My Sin, Their Sin

The sermon begins by identifying two strategies of demons in spiritual warfare. The first strategy is to cause people to blame-shift and compare sins to avoid confession and forgiveness. The preacher uses the Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State to illustrate how people self-deceive by distinguishing their sin from others' sin. Journalist David Brooks points out that modern society emphasizes human excellence rather than recognizing the sinful nature of mankind.

The second part develops the argument about the shift in society's moral foundation. Formerly, based on Scripture, society recognized that all people have sin because of the original sin of Adam and Eve (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12). Modern atheist intellectuals like Steven Pinker argue that sin is unrelated to human nature but only tied to social institutions. The preacher cites Beatrice Webb, founder of the modern British social security system, who abandoned her belief in human goodness after 35 years, recognizing that evil impulses are inherent in people.

The third part applies the message to practical life by analyzing two forms of blame-shifting. When people commit errors, they find ways to blame circumstances, family, society, or others instead of taking responsibility for their actions. Second, people compare their sin to others' sin to feel better. The preacher uses the image of a mirror to illustrate how people use distorted standards to judge themselves and others. The devil wants people to use a crooked mirror to see themselves as better than others.

The fourth part builds the argument that the doctrine of original sin removes human pride. When we truly understand that everyone has sinned and no one is superior to another, we cannot look down on others. The example of the Duchess of Buckingham shows how the upper classes rejected equality in sin before the cross. The preacher points out that Jesus condemned most severely not obvious sinners (tax collectors, prostitutes) but the Pharisees, who considered themselves righteous.

The final section encourages confession of sin for forgiveness. Scripture is a mirror that helps us see our sin clearly (Hebrews 4:12-13). The preacher quotes Christ's parable of the tax collector and Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14) to illustrate that the one who confesses sin is justified, not the one who boasts of righteousness. Finally, the preacher mentions Apostle Paul who, despite a holy life, recognized he was a sinner needing God's grace (1 Timothy 1:14-16). The key point is that holiness in life comes not from self-discipline but from the power of the Holy Spirit.