Image credit: Pope Saint Victor

We are a deceptive people. And selfish. Corrupt to the core. So we are bound to find ourselves sinning. This is no surprise to anyone who understands the wretched condition of mankind.

But how do we respond to our sin?

Do we run to the cross with tears streaming down our face? Do we plead with the Spirit to help us put the axe to the root of that sin? Or do we seek to justify, defend or even approve of that sin? Do we shrug and think it no big deal?

One condition leads to life. The other to death.

In his Mortification of Sin in Believers, John Owen shares six signs that indicate our sin is more dangerous that we thought–and could be leading us to death.

1. Established Habit

The sequence is the same. And it has been for weeks. Months. Maybe even years. You are preoccupied with the pattern. Getting to your sin.

Hard- or soft-core porn. Drunkenness. Lying. Violence. Astrology. Envy. Disorderly conduct. Music that shames God. Sex outside of marriage. Adultery.

None of it glorifying God. All of it shaming you and Jesus. But you don’t care. And if you do care, you don’t care for long. You gag conviction so you can satisfy your wickedness, and you kick communion with God to the curb.

If this describes you, then your sin is worse than you thought.

2. Secret Desire to Approve that Sin

You are annoyed that your sin is off-limits. You point your finger at your good deeds, and ask, “How can I be a despicable person when I lead worship? When I am the faithful treasurer of the church? When I bust out post after gospel-proclaiming post?”

You schedule a good deed into your day every morning so you can persist in a sin later that afternoon. You abuse 2 Corinthians 13:5, examining yourself to find the good deeds that will make you feel better about your sin.

You heap up hope that you will escape the wrath of God.

In the end, you fail to expose yourself to the gospel. To repent of sin. To get it pardoned in the blood of Christ. To kill it in the Spirit. You are like the rich young ruler who said, “In all things I will walk with God, but in this one thing–God be merciful to me.”

If this describes you, then your sin is worse than you thought.

3. Frequency of Success

Let’s say you fight that sin.

You punch the floor in prayer. Take the cold shower. Grit your teeth and curse under your breath. You flee the bar or the peep show. Resist lashing out against your spouse or children. Resist lying to your accountability partner.

But sin wins.

Yet, rather than grieve in your loss, however, you actually enjoy it. You relish it. Delight in it. No wonder overtime your losses against that sin begin to pile up.

And let’s say there are times when you do not finish that sin–you actually win against it. Yet instead of feeling victory over that sin, you begrudge the fact that you could not indulge in it, and nurture the thought that you would finish it if you could.

Furthermore, you choose activities that make you careless and negligent when it comes to killing sin. You are then surprised when sin overtakes you. Yet, you are no less at fault. You are simply a despicable person for playing naive.

You are fooling no one. Your sin is worse than you thought.

4. Fear of Shame and Punishment If Caught

And let’s say you do not hate sin, but the negative consequences of indulging in that sin. That means you would naturally fulfill that evil desire if you could get away with it.

Sadly, this is no different from actually living like an unrepentant sinner.

Furthermore, you don’t use the gospel to resist sin, but the law. You fear God’s wrath and eternal damnation.

In the end, you do not love God or Jesus. A child of God hates sin because he loves Christ: Paul said, “Love of Christ constrains us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). But you feel as if that constraint is a punishment–and not a gift.

Your sin is worse than you thought.

5. Complain of Being Disciplined

Sometimes you will find yourself suffering correction because of former lust, negligence or sin (Isaiah 63:17). This is correction from God. What is important is how you respond:

What was your soul like before?

Were you neglecting duties?

Being selfish?

Is there a sin you must repent?

New sin is sometimes permitted and new affliction sent to remind us to bring old sin to remembrance. Do not complain against such discipline. Instead, thank God for being merciful because he has your joy in mind, and his glory.

Complain of such discipline and your sin is worse than you thought.

6. Resist God’s Chastisement

The Bible is clear that God will desert and afflict his children if they hold onto their sins. He did this to Israelites (Isaiah 57:17) in the Old Testament. And in the New he gave up those who worshipped the creature rather than the Creator to the lusts of their hearts.

As a form of punishment God will abandon us. How do we respond to that chastisement? Do we convert? Do we correct our behavior? Are we edified?

Or do we fight that chastisement? Do we buy into the heresy of easy-believism that turns God’s grace into lasciviousness? Do we buy into the false gospel that says God hates the sin but loves the sinner?

If so, your sin is worse than you thought.

Conclusion

If you consider yourself a believer and yet notice any of the above signs in your life, then flee to the cross. Beg God to forgive you for your obstinacy, pride and selfishness.

Whatever you do, do not look within yourself for the cure for your sin. Do not believe in the lie that your good deeds will neutralize your sins. Turn to God.

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