3/28/12- Sin Made More Heinous by Time and Place

36- 3/28- WLC- 151.4

Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?
A. Sins receive their aggravations,

4. From circumstances of time, and place: if on the Lord's day, or other times of divine worship; or immediately before or after these, or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages: if in public, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked or defiled.

 The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. ¹⁶ But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. (2 Chr. 36:15,16)

So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, ²¹ for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. (1 Cor. 11:20-21)

Thoughts: The time of sin is also important.  It is hard for us who do not keep the Sabbath to understand the importance of that sin, and why it is important to not sin on the Lord’s Day or in worship.  When we go into the presence of God- and seek His face, we should go reverently, truthfully, earnestly. 

Prayer: When I am especially with you, Lord, may my time be focused on you and not on my sin.  May I not hide behind any mask or believe I can keep my problems away from your ever-seeing eye. 

(El Greco- 1600- Driving out the Money changers from the Temple in worship)

3/26/12- What makes some sins worse than others

34- 3/26- WLC- 151.2

Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others?
A. Sins receive their aggravations,

2. From the parties offended: if immediately against God, his attributes, and worship; against Christ, and his grace; the Holy Spirit, his witness, and workings; against superiors, men of eminency, and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto; against any of the saints, particularly weak brethren, the souls of them, or any other, and the common good of all or many.

“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ ³⁹ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. (Mt. 21:38-39)

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. (Mt 12:31)

Thoughts: If we actively blaspheme against God then it is adding fuel to the fire of sin.  So when Ananias and Sapphira lied in church and lied to the Holy Spirit- as if He were not there, they were struck dead. In a secular world, there is not much respect for the holy, and instead a spirit of rebellion.  Persecution of believers is a worst sin in that it is a persecution against the body of Christ.  Jesus tells the persecuting Saul, "Why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4).  Sin against the community as a whole- is aggravating in that it is sin not just against one person but many.  In other words, sins against God and sins against many are more aggravating than private sins.  

Prayer: Give me grace to not offend you, Lord, nor those who are in positions of leadership or part of my church family.  

(Ananias- Raphael 1515)