dealing with sin: part 3
Man’s complete ruin in sin (cf. Romans 3:9-20)
As we’ve covered in Parts 1 and 2, the specific things you do might be different, but we’re all sinful. The bible informs us that, for our sins, we’re due the wrath of a just and holy God; the wages of sin is death. Hell is all about eternally suffering the righteous judgment of the king we’re born rebelling against. And mankind is born into a hellbound race.
Sin has other impacts, as well. It introduces physical death and disease. It keeps us from true joy, because that is found only in worshipful relationship with our Creator. It makes our minds hostile and futile in thinking. It introduces guilt and shame. All of creation, without exception, is corrupted.
And we can’t save ourselves, no matter how much good we do. As John Piper puts it, the height of our sin is measured by the dignity of the one against whom we sin. In the case of God, it is an infinite dignity.
Do you believe it? Do you see yourself as hopelessly sinful, and utterly unable to stand righteous again before the true, sovereign, holy God of the universe? Do you desperately desire reconciliation to him?
The doctrine of justification (cf. Romans 3:21-end)
Because the bible also explains that the holy God of the universe, in the pursuit of displaying his own perfect grace and kindness, provides the solution to man’s ruin in sin. It is Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man. He’s been tempted as we are, but without sin. And so he is the only man who has ever been worthy, by his own merit, to stand righteous before God. Yet he, the son of triune God, goes to the cross. There, in his death, he takes upon himself all the sin and guilt—and deserved wrath—of whom? of all who fall before him, begging and trusting in him for redemption. And it’s given! The faithful, in turn, are counted as righteous. In this way, those placing their faith in his work, death, and resurrection are reconciled to this holy, just, gracious, kind, and sovereign God. He takes our sin, and we get counted as righteous. Thus, salvation is given to those for whom Christ is personal Lord and Savior.
Why the gospel again? I thought we were talking about the believers’ struggles with sin. (cf. Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 15)
Because Christ’s work is the only way sin can be dealt with. Of course we’re going to fail! Of course we’re going to chase after idols. Of course we’re going to be like the prodigal son and run after worldly things. Of course we’re going to break God’s law and fall desperately short of perfection. Of course we’ll feel guilty. That’s the whole point of the cross! That’s why it’s so necessary! And that is the totality of Christ’s victory over sin and death; he pays for all of it. It’s not “alright, here’s your last chance. If you succumb to temptation again, you’re going to run out of grace.” There’s no condemnation.
Because you need to be reminded that it’s not about what you do, but about what Christ did at the cross. And it’s totally based on his pursuit of his own glory, not our worth! In getting us, did God gain anything valuable? Of course not. But in the gospel there is also this profoundly deep demonstration of his perfect, specific love for each and every one of the faithful.
And there is no greater fuel for our pursuit of holiness than the gospel. Do not see the gospel as a one-time repentance, get-it-get-saved-move-on deal. We need to be continually repenting. We need to be continually reminding ourselves of what happened at Calvary. And the glimpses of God’s glory that we get in the Word, and the gospel therein, are our motivation to keep fighting sin. And his grace is the mechanism.
Take heart, for he has overcome the world!
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