Satan's Devices to Draw the Soul into Sin (Device 4)

Fourth Device:  By presenting the best men's sins and hiding their virtues, sorrow and repentance.  He will set before us the adultery of David, the pride of Hezekiah, the impatience of Job, the drunkenness of Noah and the denials of Peter all the while hiding their tears, sorrow and repentance.

First Remedy: Remember that the Spirit of the Lord has been as careful to record the saints rising in repentance as he has their falling into sin.  David sins greatly but repents powerfully (Psalm 51).  Peter denies Christ, but a look of love from the savior melts him into tears.  We can sin as easily as the saints, but can we repent with them?  There are many who can sin with David and Peter, that cannot repent with David and Peter, and so must perish forever. 

Second Remedy: We must also consider that these saints did not make a practice of sin.  They fell once or twice and rose by repentance so that they could keep near Christ forever.  These saints fell accidentally, occasionally and with much reluctance, but this cannot be confused with those who sin presumptuously, readily and customarily.  The man who makes a practice of sin takes it on as another nature which he cannot and will not lay aside.  But you must lay it aside! If sin and your soul do not part, then Christ and your soul cannot meet.

Third Remedy: Remember that though God does not disinherit his people  for their sins, he does severely punish them for their sins.  David sins and God breaks his bones for that sin (Psalm 51:8; 2 Samuel 12:10).  God will never break his covenant nor utterly remove his lovingkindness, yet he will discipline and chastise his people to bring them back into line.  When Satan draws your attention to other men's sins to encourage you to sin, think just as seriously about their sufferings to keep you from sin.  If you sin with David, you must suffer with David.

Fourth Remedy:  Remember that there are two main reasons why God records the falls of His saints.  The first is to keep those who do fall from weakness and infirmity from sinking into despair under the burden of their sins.  The second is that their falls would stand as landmarks to warn others that stand to take heed, lest they fall.  It never entered the heart of God to record his children's sins, so that others would be encouraged to sin, but rather that we would cling more firmly to Christ so that we might not fall as others.  Nothing could be more contrary to God's purposes than to justify one's sin because other great saints have sinned themselves.  When you find such a man, you can be certain that he is Christless, graceless, cast off by God and held fast by Satan.  Only God knows that man's end.