What do you think?
Rate this book
Knowing Sin: Seeing a Neglected Doctrine Through the Eyes of the Puritans
The first rule of combat know your enemy. We don’t talk a lot about sin these days. But maybe we should. The Puritans sure did—because they understood sin’s deceptive power and wanted to root it out of their lives. Shouldn’t we want the same? Though many books have been written on the “doctrine of sin,” few are as practical and applicable as this one. In Knowing Sin , Mark Jones puts his expertise in the Puritans to work by distilling the vast wisdom of our Christian forebears into a single volume that summarizes their thought on this vital subject. The result isn’t a theological tome to sit on your shelf and gather dust, but a surprisingly relevant book to keep by your bedside and refer to again and again. You’ll come to understand topics None of us is free from the struggle with sin. The question isn’t whether we’re sinful, it’s what we’re doing about it. Thanks be to God, there is a path to overcoming sin. And the first step on that path to victory is knowing what we’re up against. Start Knowing Sin today!
208 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2022
113 people are currently reading
786 people want to read
About the author
Mark Jones
29 books78 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Rev. Dr. Mark Jones (PhD, Leiden Universiteit) has been the Minister at Faith Vancouver Church (PCA) since 2007. He is also Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology at University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He lectures at various seminaries around the world and is currently writing a book titled, "Knowing Christ" (Banner of Truth, forthcoming).
He also blogs at Reformation21.org.
Rev. Dr. Mark Jones (PhD, Leiden Universiteit) has been the Minister at Faith Vancouver Church (PCA) since 2007. He is also Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology at University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He lectures at various seminaries around the world and is currently writing a book titled, "Knowing Christ" (Banner of Truth, forthcoming).
He also blogs at Reformation21.org.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 7, 2022
There is a distinct lack of books on hamartiology (the doctrine of sin). The devil is perfectly happy to see the doctrine of sin slide into the sea of forgetfulness. He is delighted when professing Christians minimize sin or redefine it. Uncle Screwtape, C.S. Lewis’s senior demon in The Screwtape Letters observed that the journey to hell is found in mere passivity: “Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” When we belittle the seriousness of sin, we become easy prey for the enemy of our souls.
Knowing Sin by Mark Jones helps reestablish the doctrine of sin and highlights the importance of bringing this doctrine to center stage. Dr. Jones has done the church a great service by helping readers think through the various aspects of sin as it is presented in Scripture. The book draws on the deep insight of the Puritans which effectively reminds readers of the devastating effects of sin and rivets their attention on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each chapter concludes with a brief application section that encourages practical steps for defeating sin and trusting in our risen Savior.
I commend Knowing Sin and anticipate a wide readership, in the church and the academy.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Knowing Sin by Mark Jones helps reestablish the doctrine of sin and highlights the importance of bringing this doctrine to center stage. Dr. Jones has done the church a great service by helping readers think through the various aspects of sin as it is presented in Scripture. The book draws on the deep insight of the Puritans which effectively reminds readers of the devastating effects of sin and rivets their attention on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each chapter concludes with a brief application section that encourages practical steps for defeating sin and trusting in our risen Savior.
I commend Knowing Sin and anticipate a wide readership, in the church and the academy.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
February 10, 2023
Great lay level read on the doctrine of sin. Jones tackles a heavy and deep topic in a relevant way with the help of the Puritans. I love the format too with chapters on different aspects of sin and applications for the reader in light of those truths and the gospel.
October 24, 2022
There are already plenty of evaluative reviews on this work, 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 sinister nests 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. Then 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.
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 sinister nests 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. Then 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.
May 16, 2022
I reccomend this to every christian in the current time.
This book is genuinely excellent. A deep dive into the nature, extent and experience of sin that is practically useful for the christian walk and should help grow the readers humility and gratitude towards Christ.
Often today we think of sin only in terms of limited external actions, Jones very helpfully highlights that biblically sinful desires are themselves sinful, also the significance of sins of omission (failing to do the right thing) which we commit all the time is important in driving us to our knees before God.
