It's interesting to me. Throughout the centuries -- throughout time, in fact -- people who were in good standing with God have been concerned or even convinced that they were not. I think of Isaiah -- not a minor prophet, but a major mouthpiece for God -- who saw the Lord and concluded, "I am undone!" (Isa 6:1-5). "That's Old Testament," some will tell me. "They had a different standing." Well, maybe, so how about Paul? Paul, the prime purveyor of the Gospel, who cried, "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Rom 7:24). And so through history. Famous author and preacher, John Bunyan (of Pilgrim's Progress fame), was sure that he had committed the unpardonable sin and was damned forever for a long time. Godly people have concluded over and over that they are beyond redemption.
Why is that? Well, first there is the Scripture. John wrote, "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). And don't we all have these kinds of sins? Don't we all have what I will call "besetting sins" -- those recurring failings that just seem to keep cropping up? Of course, the other reason is illustrated in Isaiah. The closer we get to God, the brighter the light and the clearer we can see our genuine sin problem.
So, is it so? Should we conclude that if we sin repeatedly we are not "born of God" -- not saved? No. Scripture is clear that we never arrive at sinless perfection in this life (1 John 1:8-2:2). Instead, we rely, as from the beginning to the end, on the propitiation of Christ (1 John 2:1-2). We agree that we have sin (1 John 1:8, 10) and, in so doing, confess and receive forgiveness "from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Our salvation is not predicated or completed on our sinlessness; it is predicated on "Him who knew no sin" and, yet, became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21). We are saved not by our own burgeoning righteousness, but by His applied righteousness. In fact, if you are deeply concerned about your sin, it might certainly be evidence that you are born of God since those who are not are enemies of God.
2 comments:
I would imagine that if one does have a besetting sin and doesn't question if they are saved might not be saved indeed. Anytime we knowingly sin and don't repent, our salvation would be in doubt. The advantage is, we can be assured that forgiveness is available when we ask.
Amen.
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