Perseverance and Sin

Dennis Tuuri

Outline: Ps. 19 Perseverance, Preservation, and Small Sins Canons of Dort - Fifth Head of Doctrine - The Perseverance of the Saints Sermon Outline for July 29, 2007 by Elder Dennis R. Tuuri Auburn Avenue and Dort; Sin and Perseverance (See Attached); Numbers 15 I. The Structure of Psalm 19 (See Attached) A. Three Stanzas B. Seven Sections (Creation Week Pattern?) C. Three “Greats” II. The Transitional Nature of Verse 11 and the Secondary Means of Perseverance A. Man’s Relationship to Creation and Bible B. The Incredible Pastoral Importance of Theonomy C. An Obvious Need for Humility, Introspection, Meditation and Community The “etcetera” in our Confessions; 1 Jn. 1:7 D. Perseverance Relies Upon Preservation Prevent Temptation or Grant Victory Over Temptation - 1 Cor. 10:12,13 E. Preservation Relies on Word (Reading, Meditation, Study) and Prayer III. Secret Sins A. Some Varieties of Secret Sins (Anatomy of Secret Sins by Obadiah Sedgwick) 1. Dressed Up As Virtue (Ananias and SapPhira) 2. Secret From Those Outside the Family 3. Secret From Those Within the Family, but Known to Others 4. Secret From Most Family Members 5. Secret From All Those Within the Family and Without 6. Secret From Ourselves – Lev. 5:2-4 7. None of these Are Secret to God! Isa. 29:15, 16; Prov. 5:21; Heb. 4:13,12 B. The Danger of Secret Sins – Stepping Stone to Presumptuous Sins, Great Sin Pardon and Prevention, Proper Fear; Dt. 17 C. The Cure For Secret Sins – Cleansing D. The Replacement of Secret Sins – Acceptable Thoughts and Words The Servant of the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Redeeming God Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 2 Westminster Confession of Faith CHAP. XVII. - Of the Perseverance of the Saints 3. Nevertheless, they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins; (Matt. 26:70,72,74) and, for a time, continue therein: (Ps. 51 title, Ps. 51:1) whereby they incur God’s displeasure, (Isa. 64:5,7,9, 2 Sam. 11:27) and grieve His Holy Spirit, (Eph. 4:30) come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, (Ps. 51:8,10,12, Rev. 2:4, Cant. 5:2–4,6) have their hearts hardened, (Isa. 63:17, Mark 6:52, Mark 16:14) and their consciences wounded; (Ps. 32:3–4, Ps. 51:8) hurt and scandalize others, (2 Sam. 12:14) and bring temporal judgments upon themselves. (Ps. 89:31–32, 1 Cor. 11:32) Canons of Dort The Perseverance of the Saints Article 1: The Regenerate Not Entirely Free from Sin Those people whom God according to his purpose calls into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and regenerates by the Holy Spirit, he also sets free from the reign and slavery of sin, though in this life not entirely from the flesh and from the body of sin. Article 2: The Believer's Reaction to Sins of Weakness Hence daily sins of weakness arise, and blemishes cling to even the best works of God's people, giving them continual cause to humble themselves before God, to flee for refuge to Christ crucified, to put the flesh to death more and more by the Spirit of supplication and by holy exercises of godliness, and to strain toward the goal of perfection, until they are freed from this body of death and reign with the Lamb of God in heaven. Article 3: God's Preservation of the Converted Because of these remnants of sin dwelling in them and also because of the temptations of the world and Satan, those who have been converted could not remain standing in this grace if left to their own resources. But God is faithful, mercifully strengthening them in the grace once conferred on them and powerfully preserving them in it to the end. PSALM 19 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I. Creation 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. II. The Bible 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. III. The Lord’s Servant - Nothing Hid 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord , my strength and my Redeemer. Questions from Psalm 19 for Young Hearers 1. The “P” in TULIP is for __ __ __ ___ ___ ___ __ __ ___ ___ ___ ___. 2. For it to happen God must ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ us. 3. Psalm 19 has _____ major sections and ____ minor ones. 4. The topic of sin is found in minor section number _____ 5. The world was made in seven ___ ___ ___ ___. 6. God’s law ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ us our sin. 7. We should love and ___ ___ ___ ___ God’s law. 8. Knowing the bible is 1 way we ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 9. How many words does God use for sin in Psalm 19? 10. How many types of sin are in Psalm 19? 11. A true ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ of God tries to uncover his sin. 12. One way to do this is to ___ ___ ___ ___. 13. Another way to do this is to ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ to others. 14. Another way is to “___ ___ ___ ___” the Bible. 15. If we keep doing small sins, we will end up doing ___ ___ ___ ones. 16. How many of our sins are secret to God? ___ ___ ___ ___ 17. Will you pray right now that God show you one of your ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ sins? 18. Will you pray right now for God to help you to ___ ___ ___ ___ doing one of your secret sins?