What Is Actual Sin? (Pasche, F.E.)

"Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Matt. 15:19

Our nature even at rest is sinful. But it is never at rest. It has thoughts and desires, suggestions and purposes; and these motions and acts of the soul are sin.

Actual sin is everything whereby evil is committed or good omitted, against God’s Law. When you slander your neighbor, you commit evil and sin; if you do not defend him when slandered, you omit good and therefore sin. “ To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Many people say that they harm no one. But the question will also be asked of them, “What good have you done ?” The fig-tree had harmed no one, yet it was cursed by Christ because it had done no good. Not only every tree bearing no fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, but also every tree that bringeth forth no good fruit.

There are sins of the heart, of the eye, of the tongue, and sips of action.

Do not try to persuade yourself that your sin is only a little sin. There are no little sins. Every sin is a great sin. Even when the believer sins involuntarily, it is a grievous sin in the sight of God; but as his faith clings to God’s forgiving grace, his sin is at once forgiven by the all-sufficient merits of Christ. But if he sins volun­ tarily, however, with a set purpose, against the warning of his con­ science, he falls from faith, and his sin is unforgiven, whether great or small. All our little omissions are great sins. And to the un­ believer every sin is an unforgiven sin. Even his seeming virtues are sins because he does not believe and trust in God and does not love and fear Him. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

“Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Do not despise sins because they seem small. How difficult is it for you to renounce the one which is your darling sin! Take heed of this one sin, especially if it is a secret sin! Every sin entails guilt.

Prayer.

O Lord, almighty God and heavenly. Father, I pray Thee, as Thy dear child, graciously preserve me to my last breath in Thy saving Word and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy Spirit that I may know what is good or evil. All sin that I have knowingly committed, also my secret faults, I ask Thee in mercy to forget. Also help me, dear Father, by Thy grace, to begin a new life well- pleasing to Thee and to the benefit of my soul. I commend myself to Thy divine protection and fatherly blessing. Give me peace through Jesus Christ, my only Helper, and comfort me by the true Comforter, the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Holy Ghost, with power divine, 

Cleanse this guilty heart of mine; 

Long hath sin, without control, 

Held dominion o’er my soul.