This question is constantly puzzling unestablished souls. It arises through a defective view of the infinite worth of the sacrifice of Christ, and His acceptance before God. We would offer a few thoughts upon the subject, which we trust may be helpful to any of our readers who may have this difficulty.
The unconverted sinner sins constantly. Every act, word, and deed springs from a defiled source. We are conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity (Psalm 51:55Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5)). "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Jer. 17:99The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). It is a corrupt fountain, from which a stream of sin flows continually. And that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and remains flesh to the end. (John 3:66That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6).) And "the carnal mind" (or the minding of the flesh) "is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Rom. 8:7-87Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7‑8).
But God in His great love to us gave His Son. Jesus, the Lamb of God, died on Calvary, glorified God, broke Satan's power, and bore the judgment of sin. God raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, thereby showing His perfect satisfaction in His finished work. On the ground of that work all who believe are pardoned, justified, reconciled, saved—the children of God. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons" (children) "of God:" etc. "Beloved, now are we the sons" (children) "of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:1-21Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1‑2).
Now, as it is in the natural relationships of life, so is it in the spiritual. Once a child is born into the world a relationship is established between the father and the child which can never be broken. And once we are the children of God a relationship is established between God and us which is eternal. Being brought into this blessing, God looks for a walk and conduct consistent with the position of favor in which His grace has planted us. Having believed on His Son our sins are all forgiven for His name's sake. (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12).) God will remember them no more forever. (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17).) And now we should live without sinning. The Spirit of God, who dwells in the believer, is the power to enable us to live to God, and to cease from sinning. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not" (or, in no way) "fulfill the lust of the flesh." Gal. 5:1616This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16). Having believed in Christ, not only are our sins forgiven, but Christ having died to sin, we are dead with Him, and exhorted to reckon ourselves so, and alive to God in Christ Jesus, who lives to die no more. We are delivered from the dominion of sin, called to yield ourselves to God, and to bring forth fruit to Him. (Rom. 6:22, 11-1322But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22)
11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:11‑13).) The truth is very simple. I am not only saved from the consequences of my sins, and of being a sinner, what I have done and what I am, but I am saved by divine grace to manifest Christ in the power of the Holy Ghost in all my ways—to live Christ instead of a life of sin. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not." 1 John 3:66Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 John 3:6). A sinner in his sins does nothing but sin; but a child of God is saved to live without it. (Phil. 1:2121For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21).) We are responsible to refuse sin, root and branch, and live Christ.
We think we hear some one saying, "That is just what I desire; but there's my difficulty. Sometimes I do not watch, and then I commit sin; my conscience is defiled, and I think I cannot he a child of God at all, especially as the remainder of the verse just quoted, Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not,' adds, 'whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.' " 1 John 3:66Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (1 John 3:6).
But this verse gives the characteristic state of a man who lives in sin. A man that sinneth does that which characterizes a sinner. It is a denial of Christianity, in which we have salvation from Sin. In the first Epistle of John we have repeatedly the contrast between the Christian and the unconverted man, the one being characterized by a life according to God, and the other by a life of sin. The whole teaching shows that there is no license in grace. We are saved by grace and for glory, but from sin now; saved from its mastery, to live without it; hence, if we sin, we are practically denying our calling, and the Word touches the conscience and pulls us up at once. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him."
But at the same time, such is God's wondrous grace, that He has made a perfect provision for His children in case we do sin. We ought not to. But "if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father," etc. 1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1). We do not lose our Savior. or our salvation, or our relationship. Grace took us up at starting, and grace will bring us through to the end. If God cast us off when, through unwatchfulness, we sin, He would never have taken us up, for then we were doing nothing else. Blessed be His name, we have an Advocate. If a Christian sins it is as a child of God, and no longer as an enemy. And Scripture clearly teaches us that, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). But if we fail to judge ourselves, and go on carelessly, we expose ourselves to the governmental dealings of God, because having delivered us in grace, He will not condemn us with the world. (1 Cor. 11:3232But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32).)
The impenitent sinner, acting according to his own self-will, will reap eternally the judgment of God. The impenitent child of God brings himself under the government of God now in the world. The penitent child receives a loving Father's forgiveness. It makes all the difference whether we sin as enemies or children. The relationship of child once established cannot be broken; and God defends His erring ones against the foe. God will never deliver to eternal judgment that one who believes on His Son. But just as a man, though not surprised at the conduct of a badly-brought-up boy in the street, expects his own son to behave differently, so God looks for His children to conduct themselves suitably to the relationship in which His grace has placed them. How blessed, as has often been remarked, to find that though God changes His manner toward His children when they sin, He never changes His heart.
"If any man sin we have an advocate." "If." Mark it well. We ought not to. Sin is not Christ. The world is characterized by the one; the children of God should be characterized by the other. But if we sin, God in His infinite grace has made a perfect provision.
Cease then, trembling one, from your foolish doubts, which dishonor God. Every time a child of God raises a question as to his relationship, he raises a question as to the infinite value of the work of Christ, and of the acceptance of His Person: He has become occupied with himself and his worthiness, of which he never had, and never will have, the smallest particle. Rest then in perfect peace, and true liberty of soul, on the authority of the unchanging word of Him who cannot lie, and enjoy the blessed relationship of a child, crying, "Abba, Father."
E. H. C.