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The sermon teaches that sin is universal and reaches beyond obvious vice into the hearts, words, motives, and religious confidence of respectable people. God’s judgment is impartial, so neither social status, morality, religious observance, nor comparison with worse sinners can provide refuge. Spurgeon urges hearers to stop finding fault with others, judge themselves honestly, and confess and forsake their sin. The gospel hope is that those who recognize their guilt may flee to Christ and receive free grace, healing, peace, and salvation through His precious blood.
Theological center: All people are guilty before God and deserve judgment, but sinners who confess and forsake sin are invited to receive free grace and salvation through Christ’s blood.
Applications: Examine your own sin · Confess and forsake sin · Stop finding fault with others · Judge yourself honestly
Primary texts: 2 Chronicles 28:10 · Matthew 7:2 · Matthew 18:3
“But are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?” 2 Chronicles 28:10 THIS was a home stroke. When the children of Israel had bloodthirsty thoughts towards their brethren of Judah, the prophet very earnestly dissuaded them. “Why deal ye so sternly with your brethren who are in your power, simply because they have sinned. Smite them not too furiously, for are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?” How remarkably pertinent is such a question to different nations, to different sects, to different classes among men. We are too apt to look upon the sins of other nations and forget our own. Placed as we imagine ourselves to be in a pre-eminence in the midst of the peoples of the earth—we are continually criticizing the acts of other tribes and nations. We look across the flood and we see that grand Republic, with the black stain of slavery upon its fair hand, and we cry out against it with all our might. We look across the channel, and we see a nation that we are continually charging with being volatile and frivolous. We cast our eyes to other peoples of the earth, and we see crimes in them, all which we very readily condemn with iron tongue. It will always be well for the pride of Great Britain if she will question herself thus, is there not with you, oh mistress of the seas—is there not with you a sin against the Lord our God? Are we immaculate? Is our nation spotless? We have no slaves at home or abroad, but have we none who are oppressed and downtrodden? Are there none concerning whom it may be said, that the hire of the laborer which is kept back cries out against them? Have we not drunkenness in our midst? Are we not in fact among the very chief of sinners, because as a nation we have received more Scripture light, and more divine favor than any other people among the race of men? God has dealt so well with us that our crimes assume a monstrous shape and vivid color when they are viewed in the light of His countenance. Oh Britain, weep for your sons and daughters, and bemoan their iniquity before the Lord, lest like Capernaum they sink to hell amid the full flood of privileges disregarded. Instead of lifting up your hand to point at the faults of others, point at your own. Let us be content to sweep our own streets, to cleanse our own cities and make our own streams pure. Let our reformation begin at home, for we cannot hope that our remonstrances against the sin of other nations can be powerful, unless we have cleansed ourselves. How applicable too, is this question to the different sects, especial…