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Second, It is sinful, because it is wrought by sinful flesh; for all legal righteousness is a work of the flesh. A work, I say, of the flesh; even of that flesh, who, or which also committeth the greatest enormities.
Emancipation from bondage is the first thing that we all need. 'He that committeth sin is the slave of sin. An iron yoke presses on every neck. The needed emancipation can only be obtained by a ransom price. The question of to whom the ransom is paid is not in the horizon of prophet or apostle or of Jesus Himself, in using this metaphor.
Christ follows the vain boast in the text, with the calm, grave, profound explanation of what He meant: 'Whoso committeth sin is the slave of sin. That is true in two ways. By the act of sinning a man shows that he is the slave of an alien power that has captured him; and in the act of sinning, he rivets the chains and increases the tyranny. He is a slave, or he would not obey sin.
"But, Father," I cried, "don't you see that the law has already broken it?" "Only the civil law, my daughter. Remember the words of our blessed and holy Redeemer: 'Every one that putteth away his wife and marrieth another committeth adultery; and he that marrieth one that is put away committeth adultery. . . . My poor child, my heart bleeds for you, but isn't that the Divine Commandment?"
No matter how long it is exposed to the sunshine, it cannot reflect the sun. Thus the former layeth down his life as a sacrifice, while the latter doeth against God what he committeth. Indeed, if God willeth, He is potent to turn the stone into a mirror, but the person himself remaineth reconciled to his state. Had he wished to become a crystal, God would have made him to assume crystal form.
And he said unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her: and if a wife put away her husband, and marrieth another, she committeth adultery. And they brought unto him little children, that he should touch them: but his disciples rebuked those who brought them.
If then, you would know from immediate consciousness that "whosoever committeth sin is the slave of sin," simply view sin in the light of that obligation to be perfectly pure and holy which necessarily, and forever, rests upon a responsible being.
Wherefore, he that committeth the keeping of his soul to God must do it in that way which God has prescribed to him, which is in a way of well-doing. Alas! alas! there is never such a word in it; it must be done in a way of "well-doing." You must think of this that would commit your souls to God in suffering and troublesome times. You must do it in well-doing.
If then the son shall make you free, you shall in reality be free. The authorized version gives, 'Whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin; 'the revised version gives, 'Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin; both accepting the reading that has the words, 'of sin. The statement is certainly in itself true, but appears to me useless for the argument that follows.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
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