The truths in this book can help to correct many unhelpful modern trends and inspire us to love our saviour more.
It probably is not a classic as it's basically a presentation for the modern era of standard older teaching but for the current time it's great - and many other modern works do not handle these issues well at all.
(Note: I listened to the audiobook, I haven't read a physical edition.
This book is genuinely excellent. A deep dive into the nature, extent and experience of sin that is practically useful for the christian walk and should help grow the readers humility and gratitude towards Christ.
Often today we think of sin only in terms of limited external actions, Jones very helpfully highlights that biblically sinful desires are themselves sinful, also the significance of sins of omission (failing to do the right thing) which we commit all the time is important in driving us to our knees before God.
The truths in this book can help to correct many unhelpful modern trends and inspire us to love our saviour more.
It probably is not a classic as it's basically a presentation for the modern era of standard older teaching but for the current time it's great - and many other modern works do not handle these issues well at all.
(Note: I listened to the audiobook, I haven't read a physical edition.
May 6, 2022
Knowing Sin: Seeing a Neglected Doctrine Through the Eyes of the Puritans by Mark Jones is published by Moody Publishers.
Both in the academic world and the Christian community, Puritan studies have been on a rising trajectory for quite a few years now. Gone are the days when the history class stereotypes branded the Puritans as a fun-hating, dreary, morose, judgmental group of religious fanatics. Gone, hopefully, are the days when Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter was read as an historical document revealing the hypocrisy and meanness of the Puritans. Gone are the days when Puritan ways were celebrated for being eclipsed by the Enlightenment thought of their scientific and open-minded descendents.
I don’t want to suggest that all have climbed aboard the bandwagon. I am strongly suggesting that access to the riches of the Puritans is engulfing us.
The tidal wave of Puritan works has its own liabilities. I have gleefully placed quite a few sets of Puritan works on my heavy-laden bookshelves. Puritans were typically exhaustive (and exhausting) when dealing with spiritual topics. They wrote pages on what some modern might try to say in a sentence. They wrote whole books over what today’s preacher might reduce to three simple/simplistic points.
Wordy, yes. Endless, maybe. But it was not just flowery talk and verbal padding. They really studied, dug at, expanded, examined, meditated on, and applied passages and doctrines to the Christian life. They treated the Scripture as though its teachings really mattered. Hence the value of the Puritans.
“What Puritan books do you recommend?” “What should I read first?”, and similar questions often come up. I would mention that the serious reader rush over to see what Banner of Truth has reprinted and what Reformation Heritage Books is currently pushing. Just pick one or ten and start reading. I might be inclined to recommend Thomas Watson first or that so often read book The Pilgrim’s Progress. And if one wants to tackle Jonathan Edwards, there is plenty to choose from in very readable editions (unlike my two weighty small print Banner editions).
But the best way to meet the Puritans is through a mutual friend, or a mediator, if you wish, between us and those grand theologians. In the past years, two men who were legends in the Christian community were key modern Christian writers with Puritan connections. They were Martyn Lloyd-Jones and J. I. Packer. They were both digging up and gleaning from Puritans back when the books were not easily found.
Along with them, and still living, is Iain Murray. Murray has helped promote Puritan writings and reprints for year at the Banner of Truth Trush. I am sure that there are quite a few others who have labored to put Puritan theology back on the shelves of pastors and serious Christian readers today.
Mark Jones is currently, perhaps, the best Puritans quoter, promoter, and expert. Theologically and academically, he has the tools to write those scholarly journal articles that most of us would never know existed. He has a PhD. from Leiden University, after all. But he writes for…me. (Maybe he has a picture of me at his desk to use when writing.) He knows I love books, love Puritans, love theology, and love to read, but that I am also untrained, a novice, and a man who would readily attain a 12 volume set of the works of Thomas Goodwin, but keep hesitating to take the plastic shrink wrap off of the books.
