Sin rarely gets any coverage in churches today. Though it is an essential component of the gospel, it is a much-neglected doctrine in the evangelical world. Pastors avoid talking about sin because it may offend, and church congregants ignore it because it is not positive.
But whereas modern Christians treat sin lightly, the puritans did not. They treated sin with immense seriousness and talked about it extensively. And in Knowing Sin: Seeing a Neglected Doctrine Through the Eyes of the Puritans, Mark Jones summarizes the Puritans’ teachings and wisdom on sin.
Jones wrote this book to help Christians get a better understanding of the doctrine of sin. A solid grasp of sin is necessary not only to know ourselves but also to know the God who redeems sinners.
Jones says, “Few theological topics are as needed in the church today as the doctrine of sin (hamartiology). Christians should know that a proper understanding of grace requires a thorough grasp of sin. A distorted weak view of sin will lead to a disfigured, anemic, and unproductive theology. Thomas Watson (c1620-86) well said, ‘The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ.”
The book has 18 chapters, with each about ten pages. The first few chapters explore the origin of sin, its nature, and its indwelling presence. And the subsequent chapters deal with the various ways we sin, such as, presumptuous sins, pride, sins of omissions, and secret sins. Each chapter features an application section where Jones explains practical ways to kill these sins through God’s grace.
Knowing Sin is such a fascinating book! I thought I was well versed in the doctrine of sin, but it only took three chapters to convince me otherwise. The book has many excellent insights on sin that will make you pause and reflect. I particularly benefited from the chapters on indwelling sin, secret sins, and presumptuous sins. The book is easy to read, but it can be convicting and uncomfortable since Jones so expertly exposes our sinful nature. But it is so worth it! We will all do well to know more about sin and not play with it.
I love that Jones references and quotes the puritans, but I expected the book to have even more puritanical ideas considering the subtitle. If I had not seen the subtitle before reading this book, I would not have guessed it was written through the eyes of the puritans. Though the book does not have an academic style, I found the writing a bit plain/dry, and it made the book tedious to read at times.
Besides these minor subjective drawbacks, I enjoyed reading this book and heartily recommend it to all Christians. In this ungodly culture that insists on calling evil good and good evil, Christians need to be on their guard and be careful not to fall for the deception. And it begins by knowing sin and knowing it thoroughly.
Moody Publishers graciously gave me a complimentary copy, and this is my honest review.
