Dealing Violently with Occasions of Sin

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon's passage, Mark 9:42-50, and addresses the textual discrepancy regarding verses 44 and 46, explaining their omission in some translations due to…

Martin uses the metaphor of children to describe believers' posture of dependentness and vulnerability before God, setting the context for Jesus' warnings.

Picking up on the theme introduced primarily in verse 37, in which our Lord speaks of receiving one such children in his name, referring, of course, to all believers who have been brought to the posture of dependentness and vulnerability characterized by a child. He says in verse 42, And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, or to be ensnared in sin, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if your hand cause you to stumble, or to be ensnared in sin, cut it off. It is good for you to enter...

0:42 - 1:58 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is the issue of what we are to do with those things, people, relationships, attitudes, or actions, within the sphere of our own control, which become the occasion of our being ensnared by sin.

Martin uses the analogy of a 'gangland style' death with a millstone to emphasize the gruesome violence Jesus suggests is preferable to causing a believer to sin.

Jesus says it would be better for us to be cut off by a gruesome, violent death. Even a death, gangland style, having a great millstone hanged around our necks, and to be thrown into the deep sea. Now this morning we come to verses 43 to 48, in which our Lord warns His own about another danger. And here it is not the danger of their becoming an occasion of sin to others, but of their becoming an occasion of sin to others.

10:13 - 10:50 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is the issue of what we are to do with those things, people, relationships, attitudes, or actions, within the sphere of our own control, which become the occasion of our being ensnared by sin.

Martin describes Jesus' teaching style as 'typical graphic Eastern fashion' to explain why he uses concrete images like hands, feet, and eyes instead of abstract terms.

It is the issue of what we are to do with those things, people, relationships, attitudes, or actions, within the sphere of our own control, which become the occasion of our being ensnared by sin. That is the central concern addressed in this passage. He is addressing the issue of the things, the people, the relationships, the attitudes, or actions within the sphere of our own control, which become the occasion of our being ensnared by sin. Now, our Lord, in typical graphic Eastern fashion, does not address this concern in nebulous abstraction.

12:10 - 13:06 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin warns against a practical antinomianism, where individuals theoretically reject the 'carnal Christian' doctrine but live as if holiness is not essential for salvation…

Martin uses the example of the 'carnal Christian doctrine' to illustrate how some theoretically reject it but practically embrace its implications by not dealing with sin radically.

And one of the things that has gripped my heart in preparation is this very simple truth that while I am convinced there is no one in this congregation who accepts in theory what is commonly called the carnal Christian doctrine, that is the doctrine that there are three basic categories of men. Men and women. You have the saved and the lost. You have not only natural men, but you have spiritual men, but in between you have people who have accepted Christ, who are regenerate, who are saved, who if they died would go to heaven, but the dominant characteristic of their life is fleshiness, worldli...

25:46 - 26:58 Read in full sermon

The point: If you would go to heaven, you must hack, hew, pluck out, and cast away anything that causes you to sin.

Martin uses the example of people who have lost limbs or an eye to illustrate the inconvenience and handicap of living 'maimed,' connecting it to the spiritual cost of radical self-denial.

And apart from the embarrassment that is inevitably present, think of the inconvenience of having to operate in a world in which all systems of service and convenience and all of its interaction is predicated upon normal human beings who have two eyes, two hands, two feet. And to go through one leg and to go through life one-eyed, having a narrowed field of vision, all the strain upon the one eye is certainly to go through life inconvenienced, isn't it? It is to go through life handicapped is the word we use. You see what Jesus is saying? If the only alternative to dealing with that which is a...

38:20 - 39:46 Read in full sermon

The point: If you would go to heaven, you must hack, hew, pluck out, and cast away anything that causes you to sin.

Martin uses the example of giving up television if it's the only way to master it, illustrating the radical sacrifice required for holiness, even if it means being 'out of it' in the world's eyes.

that's what Jesus is saying. If you're not conversant about the latest issues that are discussed on the television, you'll be considered a little out of it. But if the only way you can gain the mastery of your television is not to have it,

39:46 - 40:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Bring near your ultimate destiny (heaven or hell) when struggling with occasions to sin to overcome sin's allure.

Martin describes sin as a 'chameleon' that adapts to the soul's tapestry, illustrating its subtle and deceptive nature, which requires the stark contrast of heaven and hell to expose.

What he is saying is so great. The rationalizing influence of sin is so subtle. Its ability to be a chameleon and adopt itself to the varying colors upon the tapestry of the soul at any given moment, that ability is so great that the only...

46:33 - 47:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Bring near your ultimate destiny (heaven or hell) when struggling with occasions to sin to overcome sin's allure.

Martin uses the metaphor of sin as an 'unusually astute and prolific artist' that quickly paints the pleasures of sin before our eyes, highlighting its deceptive allure.

You see, when you and I are being enticed to sin, it is as though sin becomes an unusually astute and prolific artist, pulls out its canvas and splashes very quickly right before our eyes all of the so-called pleasure and satisfaction that will come from the indulgence of a given sin. Whether it is a sin of commission or a sin of omission, whether it is a temptation to lust or to laziness, it matters not. Jesus says, take the fist of truth and push it to the horizon. See upon the horizon light that goes up and up until it is enveloped in the very glory of the immediate presence of God in all t...

47:11 - 48:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Take your sin seriously enough to do something about it, more than just praying.

Martin quotes Bishop Ryle's insight that 'it is not possible to speak too much about Jesus, but it is possible to speak too little about hell,' to underscore the importance of being honest about hell's horrors.

Then thirdly, according to the example of Jesus in this passage, faithfulness to the souls of men demands honesty about the horrors of hell. Faithfulness to the souls of men demands honesty about the horrors of hell. Faithfulness to the souls of men demands honesty about the horrors of hell. Bishop Ryle, in commenting on this passage, said with such astute and perceptive insight, it is not possible to speak too much about Jesus, but it is possible to speak too little about hell.

48:36 - 49:13 Read in full sermon