Knowing Sin is not just a handy collection of great Puritan quotes. The Puritans are called in a supporting witnesses to a number of areas that Jones focuses on in regard to the doctrine of sin.
Yet, we all know sin, right? Or we can answer as Calvin Coolidge did when he referred to his pastor’s sermon on sin: He was against it. And we routinely pray for God to forgive us our sins/debts/trespasses as we…this is the hard part…forgive others. And we can often name our sins: I got mad today; I spoke rudely to my wife; my mind wandered off when I was praying; or maybe it wandered off instead of me praying.
Key problem is that we deal with sin (and hence salvation) superficially. I can actually give some pretty good explanations and excuses for my sins. They really aren’t so bad, if only you knew my challenges. I confess I am a sinner, but I also profess to be living a relatively good life.
Puritans are surgeons. They don’t traffic much in Band-Aids and simple surface remedies. They hurt you. And Mark Jones doesn’t enter the operating room without a support staff of scalpel wielding Puritans.
There are 18 chapters to this book. Many of the chapter titles are witty plays on song titles and familiar sayings. Jones is pastoral and humble. He does not seek to set us straight, but rather he takes us along with him as he explores this really serious disease we have been forgive for and that still lingers.
Good and fast readers could probably knock this book out in a day or two. I strongly advise against that. One chapter a day is sufficient. Add thought. And prayer. And application.
Side note: Mark and I are not personal friends, but I have, many times, been uplifted by his delightful family posts on Facebook. He has strong views, as we Calvinists are prone to, but a gentle spirit. He has a beautiful family and a great ministry through writing and preaching. We are living in a great era and are also enjoying the past eras that had their own accomplishments.
Disclosure Statement: I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for a review.
Both in the academic world and the Christian community, Puritan studies have been on a rising trajectory for quite a few years now. Gone are the days when the history class stereotypes branded the Puritans as a fun-hating, dreary, morose, judgmental group of religious fanatics. Gone, hopefully, are the days when Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter was read as an historical document revealing the hypocrisy and meanness of the Puritans. Gone are the days when Puritan ways were celebrated for being eclipsed by the Enlightenment thought of their scientific and open-minded descendents.
I don’t want to suggest that all have climbed aboard the bandwagon. I am strongly suggesting that access to the riches of the Puritans is engulfing us.
The tidal wave of Puritan works has its own liabilities. I have gleefully placed quite a few sets of Puritan works on my heavy-laden bookshelves. Puritans were typically exhaustive (and exhausting) when dealing with spiritual topics. They wrote pages on what some modern might try to say in a sentence. They wrote whole books over what today’s preacher might reduce to three simple/simplistic points.
Wordy, yes. Endless, maybe. But it was not just flowery talk and verbal padding. They really studied, dug at, expanded, examined, meditated on, and applied passages and doctrines to the Christian life. They treated the Scripture as though its teachings really mattered. Hence the value of the Puritans.
“What Puritan books do you recommend?” “What should I read first?”, and similar questions often come up. I would mention that the serious reader rush over to see what Banner of Truth has reprinted and what Reformation Heritage Books is currently pushing. Just pick one or ten and start reading. I might be inclined to recommend Thomas Watson first or that so often read book The Pilgrim’s Progress. And if one wants to tackle Jonathan Edwards, there is plenty to choose from in very readable editions (unlike my two weighty small print Banner editions).
But the best way to meet the Puritans is through a mutual friend, or a mediator, if you wish, between us and those grand theologians. In the past years, two men who were legends in the Christian community were key modern Christian writers with Puritan connections. They were Martyn Lloyd-Jones and J. I. Packer. They were both digging up and gleaning from Puritans back when the books were not easily found.
Along with them, and still living, is Iain Murray. Murray has helped promote Puritan writings and reprints for year at the Banner of Truth Trush. I am sure that there are quite a few others who have labored to put Puritan theology back on the shelves of pastors and serious Christian readers today.
