The Principle of Illustrative Mention

a. Definition.
It is that principle by which God exhibits by illustrations of judgment. His displeasure at various forms of sin and disobedience.

1. He speaks by way of judgment for violation of His command. He gives a decisive sign of hatred of sin and then is silent for a long time.
2. If God visited every sin with deserved punishment as soon as a law was broken, the human race would soon become extinct.
   a. Examples.
3. Lying to the Holy Chost—Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira. This illustrates what God thinks of this sin, yet if all who commit it were punished in this manner there wouldn’t be any Church.
4. Idolatry—Judgment of Babel is an example of judgment of idolatry—Gen. 11:
5. Graven image#—Story of the golden calf and its judgment—Ex. 32:
6. Profanity of Holy things—Death of Korah—Num. 16—Nadab and Abihu—Lev. 10:1, 2.
7. “Thou shalt not kill.” Cain had a mark because “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord” Gen. 4:15.
8. Family impurity—Judgment on Sodom—Gen. 19:
9. Theft—Judgment on Achan—Josh. 7:
   a. This principle should encourage Scriptural illustrations in preaching.