Job 40:8

Job 40:8

I. Every excuse for sin condemns God. This will be apparent if we consider (1) that nothing can be sin for which there is a justifiable excuse. (2) If God condemns that for which there is a good excuse, He must be wrong. (3) But God does condemn all sin. Hence either there is no apology for it, or God is wrong. (4) Consequently every excuse for sin charges blame upon God, and virtually accuses Him of tyranny.

II. Consider some of these excuses in detail: (1) Inability. (2) Want of time. (3) A sinful nature. (4) Sinners plead that they are willing to be Christians. (5) Sinners say they are waiting God's time. (6) Sinners plead that their circumstances are very peculiar. (7) Another excuse is in this form: "My heart is so hard that I cannot feel." (8) "My heart is so deceitful," etc.

III. All excuses for sin add insult to injury. (1) A plea that reflects injuriously upon the court or the lawgiver is an aggravation of the original crime. (2) The same is true of any plea made in self-justification. (3) It is truly abominable for the sinner to abuse God and then excuse himself for it. This is the old way of the guilty.

IV. (1) Excuses render repentance impossible. (2) Sinners should lay all their excuses at once before God. (3) Sinners ought to be ashamed of their excuses and repent of them.

C. G. Finney Sermons on Gospel Themes,p. 72.

References: Job 40:23. Preacher's Monthly, vol.iv., p. 120. Job 42:5. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. v., p. 18; J. M. Neale, Sermons in Sackville College,vol. iii., p. 434.