Mark Jones is currently, perhaps, the best Puritans quoter, promoter, and expert. Theologically and academically, he has the tools to write those scholarly journal articles that most of us would never know existed. He has a PhD. from Leiden University, after all. But he writes for…me. (Maybe he has a picture of me at his desk to use when writing.) He knows I love books, love Puritans, love theology, and love to read, but that I am also untrained, a novice, and a man who would readily attain a 12 volume set of the works of Thomas Goodwin, but keep hesitating to take the plastic shrink wrap off of the books.
Knowing Sin is not just a handy collection of great Puritan quotes. The Puritans are called in a supporting witnesses to a number of areas that Jones focuses on in regard to the doctrine of sin.
Yet, we all know sin, right? Or we can answer as Calvin Coolidge did when he referred to his pastor’s sermon on sin: He was against it. And we routinely pray for God to forgive us our sins/debts/trespasses as we…this is the hard part…forgive others. And we can often name our sins: I got mad today; I spoke rudely to my wife; my mind wandered off when I was praying; or maybe it wandered off instead of me praying.
Key problem is that we deal with sin (and hence salvation) superficially. I can actually give some pretty good explanations and excuses for my sins. They really aren’t so bad, if only you knew my challenges. I confess I am a sinner, but I also profess to be living a relatively good life.
Puritans are surgeons. They don’t traffic much in Band-Aids and simple surface remedies. They hurt you. And Mark Jones doesn’t enter the operating room without a support staff of scalpel wielding Puritans.
There are 18 chapters to this book. Many of the chapter titles are witty plays on song titles and familiar sayings. Jones is pastoral and humble. He does not seek to set us straight, but rather he takes us along with him as he explores this really serious disease we have been forgive for and that still lingers.
Good and fast readers could probably knock this book out in a day or two. I strongly advise against that. One chapter a day is sufficient. Add thought. And prayer. And application.
Side note: Mark and I are not personal friends, but I have, many times, been uplifted by his delightful family posts on Facebook. He has strong views, as we Calvinists are prone to, but a gentle spirit. He has a beautiful family and a great ministry through writing and preaching. We are living in a great era and are also enjoying the past eras that had their own accomplishments.
Disclosure Statement: I received a copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for a review.
February 6, 2023
Highly recommend. This book is very convicting and has opened my eyes to just how pervasive sin is in my life and how desperately I need God's saving grace. Dr. Jones is an excellent writer and has given the church a very important volume for her continued health as each member engages in the daily fight of mortification. This book has that timeless quality which should make it useful to the church for a long time or until the Lord returns.
March 31, 2022
The main point of this book is that we, as believers, should be well aware of the enemy and sin. If sun is what we’re trying to run away from then we most know what it looks like. Extremely good book based heavily on scripture.
“In the end, we are called to live for God’s glory, and sinning presumptuously does the opposite. Such a life takes the name of the Lord in vain as we sin against Him willfully. We make our name superior to His by our actions and invite His displeasure. We harm ourselves and others by denying the dangerous consequences of presuming upon the Lord’s grace”
“Few think of themselves so [lowly] as they ought to think: this sticks as close to us as our skin; and as humility is the beauty of grace, [self-applause] is the filthiest soil of nature. Our thoughts run more delightfully upon the track of our own perfections than the excellency of God; and when we find anything of a seeming worth, that may make us glitter in the eyes of the world, how cheerfully do we grasp and embrace ourselves!”
