Jeremiah 2:22 - Homiletics

The stains of sin.

I. SIN STAINS THE CHARACTER AND LIFE OF MEN .

1. Sin leaves stains behind it. No man can have clean hands after touching it. These stains are of two classes:

2. The stains of sin are not natural . They are no part of the true color of a man's character. They are all contracted by experience.

3. These stains are all evil things . They are not like marks of immature development or of the necessary imperfection of humanity. They are products of corruption.

II. NO MAN CAN WASH THE GUILT OF SIN FROM HIS CHARACTER . ( Jeremiah 13:23 .) The Jews were attempting this by denying the offences charged against them or excusing them. They would not admit their apostasy; but in vain.

1. Sin cannot be undone . We cannot recall the past. History is unchangeable. What we have done we have done.

2. Sin cannot be hidden . We can never hide it from God, who searches the heart ( 1 John 3:20 ). We cannot long or perfectly hide it from man. It will color our lives and reveal itself in action, in conversation, in countenance.

3. Sin cannot be excused. We may point to our training, our temptations, our natural weakness, our ignorance; and no doubt these facts are important as determining the degree of our guilt ( Luke 23:34 ). But the sin itself, greater or less as it may be, cannot be explained away. Our sins are our own or they would not be sins.

4. Sin cannot be expiated by us. Sacrifice is of no real avail. That was only acceptable as a symbol and type of God's method of cleansing sin. Penance could only act as discipline for the future; for the past it is no better than a fruitless sacrifice. Future goodness cannot atone for the past; for that is required on its own account, and if it were perfect it would be no more than it ought to be—we should still be "unprofitable servants."

III. No MAN CAN WASH THE STAIN OF INDWELLING SIN FROM HIS LIFE . Men have tried all methods; but in vain.

1. Simple determination to conquer it. But he who commits sin is the slave of sin ( John 8:34 ), and a slave who cannot emancipate himself. The worst effect of sin is seen in the corruption of the will. Hence we have not the power to reform until our will is renewed, i . e . until, in New Testament language, we are "born again."

2. Charge of external circumstances . This is a helpful accessory of more effectual means, but it is not sufficient in itself, because sin is internal, and no change of scene will effect a change of heart. A man may cross the Atlantic, but he will be the same being in America that he was in England. He may be lifted from the dunghill to a throne, but if he had a vicious nature in his low condition he will carry that with him to his new sphere. Base metal does not become gold by receiving the guinea's stamp. Sanitary arrangements, education, reforming influences, etc; are all helpful, but none are fundamental enough to effect the complete change. The stains are too ingrained for any such washing to remove them.

IV. IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WE MAY SEE THE MEANS FOR CLEANSING BOTH THE GUILT OF CHARACTER AND THE STAIN OF INDWELLING SIN .

1. Guilt is shown to be removed by the free forgiveness of God in Christ, for no merits of our own, but for the sake of his work and sacrifice; by no effort of ours, but on condition of repentance and the faith which trusts him as our Savior, and submits to him as our Lord ( Acts 10:43 ).

2. The stain of indwelling sin is shown to be removed by the renewal of our nature, so that we are born "from above" and "of the Spirit" ( John 3:3-8 ), and become new creatures in Christ by means of the same faith of trust and submission ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ).