Remaining Sin in the Believer #2
 

Romans 7:18, "For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature."
Romans 7:21, "So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me."
Romans 7:24, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

The believer in Jesus is a new creation. He has been justified by grace, washed in the blood of the Lamb, adopted into the family of God, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The dominion of sin has been broken. The chains of condemnation have fallen away forever. Yet every true Christian soon discovers a painful reality within himself: though saved from the penalty of sin, he is not yet saved from the presence of sin.

The child of God carries within himself two opposing principles. The flesh wars against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. Galatians 5:17 says, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature." The Christian is not what he once was, but neither is he yet what he shall be.

This remaining corruption is one of the deepest sources of grief to the true believer. The world may mourn over outward troubles, losses, disappointments, and earthly sorrows. But the Christian mourns over his own heart. He sees pride still rising within him. He sees coldness in prayer, wandering thoughts in worship, selfish motives in service, unbelief in trials, impatience under affliction, and sinful desires continually attempting to regain mastery. Like Paul, he groans, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Romans 7:24.

Only the regenerate soul truly hates sin. The unconverted man may fear punishment, but he does not loathe the inward plague of his own heart. The believer, however, longs to be rid of every trace of corruption. Sin has become his burden, his sorrow, and his enemy. He cries with David, "My sin is always before me!" Psalm 51:3.
Yet the presence of remaining sin does not mean the absence of salvation. Dead men do not fight. The very warfare within the believer is evidence of spiritual life. Before conversion, sin ruled unchallenged. The strong man kept the palace in peace. But when Jesus enters the soul, war begins. The believer now possesses holy desires that never existed before. He hungers for righteousness. He longs for holiness. He grieves over sin because he loves God.

The Christian often feels discouraged because of the fierceness of this inward conflict. He expected greater victory, greater purity, greater progress. Instead, he discovers depths of depravity within himself that he never imagined possible. But God allows this painful discovery for wise and gracious purposes.

Remaining sin keeps the believer humble. The Lord will not allow His people to trust in themselves. He teaches them through painful experience that "apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5. Pride is perhaps the most dangerous enemy of the soul, and remaining corruption continually reminds the believer of his desperate dependence upon divine grace.

Remaining sin also magnifies the preciousness of Jesus. The Christian learns that he needs Jesus not merely for conversion, but every moment thereafter. He needs the cleansing blood daily. He needs the interceding High Priest continually. He needs fresh supplies of mercy, strength, grace, and pardon every hour. The believer never outgrows his need for the cross.

How precious then becomes 1 John 2:1, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."

The mature believer is not the man who sees little sin in himself, but the man who sees much sin and much grace. Growth in holiness often produces deeper self-abhorrence. The nearer a man walks with God, the more clearly he sees the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Isaiah cried, "Woe to me!" when he saw the glory of the Lord. Peter fell before Jesus saying, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Luke 5:8.

The Christian life therefore is a life of continual repentance. Not a repentance that doubts salvation, but a repentance flowing from love to God and hatred of sin. The believer daily comes to the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. He daily confesses his failures and flees anew to the finished work of Jesus.

Yet there is glorious hope for every struggling child of God. Remaining sin shall not remain forever. The day is coming when the last battle will be fought. The last temptation will be endured. The last corrupt desire will finally die. At death, the believer's soul is made perfect in holiness. At the resurrection, even the body itself shall be transformed into the likeness of Jesus' glorious body.

What a day that will be! No more wandering thoughts. No more pride. No more unbelief. No more cold affections. No more inward corruption. The believer shall stand faultless before the throne with exceeding joy.

Jude 24 declares, "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy."

The weary Christian fighting against sin should therefore not despair. The conflict itself is evidence that the Spirit of God dwells within him.
Though sin remains, it no longer reigns.
Though corruption still troubles him, it cannot condemn him.
Jesus has already secured the final victory for all His redeemed people.

Soon the warfare shall end forever. Soon every stain of sin shall be removed. Soon the believer shall see His Savior face to face and be perfectly conformed to His image. Until then, the Christian presses onward with humility, repentance, vigilance, and hope--looking unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of his faith.

        (The above article was AI generated.)