“But if we are honest, we love the world and feel its temptations a lot more than we are willing to admit. Temptation feeds off of pride. By nature, we think of ourselves more highly than we ought, and so we are tempted, for example, to make a name for ourselves (Gen. 11:4). The world provides opportunities for our flesh, and sometimes we even meet with some apparent success in our quest for worldly glory. We love titles: president, doctor, chairman, etc. But we place little value on the one that matters most in Christ: servant. The world offers illegitimate yet tempting shortcuts to what we desire, such as sex before marriage rather than patiently waiting for God’s gift on His terms. The marketing world takes advantage of an abundant media platform to burn temptations into our eyes and hearts at an alarming rate each day. We are assaulted each day by a world that tells us we do not have enough and need more. We fall into these temptations, sometimes not even aware we are being sucked in. We give in too quickly to feel any real force of temptation”
“In the end, we are called to live for God’s glory, and sinning presumptuously does the opposite. Such a life takes the name of the Lord in vain as we sin against Him willfully. We make our name superior to His by our actions and invite His displeasure. We harm ourselves and others by denying the dangerous consequences of presuming upon the Lord’s grace”
“Few think of themselves so [lowly] as they ought to think: this sticks as close to us as our skin; and as humility is the beauty of grace, [self-applause] is the filthiest soil of nature. Our thoughts run more delightfully upon the track of our own perfections than the excellency of God; and when we find anything of a seeming worth, that may make us glitter in the eyes of the world, how cheerfully do we grasp and embrace ourselves!”
“But if we are honest, we love the world and feel its temptations a lot more than we are willing to admit. Temptation feeds off of pride. By nature, we think of ourselves more highly than we ought, and so we are tempted, for example, to make a name for ourselves (Gen. 11:4). The world provides opportunities for our flesh, and sometimes we even meet with some apparent success in our quest for worldly glory. We love titles: president, doctor, chairman, etc. But we place little value on the one that matters most in Christ: servant. The world offers illegitimate yet tempting shortcuts to what we desire, such as sex before marriage rather than patiently waiting for God’s gift on His terms. The marketing world takes advantage of an abundant media platform to burn temptations into our eyes and hearts at an alarming rate each day. We are assaulted each day by a world that tells us we do not have enough and need more. We fall into these temptations, sometimes not even aware we are being sucked in. We give in too quickly to feel any real force of temptation”
May 1, 2023
Very good. I'm not giving it 5 ⭐️ because it's the best book on sin, but because it's the best overall, introductive and concise (less than 200 pages) Post-Reformation Reformed treatment on sin I've read so far. It will always be in my recommended book to read.
Though 'm not sure about the relevance of the subtitle "through the eyes of the puritans." He sure quotes puritans, but also Bavinck and other Reformed guys. Maybe it's just me, but I don't feel a uniquely puritans approach here.
Though 'm not sure about the relevance of the subtitle "through the eyes of the puritans." He sure quotes puritans, but also Bavinck and other Reformed guys. Maybe it's just me, but I don't feel a uniquely puritans approach here.
November 20, 2024
Suuuuuper convicting. We can’t truly kill sin if we don’t know it. The puritans had some bars, and this book helped me to understand sin and our relation to it better and ultimately points back to the gospel! Recommend.
March 13, 2022
I didn’t expect to get as much out of this book as I did. I mean, I don’t question what sin is. I am aware we are sinners, but what the question this book presents is what we are/are not doing about it.
First, I’ll mention the table of contents. I know, that’s a rare thing to address in a book review, but it’s one worth mentioning. Each chapter uses the title of well-known songs, which caught my eye and intrigued me. Rock You Like a Hurricane, You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling, Hello Darkness My Old Friend, Hard to Say I’m Sorry, Highway to Hell, Losing My Religion, I Want it All, etc.
Secondly, I thought Knowing Sin would be somewhat stuffy and stodgy. Forgive me, but a book on sin certainly doesn’t sound like an interesting read. I was wrong. This book is more than a book about sin. It’s a look at sin on a different level, on its origin, temptations, secrecy, and defeat. It gives you a bigger and deeper look at sin, what it does and causes, and helps you to discern it in everyday life.
Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.
#MPNews
#KnowingSin
First, I’ll mention the table of contents. I know, that’s a rare thing to address in a book review, but it’s one worth mentioning. Each chapter uses the title of well-known songs, which caught my eye and intrigued me. Rock You Like a Hurricane, You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling, Hello Darkness My Old Friend, Hard to Say I’m Sorry, Highway to Hell, Losing My Religion, I Want it All, etc.
