Comforting Others Session 3

Overview

Comforting Those Troubled by Sin

When someone is weighed down by sin, a faithful response begins by addressing a common question: Are some sins worse than others? Scripture answers both yes and no. On the one hand, God's law is a unit—"whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it" James 2:10; a single transgression is enough to place us under the curse Galatians 3:10. On the other hand, Scripture clearly distinguishes greater and lesser sins. Jesus tells Pilate that the one who handed him over "is guilty of a greater sin" John 19:11, and he teaches that the servant who knew his master's will but disobeyed receives a more severe judgment than the one who sinned in ignorance Luke 12:47-48. The worst sin of all is unbelief. In Lutheran terms, every sin would be mortal apart from Christ; but for the believer, because Jesus has borne the wrath of God in our place, every sin becomes venial—pardonable, covered by his blood.

The account of the woman caught in adultery John 8:2-11 gives a vivid picture of how grace meets sin. The Pharisees set a trap: Mosaic law required stoning, but Rome forbade the Jews from carrying out the death penalty John 18:31. Jesus' answer—"Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her"—invokes the Old Testament principle that the witnesses cast the first stones (Deuteronomy 13:9; Deuteronomy 17:7). One by one her accusers depart. The only one qualified to throw the stone refuses to throw it; instead, he goes to the cross and bears her sin—and ours. That is grace.

A troubled conscience often needs to hear forgiveness spoken. Private confession to the Lord brings real pardon, but there is profound comfort in another believer declaring, "In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven." This is one reason corporate worship begins with confession and absolution: God's people need to hear God's word of pardon for them. The world says, "Forgive yourself"—but no one can win their own absolution. We forgive ourselves only because Christ has first forgiven us.

It also helps to distinguish guilt from guilty feelings, and forgiveness from feeling forgiven. Guilt is objective—we have indeed missed the mark (the Greek hamartia is an archery term). Feelings, however, can be seared or false; some feel no guilt where they should, while others carry guilt they shouldn't bear. When a brother or sister says, "I just don't feel forgiven," the remedy is to lift them out of their feelings and back into God's objective word. Read 1 John 1:9 to them: "If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." If they still don't feel forgiven—read it again. And again. God's promise does not depend on the strength of our feelings; it stands on the faithfulness of Christ crucified for us.

Transcript

Well, we took a look last week about the subject of how do you comfort someone who is wondering if God is good or not? 0s

And that is the subject of the Odyssey. The Odyssey is the justification that indeed God is good despite the existence of evil in the world. 9s

Can I trouble someone to close that back door for me? Thank you. 22s

We took a look at how God forbids evil, how God is not the author of evil, that God sometimes prevents evil. 26s

We also studied that when God allows it, He always causes evil to serve His purpose. 37s

When He allows it, He uses it to serve His purpose. 44s

So God is not responsible for evil, God will sometimes allow it, and He allows it to put on display His holiness. 50s

We would not understand, as we studied last week, we wouldn't understand the holiness of God if it were not for His allowance for evil. 59s

We would not understand the grace of God if it were not for the existence of evil to which Jesus addresses. 70s

Again, is God responsible for it? Nope. Does He sometimes allow it? Yes. And He puts His glory on display. 81s

So we rest in the gospel. And indeed is God good, most definitely. We look to the cross. 90s

Well, today I want to talk to you about the subject of how do we bring comfort to someone who is troubled with regard to their sin? 98s

How can we bring comfort to one who is troubled with regard to their sin? 108s

And let's start in the book of James, please. 113s

Good way to find the book of James is to go to the very last book, which is Revelation. 116s

Keep turning left. You're going to cross over the Johns. You're going to cross over the Peters. 122s

And then nestled right in between, first Peter and Hebrews is the book of James. James chapter 2, please. 131s

James chapter 2. And I want to start by examining the question, are some sins worse than others? 140s

Are some sins worse than others? And the answer to that question is yes and no. It's yes and no. 147s

Oftentimes when people address that question, you will hear them say, no, all sin is the same. 157s

