If I’m Free From Sin, Why Do I Sin?
Lately I have been thinking on what it means to be free from sin. When mankind was created, we were sinless, but unfortunately we did not remain that way. Christianity believes man becomes perfect in God’s sight by Jesus’ death. By Jesus dying in our place, God is able to do so. But the declaration that we are righteous is not indicative of the way we behave. It is a judicial statement, like if a criminal was pardoned from their crime. I can praise God for this, but Jesus’ death means much more.
Sin’s reign in the life of one who becomes a Christian is ended. Check this verse out:
“We know that our old self was crucified with him (Jesus) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Romans 6:6)
Praise God! But I still want more. Note that this verse does not say that sin is done away with right now. Struggle still exists. This is the difficulty. The Christian now has the desire to do good, the desire to love God, the desire to keep from what is wrong, but he still lacks the total ability. This is where the perfectionism comes in. I want to be perfect, now, but I cannot be perfect now.
In class the other day, we were discussing mistakes in believing that we can be free from all known sin this side of heaven, and I think some of the ideas explained to me are worthy of mention. If I were to advocate that Christians could be perfect this side of heaven, the results would not be good. This view fails to recognize that the victory over sin is the victory of Christ. Ironically, if I believed I could be made perfect here and now, it would lead to arrogance (something I struggle with enough as it is).
This struggle is in no way new. Paul writes about it:
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”(Romans 7:15)
At the same time, there is a call to be holy in the Bible:
“I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Are these two contradictory? Why are we called to live acceptably to God while we lack the ability to do it fully? I do not think the two are incompatible with each other. We are called to be holy, but if we stumble, we “know we have an advocate, Jesus Christ” (1 John 2:1). The answer to the question is grace. God’s free gift of salvation is offered apart from anything I do, and thank God it is so.
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Hrmm… I like, but where do you draw the line between “grace” and “license to sin?”
And then, too, why should one try at all if “perfection” is unattainable on this side of heaven?
I ask these questions more as a devil’s advocate than anything else… but I’m interested to see what you got.
“May we sin that grace may abound? By no means…” How can we claim a license to sin when we look at the beauty of grace? God has given us a free gift we did not deserve. Is the proper response to mooch off Him? No. A real life example: today I heard a guy speak who had been a drug dealer. He deserved 5 years in prison, but had been avoiding the police. He later became a Christian and turned himself in. When the judge asked why, he said he believed it was the right thing to do. The judge wiped his slate clean. This man was given grace. Now what did he do with that grace? Did he go out and sell drugs again? No, he lived in accordance with the clean slate. In the same way we are made new by Jesus’ death.
I don’t know. all these words like “grace” and “perfection” and “righteous” stir up (for me) thought of man’s more animal nature.
Such pretty words for a species that is pretty much a glorified ape.
I think it must be freeing (in some ways) to be a tiger or a fish or some other animal. They don’t sit around chatting about being given grace. When they narrowly escape a tight spot, they just get the heck away from there. Or maybe they’re dumb. And they don’t. but animals don’t try for perfection. Their aim is to live and bring about progeny.
I’m reminded of a certain character from the play Les Liasons Dangereux. she explains that she has whittled all choices and situations in life into two simple choices: win or die.
How does all that relate to notions of perfection or grace?
Well… I think that the difference between man and ape is (among other things) conscience. I’ve no doubt that it would be easier to live without striving for perfection, but conscience and a sense of morality doesn’t lend to the “simple” life of other animals. It seems to be pretty strong evidence that we are less glorified apes and far more something “completely different.”
How does this relate to notions of perfection and grace? Well, for me at least, it gives a sense of responsibility and desire to “do good.” If I have the awareness of that that is, the desire to do it, and the means to put that into action, I have a responsibility to act upon it (wash, rinse, repeat).
And that leads me to the question of “how much is enough?” What is the standard for my personal ethics or morality? Well, for those really ambitious types like myself, I’d like to do it perfectly. But I can’t. And when I can’t, I need to know a few things: what is keeping me from that, and how is perfection even an option if it is not obtainable? I have a deep sense that things just aren’t the way they were supposed to be. And if they aren’t, how exactly were they supposed to be? How do I get there? Well, grace is the only answer I have found that satisfies both my conscience and my awareness of my own incapability to follow it perfectly.
I feel like I am not making much sense, so please let me know if I need to clarify. At first, I thought the my take on your question would be a lot shorter…
I kind of wish I were a Tiger also.
I also wish I were free of sin, and not just Sin… But, it is still wonderful to be freed from the deep places of sin. And, now I will allow my heart and my flesh to war against each other until the New Heavens and the New Earth… That is such a mouthful.
I wish I were a Tiger…
josh
great post…very thought provoking. as i read the sermon on the mount recently, i thought: “what does Jesus mean when he says we must be perfect?”
i looked up the greek word, and it doesnt mean perfect at all. it means complete, mature, etc. so doesnt this change the entire perspective of “perfectionism”? if we strive to maturity, great. if we strive to be “perfect” we may be burdening ourselves with emotional stress of perfectionism which cannot be fulfilled.
what do you think?
peter
Peter-
It is true that the greek word “teleos” means “complete, mature, ext..” However, the Bible does point to a time (glorification) when sin will be totally done away with. I still wish this state in which there is no sin could be here and now, instead of down the road.
I think your conclusion on how to live here and now is dead on. We should strive for maturity, because “perfection” in the sinless sense is not possible here and now.
“I still wish this state in which there is no sin could be here and now, instead of down the road.”
A Time Without Sin. I like the sound of that.