Secondly, I thought Knowing Sin would be somewhat stuffy and stodgy. Forgive me, but a book on sin certainly doesn’t sound like an interesting read. I was wrong. This book is more than a book about sin. It’s a look at sin on a different level, on its origin, temptations, secrecy, and defeat. It gives you a bigger and deeper look at sin, what it does and causes, and helps you to discern it in everyday life.
Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.
#MPNews
#KnowingSin
February 28, 2022
This is a great resource on sin that I would recommend to all. It starts with the origin of sin, and goes through what the puritans have said about our sin and leads you to see your great need for Christ.
“A distorted, weak view of sin will lead to a disfigured, anemic, and unproductive theology. Thomas Watson (c. 1620-86) well said, “The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ.”
“A distorted, weak view of sin will lead to a disfigured, anemic, and unproductive theology. Thomas Watson (c. 1620-86) well said, “The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ.”
September 24, 2022
This book may well put and keep you in agony. It is relentless in its revealing of the true nature of sin, types of sins (the “7 deadly” are examined), levels of sins, presumptuous sins and their effects, and how sins of omission are not lesser sins and why. Mark Jones, I learned by reading his excellent book “Knowing Christ” a few years ago, is a great interpreter of the Puritans. He draws heavily here from Charnock, Watson, Manton and others.
If you care about fighting the sin that remains in your heart and mind, you have to be able to recognize the enemy. I really loved this book even though it was difficult to read. I’ll be processing it for awhile.
If you care about fighting the sin that remains in your heart and mind, you have to be able to recognize the enemy. I really loved this book even though it was difficult to read. I’ll be processing it for awhile.
April 29, 2022
Very good. Approachable treatment of hamartiology. Jones is a master at weaving in Puritan writers as he expounds upon the deadliness of sin. This is well worth your time.
April 9, 2023
If you have read Mark Jones, you know how good this book is. If you want to be both convicted and encouraged, this book is for you.
May 1, 2023
READING NOTES:
- God created the possibility for good and evil
- andam and Eve were able to not sin but they were not without the capacity to sin
- somehow God gets more glory from good coming out of sin, rather than Sim never being brought into the world
- we must be careful not to draw out of the bible more than what God tells us in his word this side of eternity
- many terms used in the bible to sin.
- all sin is sin but not all sin is the same
- indwelling Sin is the big issue until Jesus returns.
- we can never perform a truely perfect and pure act This side of heaven
- we should weep to God over our sin and then have appropriate joy because of what he has achieved
- sin is pure and utter evil. It is never justifiable
- always choose affliction and suffering over sin. Never an exception. Even for the smallest of sin or the greatest of suffering
- sin is the most opposite thing to our Lord
- we need to pray and long for a correct view of our sin (only God has this)
- kill pride!!!
- self love is key as long as it is not founded in pride but rather God's grace
- in envy we despise our Creater in how he has chosen to bless and provide for specific individuals
- envy is the enemy of contentment and love
- God gives to some what he denies to others. We must be content with that. Know that he is a good God and is working for our good, not our prosperity.
- unbelief is obedience to the devil
- if we claim to believe in God, we have a duty to thank and praise him for this gift of faith
- the devil has perfected the art of tempting. He targets us where we are must vulnerable.
- he is the father of Lies
- monitor the thoughts on your mind always
- all sin worthy of punishment in hell. But not all sins are the same or equal
- God created the possibility for good and evil
- andam and Eve were able to not sin but they were not without the capacity to sin
- somehow God gets more glory from good coming out of sin, rather than Sim never being brought into the world
- we must be careful not to draw out of the bible more than what God tells us in his word this side of eternity
- many terms used in the bible to sin.
- all sin is sin but not all sin is the same
- indwelling Sin is the big issue until Jesus returns.
- we can never perform a truely perfect and pure act This side of heaven
- we should weep to God over our sin and then have appropriate joy because of what he has achieved
- sin is pure and utter evil. It is never justifiable
- always choose affliction and suffering over sin. Never an exception. Even for the smallest of sin or the greatest of suffering
- sin is the most opposite thing to our Lord
- we need to pray and long for a correct view of our sin (only God has this)
- kill pride!!!
