But What If One Sins?

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We have established that all human beings sin. Should the newly-begotten Christian expect this to continue after baptism? Is perfection achieved overnight by a certain “profession of faith” or by the act of repentance and baptism?

It is not! There is one lengthy passage of scripture that is very helpful on the subject of forgiveness and related matters.

The following verses bear much instruction—but only after first reading all of them. Notice: “… and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.… that your joy may be full. This then is the message … that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 1:3-2:2).

There is much important instruction here. Open your Bible and let’s examine it verse by verse.

1 John 1:3: John, the last living apostle in the Bible, speaking on behalf of all the apostles (“we”), explains that a Christian’s true fellowship is on the spiritual plane with Christ and the Father. It is only through them that Christians can have real, true fellowship with one another, within God’s Church.

1 John 1:4: John’s purpose was to show people the source of real, permanent fullness of joy.

1 John 1:5: The true God represents light—He “is light”—and there is nothing dark about what He does or who He is. The person fellowshipping with the true God of the Bible wants to come to the light and come out of all the darkness of this world.

1 John 1:6: This is the first of six verses beginning with the word “if.” The use of this word always indicates conditions—in this case, those involving free moral agency. Many people claim to “know” God, to fellowship with Him, but they neither know nor practice His TRUTH in their lives. He says this makes them plain liars (1 John 2:4).

1 John 2:7: Christ’s blood continues to cleanse all the sins—the errors, mistakes, weaknesses, and flaws—of the person who is striving to walk in God’s truth—and in fellowship with other true Christians. Though they usually do not intend to, Christians slip and have to get back on track.

1 John 2:8: This verse is very important. Christians need to acknowledge that they sin. It has been my experience that self-deceit (Jer. 17:9) is the single biggest reason most people do not grow and overcome as they should. Self-deceit—lying to yourself—is still deceit. And there is no place for the truth to dwell in such a person!

1 John 2:9-10: 1 John 2:9 is not speaking about the unconverted, carnal-minded, person. For the one who acknowledges and confesses his sins, these verses are self-evident. Jesus Christ is there to wash—to CLEAN UP!—the true Christian when he has momentarily strayed from the light of living by God’s Word and Law. A Christian must learn to overcome. Like learning to play the piano or painting a beautiful picture, this does not happen overnight.

Chapter 2, 1 John 2:1-2: John uses the endearing term, “My little children,” because that is how God looks at His begotten sons and daughters. We are all little children in His sight. He knows He needs to watch over us like human parents watch over their own small children. Though it is God’s intention that we not sin, when we do, Christ stands before the Father as our “Advocate.” As our High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16), Jesus literally “roots” for His younger brothers and sisters in the presence of the Father. He understands what it is like to battle with and overcome sin, and He offers strength and forgiveness to those who acknowledge that they need both.

The next four verses in 1 John 2:1-29 describe the obedient Christian as one who keeps God’s Law and strives to walk and live the same life that Jesus did (1 John 2:6). He is one who “keeps His [God’s] word,” striving not to compromise. He always seeks to do what is right. When you stumble, and sometimes fall down, remember the words of David in Psalm 37:23-24: “The steps of a good man are ordered [established] by the LORD.… Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with His hand.” Like a parent lifting or steadying a child, God regularly picks up and “upholds” His children. Let this wonderful promise of God encourage you when you feel discouraged because you have fallen short in the Christian walk.

What about Death?

Remember, the goal of a Christian is to become like Christ and the Father—to become perfect as God is perfect (Matt. 5:48). What if a person dies before perfection has been achieved? Did such a person fail? Is one lost because he or she did not become completely perfect in this life?

No human being will ever become absolutely perfect while still in the flesh. He should always continue to seek to be—strive to be—like Christ throughout his life.

Perfection is a goal that carries with it a way of life that is to govern one’s every thought, action and word. God looks on the heart, the intention of a person who is yielded to him. As long as he is spiritually growing and overcoming—and led by the Holy Spirit—he remains a converted, begotten son of God. Death changes nothing, since God is in charge of a Christian’s life. Upon a Christian’s death, he merely becomes “asleep in Christ.” He is awaiting the resurrection of all saints into the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50-55; 1 Thes. 4:13-18).

The Unpardonable Sin

So many worry that they may have committed “the unpardonable sin.” I have counselled scores of people who were racked with fear and anxiety because they were concerned, or even sometimes felt “certain,” that they were guilty of this unforgivable sin. After counselling with them, it was always clear that they were not. But it often took much counsel and explanation to reassure them that they had not committed the unpardonable sin.

I have often had to explain that the very act of being concerned is its own proof that one has not gone far enough to be guilty of this sin. The unpardonable sin involves wilful, deliberate, premeditated sin based on a clear and final decision to commit any kind of sin and to remain in it. The key—the core—attitude is wilful. Yes, many do sin willingly—but that is far different from sinning wilfully.

Every time people sin, they are, of course, willing to do what they did. But they were usually overcome by some kind of temptation or circumstance that allowed them to slip. They were soon very sorry for what they had done. While this does not ever lessen the seriousness of sin, if one is sorry about his actions and wants to change—wants to repent and to be forgiven—and this is accompanied by the determination to do better the next time, then he is far from having committed the unpardonable sin.

God is merciful and even eager to forgive you—upon heartfelt repentance! He says that He wants you, and all those whom He calls, to succeed (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4). While Satan tempts people, hoping for failure, God periodically tests His servants, hoping—even expecting—for them to succeed. Remember, God does not ever want anyone to fail!

So, if you are concerned that you have committed the unpardonable sin, then you still care and, therefore, have not committed it! If you have not wilfully, deliberately, turned from Christ, then you have not committed the unpardonable sin! If you have yielded to temptation, and broken one or more of God’s laws, acknowledge and confess it to God. You may still repent, change, and continue on the path to eternal life in the kingdom of God!

Do not give up! Do not quit! King Solomon wrote, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Prov. 24:10), and, “For a just man falls seven [here, the Hebrew word means many] times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief” (Prov. 24:16). Do not ever “draw back” (Heb. 10:38-39).

Twice, Christ said, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13; 10:22). A Christian is not automatically saved at baptism and conversion. If you fall down, get up—seek God, repent, and go on! God will continue to uphold you if you continue to ENDURE!

Knowing Your Opponent All are familiar with what is commonly called human nature. The Bible has much to say about it. The one who is going to overcome temptation and sin must understand that he has to address and defeat human nature to be successful!

But what is HUMAN NATURE? Why does it exist? Where did it come from? Did God create it? Why is it so selfish and evil? Few have understood this subject. Next, we will study the truth of why people think and act as they do.

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