But when you look at the scriptural answer there, I think the most appropriate answer is to say, it's yes and no. 166s

Are some sins worse than others? So let's start in James, the second chapter, and we'll pick up in verse 1. 174s

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 185s

For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in. 195s

And if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, have a seat here, please. 207s

Well to the one who is poor you say, stand there or sit at my feet. Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 213s

Listen my beloved brothers and sisters, has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 229s

But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? 241s

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 259s

But if you show partiality you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressor. 267s

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 276s

So here in this text from James there's instruction then being given to the church and the issue is treating everyone impartially. 286s

Going back into verse one there must have been a favoritism being shown in the in the church. 297s

My brothers and sisters do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 305s

If a person with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly if a poor person and dirty clothes also comes in. 311s

If you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say have a seat here please, while the one whose poor you say stand there or sit at my feet, have you not made distinctions among yourselves become judges with evil thoughts? 318s

The reference in verse two if one comes into your assembly that's the gathering of worship in the congregation. 331s

And so notice here in what must have been going on is the congregation's eyes must have gotten really big when the rich person walks in. 342s

And then with the poor person well they just weren't too terribly interested here. 351s

And so you've got an immediate favoritism of the rich over the poor. 359s

Verse five, listen my beloved brothers and sisters has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich and faith, to be heirs of the kingdom that he's promised to those who love him. 364s

See this gets at the whole polline understand distinction there's neither Juno Greeks, lavener, free male or female. 377s

This takes away all of the distinctions. 384s

But you have dishonored the poor is it not the rich who will press you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 386s

Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? 392s

Here comes the teaching you do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 397s

In the summer we're going to move into a series of sermons based upon various questions. One of the questions I want to examine with you in the summer is what does it mean when it says in scripture that we are to love ourselves? 408s

What does that mean? So I don't want to comment too much on it because I need something to say in July to you. 421s

So we're going to pass that on but stay tuned it's coming a week in July for that text. 430s

Verse 10, whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 438s

God's law is a unit and so you transgress but one aspect of the law you have broken the entire law. 448s

It comes as a unit. 459s

Let's go to Galatians the third chapter. 463s

Verse and second Corinthians Galatians and Ephesians Galatians chapter 3 verse 10. 465s

Galatians chapter 3 verse 10 and there we read for all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse. 483s

For it is written, cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law. 493s

They're once again it's the emphasis on the unit. 505s

So if someone says are some sins worse than others? Well you say no because but one sin condemns you before Almighty God for all of eternity. 508s

Someone says are some sins worse than others you say yes because it's a yes and no answer. 526s

There are 25 in times in the New Testament in which a distinction is being made between the lesser and the greater evil. 535s

And so on the one hand is sin categorized. You say no because one sin makes you guilty before God for all of eternity. 547s

And on the other hand you say is there seem to be a distinction in sin you would say yes because Scripture makes that distinction in sin. 557s

Let me show you an example or two here on this. 570s

Let's go to John chapter 19 Matthew Mark Luke and then John John 19 verse 11. 573s

Jesus answered you would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above. 600s

Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin. 606s

Let's go to Luke the 12th chapter Matthew Mark then Luke chapter 12 verse 47. 616s

That slave who knew what his master wanted but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating. 642s

But the one who did not know and did what deserved the beating will receive a light beating from everyone to whom much has been given much will be required and from the one to whom much has been entrusted even more will be demanded. 650s

He was here that sinning against the knowledge of the will of God is worse than sinning in ignorance. 667s

The worst of all sins of course is unbelief. That's the unforgivable sin in the end. 676s

So if someone says are some sins worse than others the answer is yes and no. 685s

And then that gives you an opportunity to explain it. 694s

Now there's a distinction in Lutheran theology between venial sin and mortal sin. 697s

Because Jesus Christ has died for us because our sins are forgiven because Jesus Christ has born all of our sin upon him on the cross because Jesus Christ has taken the wrath of God for us in our place. 712s