- self love is key as long as it is not founded in pride but rather God's grace
- in envy we despise our Creater in how he has chosen to bless and provide for specific individuals
- envy is the enemy of contentment and love
- God gives to some what he denies to others. We must be content with that. Know that he is a good God and is working for our good, not our prosperity.
- unbelief is obedience to the devil
- if we claim to believe in God, we have a duty to thank and praise him for this gift of faith
- the devil has perfected the art of tempting. He targets us where we are must vulnerable.
- he is the father of Lies
- monitor the thoughts on your mind always
- all sin worthy of punishment in hell. But not all sins are the same or equal
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2025
Just this morning I was talking with someone asking for advice on how to respond to their friend who said, "I could never forgive this person because..." My response was how our misunderstanding of sin is the reason we find it so hard to forgive. We think Jesus' parable doesn't apply because our offense against God is a small debt while their offense against us is huge. That is why we need more books like this as well as healthy preaching from our pulpits on the issue of sin.
In Knowing Sin, Mark Jones balances a solid biblical theology with commentary from the Puritans on the various issues surrounding the doctrine of sin. He deals with the causes and consequences of sin through chapters like: Sin's Origins (chapter 1), Sin's Sorrow (chapter 6), Sin's Pride (10), Sin's Degrees (17), etc. Each chapter will present a biblical theology, puritan commentary, and practical application. More importantly, through the book, Mark Jones keeps circling back around to God's grace. Yes, our sin is horrible. That is a truth all too often missing in our modern mindset. But as great as our sin is, God's grace is greater.
Some key quotes:
"We cannot put sin to death, or think we are doing so, while we nurture our precious pet sin(s), stroked like Gollum's ring."
"The beginning of pride was heaven. The continuance of pride is on earth. The end of pride is in hell."
In Knowing Sin, Mark Jones balances a solid biblical theology with commentary from the Puritans on the various issues surrounding the doctrine of sin. He deals with the causes and consequences of sin through chapters like: Sin's Origins (chapter 1), Sin's Sorrow (chapter 6), Sin's Pride (10), Sin's Degrees (17), etc. Each chapter will present a biblical theology, puritan commentary, and practical application. More importantly, through the book, Mark Jones keeps circling back around to God's grace. Yes, our sin is horrible. That is a truth all too often missing in our modern mindset. But as great as our sin is, God's grace is greater.
Some key quotes:
"We cannot put sin to death, or think we are doing so, while we nurture our precious pet sin(s), stroked like Gollum's ring."
"The beginning of pride was heaven. The continuance of pride is on earth. The end of pride is in hell."
May 15, 2022
Knowing Sin is a must-read for all Christians. A crucial element in our fight against sin is knowing the enemy, and this book aids in that pursuit. Mark Jones, relying on the insights of the Puritans, helpfully reveals the tactics of the tempter. This book will serve to heighten our hatred of sin and therefore see Christ as even more glorious. Any book that does that two things is absolutely worth reading.
April 3, 2025
This is an incredibly convicting, yet encouraging book. In an age where sin is just “missing the mark” or making a “little mistake” the church needs to go back to the biblical and historical understanding of sin. Jones does an incredible job at expounding from the scriptures the hideousness of sin. Additionally, he compiles powerful texts from church history concerning sin that are powerful. It is a must read.
April 21, 2022
A must-read for any who want a modern deep dive into the origin, nature, extent, and effects of sin.
Jones is an engaging writer who knows lots of scripture and church history, making for a thorough treatment of Hamartiology.
Can’t think of a better contemporary companion to John Owen’s masterful treatise, “the mortification of sin”
Jones is an engaging writer who knows lots of scripture and church history, making for a thorough treatment of Hamartiology.
Can’t think of a better contemporary companion to John Owen’s masterful treatise, “the mortification of sin”
May 23, 2022
I highly recommend this book! The chapters are concise, packed with biblical and Puritan quotations, and end with a brief application section. I especially found the chapters on indwelling sin, pride, secrecy, and omission helpful.
