“Knowing Sin” by Mark Jones. A “Sort-Of” Review

 

There are already plenty of evaluative reviews on this work, “Knowing Sin: Seeing a Neglected Doctrine through the Eyes of the Puritans, ”so I’ll simply go to things I think are worth a little extra focus. The book is easy-to-read. Ideal for teens and twenty-somethings and twilighters. Very fitting for personal devotional reading, adult classes, and seminary material. It is a book I highly recommend.

Though the subject is sin, and it’s many facets, nevertheless, it is Gospel driven and Gospel developed. From one end to the other Jones circles back around to the good news of who Jesus is, what he has done, is doing, and will do for his people. Bruised hearts will find themselves held in the nail-pierced hands of the Great Physician. And it’s because of the good news about Jesus they will be guided in diving deeper into the sneakiness and sinisterness of their sin.

One of my favorite topics the author gets into is “Sin’s Pride”. For anyone who has read Augustine’s “The City of God” they will appreciate how Jones closely agrees with the ancient theologian’s assessment about pride being a root of much sin; “If unbelief is the foundation of the road to hell, then pride is the pavement that leads its offspring there” (113). But also, Jone’s is correct that God singles out pride for a special disgust. As James and Peter both recount: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. And as the sagacious writer of Proverbs reminds us, “Everyone who is arrogant of heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured he will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5). Unfortunately, as Jones notes, “In our time, pride is seen as closer to a virtue than to a vice, let alone a sin, but this is not the biblical view” (118). And that assessment is not only true of our culture, but it is sadly true in our churches! Good Lord, have mercy.

If I have a “beef” with the book it is only in the section where the author deals with James 1:13-15. Temptation comes when desire lures and entices us. Then when it has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And when sin is full grown, it brings forth death. All of this is true. But Jones takes it that the Greek word “epithymia” is referring to a disordered desire. Which, when it is true, makes even the desire a sin. But I would point out that not all desire is sin, but all desire can lead to sin. And even good desires can lure and entice us into surrendering to them. The trick is when desire takes over, and passion begins to rule. That’s when even good desires can become sin. This is where James goes in 4:1-3. When desire and passion (even good ones) conquer and gain the rulership in our lives, they become rights and entitlements, which lead to vicious wars and murderous thoughts/actions/intentions.

All told, this is a book to get. This is a book to read, highlight, and discuss. This is a book for you, any Christian who desires to love the Lord better. This is the book for you, any Christian who is sick and sore of their sin making them sick and sore! I highly recommend the work.