Because of that all sin then becomes venial all sin is partnable. 729s

Mortal sin is that which is eternally then condemning sin is eternally condemning for those outside of relationship with Jesus Christ who have rejected the forgiveness of sins to Christ. 741s

But for the believer because there is the reception of the forgiveness one to the cross of Christ for the believer then all sin becomes venial because we are forgiven. 757s

Okay let's explore this a little more. Let's go to John the 8th chapter. 775s

John the 8th chapter. 781s

And we're dealing with a subject here of how do we bring comfort to someone who is struggling with regard to their sin. 783s

Let's go to John chapter 8 verse 2. 794s

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. 807s

The scribes in the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and making her stand before all of them they said to him. 817s

Teacher this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 827s

Now in the law of Moses now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. 832s

Now what do you say what do you say with the exception of Nicodemus in the gospel of John the Pharisees are always hostile to Jesus always hostile. 840s

There's one exception there and it's and it's Nicodemus. 859s

But what's the motivation here for this question being asked of Jesus verse 6 tells us they said this to test him so that they might have some charge to bring against him. 863s

This is a trap that is trying to be set for Jesus in Leviticus 20. 878s

If there's caught in adultery it's death. It's death upon those that commit adultery. 885s

The Romans however did not allow the Jews to use the death penalty. 895s

Take a look if you would at John chapter 18 verse 31. 902s

John 18 verse 31. 907s

So here's the situation Jesus has brought before. 918s

Pilate, etc. 921s

Pilate said to them verse 31 of 18, take him yourselves and judge him according to your law. 925s

The Jews replied, we are not permitted to put anyone to death. 932s

So it's a trap here for Jesus. 938s

If Jesus says, yep, stone her, put her to death for the act of adultery. 942s

Well then he would be breaking the Roman law if he were depending on how he comments there then he can be charged with not fulfilling Leviticus 20. 950s

This is not a, you know, I'm really interested in the theological answer to this Jesus. Could you help me out? 962s

There's none of that here. It's the antagonistic Pharisees here and they are simply trying to trap Jesus. 972s

So how does Jesus respond? Let's go back to John 8, second part of verse 6 because here comes his response. 981s

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 996s

Verse 7. 1001s

When they kept on questioning him he straightened up and said to them, let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. 1004s

And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 1016s

It's really an interesting question to say, what was he writing? What was he writing? 1023s

We don't have an answer to that. Your scripture doesn't tell us. 1029s

I'll give you my best guess though. 1033s

And it's simply a guess because you can't say this is what it means because it's not explicitly revealed to us. 1036s

There are some that will say, well this was like just someone who just kind of doodles in the sand, you know, a little bit. 1043s

And just just kind of write nonsense, just kind of passing the time. 1051s

It's the image I remember when our boys played T-Bull. 1055s

And one of the things I absolutely loved was the kids that would be out in the outfield. 1059s

And I remember there was one kid. 1065s

You know, he couldn't wait to get out of the outfield or to go into the outfield to play. 1067s

And he wanted to always play in left field because there was this little patch of dirt out in left field where the grass had worn away and you look out of the left fielder. 1073s

He runs out there with a great enthusiasm and he just sits there for the entire evening. 1081s

And he's just doodling there in the dirt. 1086s

And it's just wonderful. 1090s

So one of the things that scholars look at this and they say is Jesus just kind of playing in the dirt here. 1093s

I think however, if I had to guess and we don't know again, we don't know if we're sure on this. 1102s

I think he's writing their sins in the dirt. 1108s

And here's why I guess this. 1112s

Verse 7 again, second part, let anyone among you who's without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. 1116s

And once again, he bent down and wrote on the ground. 1122s

See, right after he says that, he says, let anyone among you who's first or who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. 1126s

