The Continuing Problem of Sin in Believers

The Continuing Problem of Sin in Believers

In Romans 4, Paul teaches that salvation from sin is by grace. He uses two outstanding Godly men from the Old Testament as examples to New Testament believers to demonstrate the reality of salvation through grace imputing righteousness to believing sinners.

One example is Abraham, saved and sanctified by faith in the coming Christ, 430 years before the Law was given. This shows again the observance of the Law, the Ten Commandments, is not the means of salvation or sanctification.

The second example, King David, is pictured as enjoying the blessing of salvation apart from any works to merit such grace. Indeed, Paul utilizes King David when he is least worthy of being blessed, right after his restoration from his ugly sin with Bathsheba! Lust, lies, adultery and murder have just been wiped from David’s record by the mercy of God.

Paul quotes King David from Psalm 32 in his teaching the truth of salvation by grace through the death of Christ for all sins:

Psalm 32

¹ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.² Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputes not iniquity,

 The Apostle Paul was a “wise master builder” so we must understand that he purposefully omitted part of verse 2 from Psalm 32. We can understand this omission when we remember Paul is limiting his teaching here in Romans 4 to how a person receives eternal righteousness through faith. He is not at this time, teaching how such faith is to be lived out.

Paul’s omission from Psalm 32:2 reads; “and in whose spirit there is no guile.” The reason he left this out is because sin continues to live in every believer, even though we are justified from all things forever. The imputation of righteousness does not eradicate the old sinful impulses as the new believer soon learns by experience if not by the Word.

 

This “guile” (many translations use the term “deceit”) is the characterization of the sin nature we were all born with. It is that innate power within us which always seeks its own way and is entirely resistant to God in every way, always. The venom of the Old Serpent entered the blood stream of our original parents in the Garden and it continues to taint the bloodstream of all who are born of them. Our glorification with Christ in Heaven will include then, and only then, the eradication of our sinful nature.

Even after conversion, our old man, our sin nature, is cunningly devising ways to gain control of our bodies AGAIN in defiance of all we (the new persons in Christ) hold precious. This old nature is dead in God’s eyes, as it died with Christ. Death here does not mean ceasing to be active, but rather separated from God. Christ cried out in agony of spirit, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” That is when we died with Him, separated as sinners with Him, the perfect sacrifice.

 

Then we rose as new creations, when He arose. This is how God now views us; perfect, seated already in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We are in Jesus forever and be sure there is no sin in Jesus. We can celebrate this wonderful deliverance from sin and death every day and be strengthened by the joy of our salvation for the on-going battle against indwelling sin. Remember Paul when describing the battle between the new and old natures within every believer, states twice in Romans 7 it is not the “real” me, the “new me” that sins.

(Romans 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. Romans 7:20: Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.)

So the Apostle Paul, with the precision of a skilled surgeon, uses the Word of God to teach the security and blessedness of all God’s justified children. Yet he leaves room for the operation of the Spirit of God to teach us the further truths of sanctification. Let us arm ourselves with truth for winning the inner battle to the glory of God