SAVED
SINNERS ARE SINNERS STILL
1
John 1:8-10
Those who teach the doctrine of sinless
perfection, or even the possibility of sinless perfection in this life, are
simply dishonest men who do not know God and refuse to acknowledge the truth
about themselves. To make such a statement as that is neither harsh nor
judgmental. It is simply telling the truth (1 John 1:8-10).
"If we
say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make
him a liar, and his word is not in us."
The fact is, God’s people in this
world are sinners still. To say otherwise is to speak in direct contradiction to the Word of God
and the constant experience of God’s elect in this world. No true believer has
to be convinced of this fact. It is painfully obvious to all who know the Lord.
There is in every believer’s heart a continual warfare between flesh and spirit
(Rom. 7:17, 20; Gal. 5:17). Without question, God’s saints do not live in sin
and are no longer under the dominion of sin; but sin still lives in us.
There is in every regenerate person
two opposing natures, the one flesh and the other spirit, the one is a
principle of nature and the other a principle of grace. It is our responsibility to
mortify the outward actions of sin, but we cannot rid ourselves of sin. We are
to “put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts”
(Eph. 4:22). Yet, the old man never improves. The old man is never renewed.
The old man is not removed. The old man does not die until this body of flesh
dies. “That which is born of flesh is
flesh!” The old man no longer reigns; but he will never surrender.
Therefore, we are constantly at war with ourselves. Sin does not crop up in us
now and then, in unguarded moments. Oh, no. Sin dwells in us. Paul says, “Sin dwelleth in me!” It dwells within
us, not as an idle old resident, but as an active, corruption defiling all that
we are and all that we do. Sin dwells in us, like an enemy who has entered the
very heart of the city of Mansoul and seeks to rapidly destroy everything. Though
this horrid enemy does not rule the believer’s life, he does at times bring us
into captivity. Though he cannot destroy us, he constantly disturbs us.
Not only does sin dwell in us, not only is
it true that we are sinners and that sin mars everything we do, we all commit
sin constantly “There is not a just
man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Eccles. 7:20). I know
that the apostle John declares, “Whosoever
is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God” (I John 3:9). That new man, that new
nature, which is born of God, cannot sin. But, as we have already seen, the
believer is a person with two natures, the old man and the new, the flesh and
the spirit. Our sins, everything evil in us and everything evil done by us, are
the works of the flesh. Our goodness, (if I may use such language), everything
good in us and everything good done by us is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.
5:17-23)
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #662
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net