SCRIPTURE TEXT: Psalms 25:11 "For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; FOR IT IS GREAT."
PROPOSITION: to use this text and others to show in what way sin is not infinite, and also to show in what way it seems to be infinite, and also to show that the grace of God is greater than our sin and that Christ blood cleanses from all sin.
1.) In what way does sin not appear to be infinite?
A. Sin has an origin, it came into the Universe through Satans pride, and into the world through Adams disobedience, in this respect it is different from God's infinitude, God has "no beginning of days nor end of life". Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin..."
B. For those who repent and are converted the stain and guilt of sin is wiped away through the blood of Christ no matter how deep the stain or how great the guilt. In this way God's grace has overpowered sin and conqured death, and limited the destructive dominion of sin, and that which is limited cannot be said to be infinite. Romans 5:20 "...But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound"
C. There are no degrees in that which is infinite but according to the scripture there are degrees to the agrivation of each sin, some sins are punished with many stripes and some with few stripes, and some will receive a "greater damnation" John 19:11 "...therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."
2.) In what way does sin appear to be infinite.
A. All sin appears to be infinite when it is measured against the infinite worth of God's glory. sin when measured against the high standard of Gods law is seen to be an infinite evil, an abominable and cursed thing worthy of God's intense hatred, displeasure and wrath.
B. All sin appears to be infinite when we see the eternal ramifications connected with each sin. consider those who would hinder sinners from entering into the kingdom of heaven, they robbed these seekers of the opportunity to obtain salvation. How much this has aggravated sin can only be measered by God. Luke 11:52 "Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."
C. Sin appears to be infinite when we consider that Gods wrath is revealed against it forever. those who "die in their sin" have no hope of mitigation, their punishment will be infinite. they are forever exposed to the curse of the moral law they have broken.
Matthew 25:46 "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment..."
3.) If sin is so detestable to God, that his justice cries aloud for an infinite punishment of it, is there any hope for those who are burdened down with the guilt and weight of it?
A. Yes! the answer is to get the justice of God on your side. when Christ gave himself up to a substitutionary death justice was answered in a satisfactory way. now God can be "just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus", before repentance the justice of God is against the sinner, after repentance the justice of God intercedes on behalf of the sinner.
Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
CONCLUSION: Sin is a loathsome misery of the soul it's like a poisonous worm feeding on the heart of a man, but Christ who is infinite in virtue conquered sin and subdued it through his vicarious death. All those who receive, Christ find that sin has lost its power and that it is far from infinite, but those who die impenatent will find that sin to them has appeared infinite and after we have entered into "another world" and we have been in that state of bliss or misery for millions of ages, if you could talk to the damned that are suffering in Hell fire and ask the poor wretchs if their sin is infinite they would give a resounding yes, but if you could inquire of the glorified saints and ask them if their sin is infinite they would give a resounding no, because for them the "blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin".
