Opus 2016-266: Insy or Outsy

In one of his sermons, Alistair Begg made the distinction between sins of excess and internal sins.  Adultery is a sin of excess.  Lust would be internal.  One has to do with our outward actions, the other with inner thoughts.  What we need to understand is that both are sins.  Some people think that if they can just control their actions they have it made but Jesus said it differently.

(Matthew 5:28 KJV)  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

This is what makes the Christian faith so difficult to many.  It requires an act of God to deal with the inner sin.  It means that we are not in control and that we are dependent on His grace.  It means that we are not gods of our lives.  It means we must be willing to bend our knee in submission. 

It is also confusing to those watching church people.  It is hard to observe what goes on in people’s hearts.  It is easy to see what goes on in their interactions.  Those of us who are serious pray that God will change our inner person and give us the discipline to develop our outer person.  In Christianese it is the process of sanctification.

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