Sin Boldy!

Can we really be saved even in our sin? Paul believes so, and he teaches us to believe the same.

"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (Galatians 5:5)

As the apostle Paul wraps us his argument - grace is better than the law - he reminds us that the law drives us to performance while grace teaches us to hope in our future righteousness: Jesus. 

Many Christians have attempted to reconcile the relationship between sin and grace. Some believe that we can only be saved if we are completely sinless. Others believe we must keep the law while believing in Jesus. Some even teach that we will grow into perfection and actually reach a point of complete sinlessness in this life. On the other extreme, some teach that we are free to sin all we want. But this is not what Paul taught us.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Paul taught us that Jesus Christ died for us while we were in a complete state of sin and wickedness. There was absolutely nothing lovable about us, yet the Trinity found it acceptable to redeem us.

But the most difficult part to understand and accept is our life of continuing sin once we are saved. What about that wickedness? Does Jesus death cover all our sin, past, present, and future?

Some say no. These people are the same that teach us to "try harder" to be better people; "do better" following God's law. They teach us that God will only forgive our past sin and now we must live in a perfect state of lawfulness. These people can rightly be called "Galatian Heretics".

The gospel clearly teaches that we can do nothing to improve our state; all transformation is the product and working of the Trinity alone. And while it is true that I can change myself to an extent, I can never produce a saving change of character. I can stop lying, I can stop cheating, I can stop stealing, I can stop cursing, but anyone can do these things. You don't need Jesus to be a better person. We need Jesus to be cleansed of our sin.

God has given us Christians, who believe in Jesus by faith, his Spirit to live in us, dwell in us, and work in us. And by the Spirit of God we patiently hope for our future righteousness. You see, we are saved and yet in sin. We are declared righteous by Jesus, yet we have not received the fullness of this righteousness. We look forward to a day when we will be fully redeemed, fully righteous, without sin, living with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit where they are.

Nobody understood this better than Martin Luther, who kick-started the reformation with his famous 95 thesis.

Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. (Let Your Sins Be Strong, Martin Luther, 1521)

I would encourage you to read the whole letter in context. In it you will gain a much better understanding of his argument. But the bottom line is this: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (I Timothy 1:15). Paul believed he was the chief of all sinners, yet he was saved, was being saved, and will be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)

But what, is this just a huge license to sin? Should we all run out into the streets right now and have a big sin fest? No. We have not been called into lawlessness, but into the law of love. More on that later.

For now, understand this: The good that you do is no good at all unless it is God who works within you to goodness. "Trying harder" and "Doing better" do not please God, neither do they produce any spiritual change. So lay your works down and cease from attempting to make yourself a better person. Only God through Christ empowered by the Spirit can change you.

You are a sinner saved by grace through faith. So have confidence that God will never leave you nor forsake you... even in your sin.

Pecca Fortiter!