The Mortification (Murder) of Sin

“Be Salted with Fire & Sin No More”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  9 October 2016

Text: Mark 9.42 - 49

Thesis: The Wages of Sin is Death Forever in Hell

1           Introduction

A.   The 2 least favorite topics from God’s Word today are sin and hell.

B.  Illustration

C.    Hell is prepared for the sinner who causes disbelief in others

D.   Sin and hell are to be mortified as a matter of the most urgent priority in our lives.

1.      Read Colossians 3.1 - 15

2          Mortify the Sin of the Grasp – 9.43 - 44

A.   Cut off your hand that grasps sin so that your whole body will not be cast into hell.

1.      Philippians 2.5 - 7

3          Mortify the Sin of the Walk – 9.45

A.   Cutoff your foot that walks you into the way of sin so that your whole body will not be cast into hell.

1.      Psalms 1

4         Mortify the Sin of the Eye – 9.47 - 48

A.   Cut out your eye that casts sight upon that which is evil.

1.      Matthew 5.27 - 28

5          The Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:

A.   The salt of pain and suffering as we mortify sin in our lives will both purify and save us in the end through the blood of Jesus Christ

B.   The salt of pain and suffering as we mortify sin in our lives will bring peace with one another.

6         The Challenge of the Text for Christians Today

A.   Sin is our mortal enemy

B.   Sin is to be murdered in our lives

C.    The murder of sin will be painful and costly

D.   The pain and suffering we experience as we murder sin in our lives will ironically serve as salt that will preserve us in the day of our judgement

E.    Un-murdered sin will someday murder us.

7          “The Gospel Call” - "Repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2.38 et al

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.