February 27, 2024
Excellent. A nice mix of greatest hits from the Puritans on sin along with modern application. His overview of how Adam’s sin violated the entire Decalogue is worth the price of admission all on its own.
May 3, 2022
Not many contemporary books out there on hamartiology. This is a good one.
July 15, 2024
Penetrating in both doctrinal insight and application. The vast intricacies of our sin is daunting before a holy God — but where sin abounded, grace abounds all the more.
March 28, 2025
Hamartiology 🤝 Lent
May 27, 2025
This is an amazing book talking about our sin problem and need for a savior! Love that at the end of each chapter there is an application on what you have read!
January 26, 2025
Chapter 3 on sin’s privation was especially 👌🏻👌🏻
June 28, 2022
Read it twice for good measure, very good read
March 16, 2022
Mark Jones has written a deep, rich, and readable work that is grounded in Scripture and illuminated by the teachings of the Puritans. Jones patiently walks the reader through the nature of sin, what it is in its essence, and its catastrophic consequences for human beings. His thoughtful treatment of sin is convicting, showing readers the true and awful nature of sin, which he explains can only be covered by Christ's sacrifice on the cross. This book is another home run for Jones, who is quickly becoming one of the best theologians of our time.
July 27, 2022
Mark Jones begins this book by stating, “Other than knowing God, your greatest advocate, nothing else in this world is more important than knowing sin, your greatest enemy.” This is a strong statement, but I think it’s one that can helpfully push people in the right direction to understand the heinous nature of sin in light of God and His holiness. When one knows this, the only place to flee to is the one who bore your sin, the Lord Jesus Christ. With the help of the Bible and many Puritans, Jones does an in-depth, convicting, and hopeful review of hamartiology to bring awareness to the reader of what sin is and what it looks like. Each chapter is brief (but rich), following after Knowing God and Knowing Christ, so it’s good for reading a little bit day-by-day. I took away so much from this book with regards to sins of omission and commission, as well as the nature of indwelling sin and our thought lives as individuals. I would recommend this as helpful reading for Christian’s of all ages and maturities, because sin truly is a great enemy and we are called to be watchful.
Two great quotes from the book:
“The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we will taste in Christ.” - Thomas Watson
“All men are afraid of afflictions and troubled at affliction, but where’s the man or woman that fears sin and flies from it as from a serpent, and is troubled at sin more than any affliction?” - Jeremiah Burroughs
Two great quotes from the book:
“The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we will taste in Christ.” - Thomas Watson
“All men are afraid of afflictions and troubled at affliction, but where’s the man or woman that fears sin and flies from it as from a serpent, and is troubled at sin more than any affliction?” - Jeremiah Burroughs
May 31, 2022
I usually read with a pen in hand but it's been a while since I've scribbled so furiously in a book. Knowing Sin forced me to reckon with the towering greatness of my indwelling sin. I cannot recount a single day where I have gone by without sinning. The extent of my fleshly corruption is despairing.
Much of this book was a painful pill to swallow. That before God's great mercy, before such glorious truths, we still find ourselves content with mucking about in mud.
Yet we are not left without the comfort that a greater understanding of sin means a greater realization of the beauty of God's grace. And a greater longing for the day which what Christ has started in us will be brought forth to full completion.
And for that glorious comfort, I heartily recommend everyone to read this book!
(but before that, let me indulge in my pride a bit and boast of my beautiful signed copy hahaha)
Much of this book was a painful pill to swallow. That before God's great mercy, before such glorious truths, we still find ourselves content with mucking about in mud.
Yet we are not left without the comfort that a greater understanding of sin means a greater realization of the beauty of God's grace. And a greater longing for the day which what Christ has started in us will be brought forth to full completion.
And for that glorious comfort, I heartily recommend everyone to read this book!
(but before that, let me indulge in my pride a bit and boast of my beautiful signed copy hahaha)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews