In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. In the last few weeks we’ve been considering the consequences of our sin. Last week we saw that when we sin, we lose communion with God. This week I want to show you that God is displeased when we sin.

God certainly is displeased with us when we sin. He is not happy at all. This truth is made clear again and again in the Bible. God says in Isaiah that when people choose to do evil it displeases God: ‘For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me’ (Isaiah 66:4). In the New Testament we read of God’s displeasure towards the sinful Israelites in the Old Testament. Paul says: ‘Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert’ (1 Corinthians 10:5). Paul also notes that God is still displeased with sinners. For example,  Paul writes to the persecuted church in Thessalonica about those who persecute God’s church: ‘You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved.’ (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). The truth is, we all sin so we all displease God.

So it is not surprising that the Psalmist cries out to God to stop being displeased with him and God’s people: ‘Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us’ (Psalm 85:4).

And thankfully God answers the Psalmist’s request and restores us through Jesus. God was always pleased with Jesus Christ. He said at his baptism: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’ (Mark 1:11). And God was also pleased with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sin. Paul says: ‘Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God’ (Ephesians 5:2). God was pleased with the smell of Christ’s death for sin.

So it is possible for God to be pleased with you again. How? You must have your sins immersed in the sweet smelling death of Christ. How do you do that? Repent of your sin and believe that Jesus died for you.

Have you believed in Jesus death for you or is God still displeased with you because of your sins?

Joel Radford