And once again, he bent down and wrote on the ground. 1136s

That's my best guess at what he's writing. 1141s

He's writing his sin. 1144s

He's writing his sin in the dirt. 1146s

Now, take that for what it's worth. 1149s

That's Ible hypothesis number. 1150s

But there's no scripture to support it. 1154s

The trap is avoided and the truth is proclaimed. 1159s

Now, why does Jesus say if you're without sin pick up the first stone? 1164s

Now, let's go to Deuteronomy 13, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 1169s

Deuteronomy 13, verse 9. 1175s

And we see in the Old Testament law that witnesses to a capital crime. 1190s

They were the first ones to throw a stone at someone when they were guilty, obviously, of this. 1194s

So Deuteronomy 13, verse 9. 1205s

But you shall surely kill them. 1208s

Your own hand shall be first against them to execute them and afterwards the hand of all the people. 1210s

Or in Deuteronomy 17, 7. 1219s

Deuteronomy 17, 7. 1228s

The hands of the witnesses shall be the first raised against the person to execute the death penalty and afterward the hands of all the people. 1237s

So you shall purge the evil from your mist. 1247s

Mist. 1253s

Okay. 1254s

Now, back to John chapter 8, please. 1255s

Matthew Mark, Luke, and then John. 1259s

John chapter 8. 1261s

Verse 9. 1266s

When they heard her, or when they heard it, they went away one by one beginning with the elders. 1280s

And Jesus was left alone with a woman standing before him. 1288s

The one qualified to cast the first stone was Jesus. 1295s

And he doesn't do it. 1302s

He doesn't. 1303s

He doesn't do it. 1305s

The one qualified to throw the stone for our sin doesn't do it. 1308s

Instead, he goes to the cross and bears our sin, paying our sin, death. 1315s

That's grace, isn't it? That's grace. 1322s

Sometimes a person can be troubled by sin and they need to hear the forgiveness of Jesus Christ for them. 1326s

Need to hear it. 1338s

And sometimes they need to hear it from somebody else's lips to them, where they say, in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. 1340s

You forgive them. 1351s

Are you just as much forgiven if you turn in your private confession to the Lord and say, Lord, forgive me of the sin of course you are. 1352s

But sometimes you just need to hear it. 1362s

It's one of the benefits as we gather as a people, and in the worship service, we start with confession and there's absolution. 1365s

Because we need to hear it. 1374s

We need to hear that word saying, your sins are forgiven. 1377s

So we take that to heart and say, that absolution is for me, for me, in its glorious to hear that word pronounced. 1382s

Sometimes a person can be troubled by sin and they need to, based upon the forgiveness of Jesus, forgive themselves. 1395s

That's what we're dealing with this morning. 1409s

The person who struggles with, but how can I forgive myself? 1411s

The secular world says, forgive yourself. 1416s

Forgive yourself. 1423s

But you can't forgive yourself, right? 1427s

Because you haven't won any absolution, you can't win the absolution. 1432s

So the world says, forgive yourself to which we Christians say, but you can't forgive yourself. 1436s

The only way you can forgive yourself is because Jesus Christ has forgiven you and therefore is the personal application upon yourself to where then because Jesus has forgiven me. 1445s

Now I can forgive myself. 1463s

You see, the glorious thing about the Scripture is it talks in complete sentences. 1468s

I had a person who came through, she was a girl and she comes through after the first service and she says she saw a t-shirt at her school and it said, and the boy is wearing it and says, I can do all things. 1476s

Okay? And it was used as a witness opportunity and they went up and they said, we have to say through Christ who strengthens me. 1490s

See, the world says, I can do all things. 1501s

Right? The Scripture says, we are nothing without Christ. 1505s

So we speak in complete sentences then when the world says, you know, hey, you got to forgive yourself on that. 1512s

Well, you can't forgive yourself. 1517s

The only way you can forgive yourself is because Christ has forgiven you and so we're right back to that glorious and gracious word for people to receive. 1520s

There is a distinction between guilt and guilty feelings. 1529s

One is objective and one is subjective. 1534s

The word for sin is ha-martia. 1539s

And it means to miss the mark. 1543s

When I was in junior high in PE class, the star PE class, we had to run a mile. 1547s

I hated it. I just hated it. 1555s

I still do, by the way. 1557s

But in the center, oftentimes, we're the girls doing archery. 1560s

So we're on the track and the girls are doing archery. 1566s

I always found that profoundly disconcerting. 1570s

But it helped me get my mile done because you're always running like this. 1574s

You know, kind of looking at the girls. 1580s

The Greek word ha-martia for sin, it means to miss the mark. 1584s

And it was an archery term. 1589s

And so it's the perfect definition of what sin is. 1592s

We are objectively guilty of missing the mark. 1599s

Guilty feelings can be subject. 1605s

Because with a seared conscience, one might say, 1609s

I don't feel guilty for that at all. 1613s

I don't feel guilty for that at all. 1615s

Or you can have what's called false guilt, false guilt, 1617s

where people will feel guilty for something, but they shouldn't feel guilty for it. 1623s

So when you're ministering with people, what you want to do, 1629s

you want to help them understand, is that something you should feel guilty about, 1632s

or you shouldn't feel guilty about? 1637s

Is that real guilt, or is it false guilt? 1639s

And you help them work through that. 1644s

In the end, we've got the greatest tool, don't we? 1646s

In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. 1649s

Okay, forgiveness and feeling forgiven. 1654s

Forgiveness is objective, isn't it? 1659s

Feeling forgiven is subjective. 1662s

So we have the objective word through the cross of Jesus Christ. 1666s

Our sins are forgiven. 1671s

There's no ifs and or buts about that. 1673s

It's simply the declaration that word of absolution, 1676s

it's the glorious gospel, but someone can say, 1679s

but I just don't feel, I don't feel, forgive. 1684s

So what do you do in that case? 1691s

I like what Arcee Sproul, he talks about this subject, 1697s

and this was the technique that he used. 1703s

And I think it's incredible techniques of bad word. 1707s

This is the approach that he used, how he ministered to people. 1712s

1 John 1 verse 9, if you could turn there please. 1715s

But a way to find first John is to go to Revelation, 1720s

and slowly work your way left, and you'll be there. 1723s

1 John 1 verse 9. 1727s

1 John 1 verse 9. 1735s

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just 1744s

will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1748s

Is that sound familiar? 1754s

That's part of our liturgy, isn't it? 1756s

That's the beauty of Lutheran liturgy, 1757s

the worship service is formed based upon God's Word. 1760s

And so just as a parent is thrilled when their child repeats 1765s

a lesson back to them, and they hear their own words there. 1771s

So also our Father in heaven is delighted when His own words come to Him 1778s

from His children. 1783s

And so we take the very liturgy, and it's just formed out of the Word of God. 1785s

So what God hears then, as we gather for worship, 1791s

is He hears His own Word coming back to Him, and how glorious of a sound that is. 1795s

But again, verse 9 of chapter 1, if we confess our sins, 1803s

he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1807s

Sproul read this to the person and the person turned back to Him and said, 1817s

I still don't feel forgiven. Sproul said read it again. 1822s

Read it again. 1827s

Okay, so back in, if we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just 1828s

will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1832s

First of all, I'm sorry, Dr. Spall, I don't feel forgiven. Sproul said read it again. 1837s

So they just kept doing this over and over and over again. 1844s

Why? 1849s

What he was doing is he was lifting the person out of their feelings, 1851s

which were subjective, and he was putting them into the objective declaration of forgiveness. 1855s

So if you are struggling with your own sin and you wonder, 1864s

I just don't feel forgiven. Read it again. 1870s

Right? Read it again. 1877s

If you're ministering to someone, he says, I just don't feel forgiven. 1879s

What do you say? Read it again. Read it again. 1885s

Because God lifts us out of the subjective and moves us to His objective word and by His objective word. 1889s

We live. 1901s

Well, we're going to continue next week and we're going to take a look at how do we bring comfort to someone who's 1903s

despondent? How do you bring comfort to someone who is despondent? We'll continue next week. 1908s

We'll continue next week. 1933s