FOOLS MOCK AT SIN

Solomon wrote, “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” (Proverbs 14:9) Only a fool would mock at sin and the mocking will stop when the eternal consequences of sin are felt. This person does not understand the grief caused by sin, nor does he understand God's sever judgment against evil. There is no surer mark of folly than when a person has a disposition to make light of sin. Some mock at sin by calling evil good and good evil. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) Fools make a mock at their own sins and the sins of others.

Fools mock the presence of sin. Fools mock at the presence of sin by denying it. The godless person is foolish and evil. Sin tempts men into its clutches and then taunts them. Men are so deceived that they do not believe that, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4) Do not mock at the presence of sin, because “When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15)

Fools mock at the power of sin. Sin has the power to overcome you and destroy you. Sin has the power to separate us from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2) Sin has the power to separate us from each other. “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” (Proverbs 16:28) Sin pollutes all that is good within us and we become impure. Those who follow the Lord are pure, but sinners are deceived. “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalms 19:8) Sin deceives us and we are in danger and do not know it.

Fools mock at penalty of sin. Sin will receive proper punishment. “For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward.” (Hebrews 2:2) It is true that if one rejects Jesus Christ, punishment for him is absolutely certain. "The wicked shall not be unpunished." “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:21) There is an eternal punishment of sin. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:4)

Fools mock at God’s provision to forgive sins. It is by the blood of Jesus Christ, the son of God that sins are forgiven. God said, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25) "The wages of sin is death," but there is a way of escape. "There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel's veins; And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains." The only answer to the sin problem is the precious blood of Jesus. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

          Let us learn to take sin seriously and to appreciate salvation in Jesus. Let everyone say with Job, "For I know that my Redeemer lives..." (Job 19:25) Our spiritual life is through and because of Jesus, the Christ. To be saved from sin hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Luke 13:5), confess Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32), and be baptized into Christ. (Romans 6:3-4) After baptism, live in Christ and have Christ in you. (Galatians 4:19)

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street,

Greenville, Alabama 36037