SALVATION
FROM THE POWER OF SIN
This is a
present and protracted process, and is as yet incomplete. It is the most
difficult part of our subject, and upon it the greatest confusion of thought
prevails, especially among young Christians. Many there are who, having learned
that the Lord Jesus is the Saviour of sinners, have jumped to the erroneous
conclusion that if they but exercise faith in Him, surrender to His Lordship,
commit their souls into His keeping, He will remove their corrupt nature and
destroy their evil propensities. But after they have really trusted in Him,
they discover that evil is still present with them, that their hearts are still
deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and that no matter how they
strive to resist temptation, pray for overcoming grace, and use the means of
God’s appointing, they seem to grow worse and worse instead of better, until
they seriously doubt if they are saved at all. They are not being saved.
Even when a
person has been regenerated and justified, the flesh or corrupt nature remains within
him, and ceaselessly harasses him. Yet this ought not to perplex hint To the
saints at Rome Paul said, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal
body" (Rom_6:12), which would be entirely meaningless had sin been
eradicated from them. Writing to the Corinthian saints he said, "Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God" (2Co_7:1): obviously such an exhortation is needless if sin
has been purged from our beings. "Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1Pe_5:6):
what need have Christians for such a word as this, except pride lurks and works
within them. But all room for controversy on this point is excluded if we bow
to that inspired declaration, "If we say we have no sin we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1Jo. Rom_1:8).
The old carnal
nature remains in the believer: he is still a sinner, though a saved one. What,
then, is the young Christian to do? Is he powerless? Must he resort to
stoicism, and make up his mind there is naught but a life of defeat before him?
Certainly not! The first thing for him to do is to learn the humiliating truth
that in himself he is "without strength." It was here that Israel
failed: when Moses made known to them the Law they boastfully declared
"all that the Lord has said we will do and be obedient" (Exo_24:7).
AU how little did they realize that "in the flesh there dwelleth no good
thing." It was here, too, that Peter failed: he was self-confident and
boasted that "though all men be offended because of thee, yet will I not
deny thee — how little he knew his own heart. This complacent spirit lurks
within each of us. While we cherish the belief we can "do better next
time" it is evident that we still have confidence in our own powers. Not
until we heed the Saviour’s words "without me ye can do nothing" do
we take the first step toward victory. Only when we are weak (in ourselves) are
we strong.
The believer
still has the carnal nature within him, and he has no strength in himself to
check its evil propensities, nor to overcome its sinful solicitations. But the
believer in Christ also has another nature within him which is received at the
new birth: "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Joh_3:6).
The believer, then, has two natures within him: one which is sinful, the other
which is spiritual. These two natures being totally different in character, are
antagonistic to each other. To this antagonism or conflict the apostle referred
when he said, "The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit
against the flesh" (Gal_5:17). Now which of these two natures is to
regulate the believer’s life? It is manifest that both cannot, for they are contrary
to each other. It is equally evident that the stronger of the two will exert
the more controlling power. It is also clear that in the young Christian the
carnal nature is the stronger, because he was born with it, and hence it has
many years start of the spiritual nature, which he did not receive until he was
born again.
Further, it is
unnecessary to argue at length that the only way by which we can strengthen and
develop the new nature, is by feeding it. In every realm growth is dependent
upon food, suitable food, daily food. The nourishment which God has provided
for our spiritual nature is found in His own Word, for "Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"
(Mat_4:4). It is to this that Peter has reference when he says, "As
newborn babes desire the sincere (pure) milk of the Word, that ye may grow
thereby" (1Pe_2:2). In proportion as we feed upon the heavenly
Manna, such will be our spiritual growth. Of course there are other things
besides food needful to growth: we must breathe, and in a pure atmosphere.
This, translated into spiritual terms, signifies prayer. It is when we approach
the throne of grace and meet our Lord face to face that our spiritual lungs are
filled with the ozone of Heaven. Exercise is another essential to growth, and
this finds its accomplishment in walking with the Lord. If, then, we heed these
primary laws of spiritual health, the new nature will flourish.
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