Consider your Evil Sins in Light of your Moral Knowledge and Profession of Faith

I must aggravate* my sins and take notice of those things which make them more heinous in the sight of God and more dangerous to myself.

I bewail before You all my sins, and all my transgressions in regard to all my sins. Leviticus 16:21(NASB)

The more knowledge I have of good and evil, the greater is my sin.

I have known my Master’s will but have not done it, and therefore deserve to receive many lashes. Luke 12:47(NASB)

I have known the way of the Lord and the ordinances of my God, and yet have broken the yoke and burst the bonds. Jeremiah 5:4-5(NASB)

I have known the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, and yet have done them and have also given hearty approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:32(NASB)

I have taught others, and yet have not taught myself; Romans 2:21(NASB) and while I profess to know God, I have by my deeds denied Him. Titus 1:16(NASB)

The greater profession I have made of religion, the greater has been my sin.

I call myself after the holy city and lean on the God of Israel and invoke His name, but not in truth nor in righteousness. Isaiah 48:1-2(NASB) For I have dishonored that worthy name by which I have been called, Ephesians 4:1 (NASB) and given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. 2 Samuel 12:14(NASB)

I have named the name of the Lord, and yet have not abstained from wickedness. 2 Timothy 2:19(NASB)

* The author means that we must look at our sins in the worst light, to see just how evil they are, taking into account the persons we have offended, the nature of the offense, the circumstances of our sin, etc. See The Westminster Larger Catechism, Questions 150 and 151. Editor.