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The sermon presents sin not only as immoral behavior but also as the attempt to place human judgment above God’s authority. Believers limit God when they demand particular answers to prayer or conclude that their trials exceed His power. Sinners likewise limit Him when they postpone repentance, doubt His willingness to forgive, or regard themselves as beyond the reach of Christ’s atonement. Spurgeon therefore calls hearers to surrender to divine sovereignty, continue seeking salvation, repent of sin, and trust the boundless grace and saving power of Jesus Christ.
Theological center: The sovereign God’s power, love, and saving grace are greater than human sin, anxiety, and unbelief, and are received through repentance and faith in Christ.
Applications: Submit to God’s will · Persevere in prayer · Keep seeking salvation · Trust God in trials
Primary texts: Psalm 78:41 · Hebrews 7:25 · Matthew 18:19
“They…limited the Holy One of Israel.” Psalm 78:41 MAN is always altering what God has ordained. Although God’s order is ever the best, yet man will never agree therewith. When God gave forth the law it was engraved upon two stones. The first table contained the commandments concerning man and God, the second dealt with man and man. Sins against God are sins against the first table, sins against man are offenses against the second table. Man, to prove constantly his perversity, will put the second table before the first, nay, upon the first, so as to cover and conceal it. There are few men who will not allow the enormity of adultery, fewer still who will dispute the wickedness of murder. Men are willing enough to acknowledge that there is sin in an offense against man. That which endangers the human commonweal, that which would disturb the order of earthly governments—all this is wrong enough even in man’s esteem, but when you come to deal with the first table it is hard indeed to extort a confession from mankind. They will scarce acknowledge that there is any such thing as an offense against God, or if they do acknowledge it, yet they think it but a light matter. What man is there among you who has not in his heart often lamented sins against man, rather than sins against God? And which of you has not felt a greater compunction for sins against your neighbor, or against the nation, than for sins committed against God and done in His sight? I say that such is the perversity of man, that he will think more of the less than the greater. An offense against the Majesty of heaven is thought to be far more venial than an offense against his fellow creature. There are many transgressions of the first table of which we think so little that perhaps we scarcely ever confess them at all, or if we acknowledge them, it is only because the grace of God has taught us to estimate them aright. One offense against the first table which seldom agitates the mind of an unconvicted sinner is that of unbelief, and with it, I may put the want of love to God. The sinner does not believe in God, does not trust in Him, does not love Him. He gives his heart to the things of earth, and denies it to his Creator. Of this high treason and rebellion he thinks nothing. If you could take him in the act of theft, a blush would mantle his cheek, but you detect him in the daily omission of love to God, and faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and you cannot make him feel that he is guilty of any evil in this. Oh, strange contortion of human judgment! Oh! blindness of mortal conscience, that this…