look back, go home and look at each one of those characteristics, every one of them is about Christ.

Every one of them. He's the only true and faithful one. There was none as honest as him. On and on we could go. But let us be like, let us have this mind to grieve over sin. And then maybe it won't trip us up so bad. And it's going to be a struggle. I'm not saying it won't. I'm not saying it won't. But may the Lord bless his word to our hearts, and may we be obedient to the heavenly calling. Nathan, would you close us?

Let this Mind be in You, which was also in Christ: #14 Grief over Sin

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What does the Bible say about grieving over sin?

How do we know that Jesus grieved over sin?

Why is grief over sin important for Christians?

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Let this Mind be in You, which was also in Christ: #14 Grief over Sin

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about grieving over sin?

How do we know that Jesus grieved over sin?

Why is grief over sin important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Drew Dietz

Comments

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