8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8–10 ESV)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaims a salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. The LORD saves the believing sinner from the penalty of sin. This is justification, redemption and reconciliation. God removes the individual’s spiritual guilt, indebtedness and enmity (Romans 3:21-26). This aspect of salvation occurs at a precise moment of regeneration resulting in conversion (John 1:12-13; 3:1-8; Titus 3:1-5).
The LORD also delivers individuals from the eventual presence of sin. This is glorification. Glorification also occurs at a precise moment in time (Romans 8:29-30; 2 Peter 3:10; I John 3:1-3).
However, there is a third component of our salvation from God. The LORD continually and progressively saves the believer from the power of sin. This is called sanctification. Sanctification primarily means to be set apart progressively from sin. This means that no believer after justification, redemption and reconciliation, and prior to glorification, is perfectly righteous. They are progressing in their sanctification. Unfortunately, believers slip, stumble and fall. However, true believers in Christ do not make a practice of sinning (I John 2:1-6, 28-29; 3:4-10; 5:1-5). They progress in their walk of holiness.
Marty Sampson’s criticism of the current condition of Christianity is as follows. “I mean how many preachers fall? Many. Whereas in the Bible, people like Moses, David and Peter never fell.”
This is no disagreement that many high-profile pastors, and others who serve in relative obscurity, have committed scandalous sin. So too do believers in Christ who are not in the ministry. There is no excuse for it. Consequences are huge because of it. However, to say no believer in Scripture committed sin and stumbled is just not true. All had feet of clay. Let’s briefly examine the lives of Abraham, Moses and David.
Abraham was a habitual liar (Gen. 12:10-20; 20:1-7). He was also an adulterer (16:1-15). Moses was a murderer (Ex. 2:11-15). David was a liar, adulterer and a murderer (2 Sam. 11-12). All three experienced consequences for their sin. All three experienced God’s graciousness in spite of their sin.
God’s gracious work in the lives of biblical characters mirrors His graciousness and forgiveness in our own. We are not to presume on God’s mercy. God commands all believers in Christ to refrain from sin.
Romans 6:12–14 (ESV) says, “12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 