Although obedience requires a new act of the Holy Spirit at each moment, the Westminster Confession of Faith reminds us that we should not use this as an excuse to stop fighting. It is a wise and necessary reminder. It is perhaps inevitable that when fallen human beings are faced with the discouraging news that they cannot get things done, some will come to the conclusion that their sins are, in fact, God’s fault and therefore not. ‘You don’t need to try to live your life obediently. Does it seem that the apostle Paul was used to being asked this very question? “Will we remain in sin so that grace may be more abundant?” (Romans 6. 1)? and his answer was “NO!” It may make sense to human wisdom that if sin somehow opens the floodgates of God’s mercy and releases the sources of grace, then we must sin more for more grace. The Word of God, however, says: “Absolutely not !? One of the saddest mistakes we can witness is that believers use God’s patience and goodness, as well as God’s mercy and grace, as a pretext to sin in a scandalous and flagrant way. However, we must not panic or despair. Since the Holy Spirit completely governs what sins will and will not be committed, even the sins of his immature and wayward children will be used for God’s glory and for their own good.
Only God knows why he tolerates abominable antics? (as Newton called them) from those he saved. However, it is clear in the scriptures that the beauty of the gospel was designed to make us want to obey Jesus more and more, not less and less. The radical forgiveness we have in Jesus allows us to live our lives with confidence and courage, although we still sin a lot every day. However, God’s forgiveness should not be used as a license to yield to debauchery, obscene language, alcoholism, and sexual immorality. When Martin Luther told Philip Melanchthon to “sin courageously,” he had in mind that Melanchthon would recognize the reality of his inner sin, so that he too would pray courageously for God’s grace, rather than actively seeking his desires. Sinners. I am saddened to hear Christians announce their bold sins on behalf of Grace and Martin Luther. The gospel leads us to a deep pain for our sin, combined with great joy in our Savior, but never with a bold and exaggerated appreciation of sin.
- John Newton had no problem examining and proclaiming the believer’s total inability to obey and.
- At the same time.
- Urging each believer to fight for sanctification.
- He said.
- For example:.
It is God’s commandment and therefore his duty; yes, based on the new nature he has given us, his desire is to watch over and work against sin; be willing to mortify the whole body of sin and promote sanctification in their hearts as their primary and constant goal, for which they must have a habitual and persevering consideration.
Elsewhere, Newton wrote
It is a privilege of the believer to walk with God in the exercise of faith and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to mortify the whole body of sin, to obtain a growing victory over the world and on himself, and to make progress every day according to the thought of Christ. And nothing we profess to know, believe, or expect deserves the name of privilege other than the fact that we are influenced to die to sin and live for justice. the point of your acceptance with God, nor will you be satisfied with the distant hope of heaven to come; you will be anxious to know how to glorify God in the world and enjoy those expectations of heaven that are achievable while you are still on earth.
Although we remain in this life bound to a flesh of sin, laden with weakness and totally dependent on God, and though we only make small beginnings in obedience?(As the Heidelberg Catechism explains, question 114), we are also new creatures (2 Corinthians 5,17). The Spirit of God creates new desires in our hearts and, by revealing the fascinating beauty of our Savior, assures us of a growing desire to be like Him. That is why Newton calls us to work hard for our growth, bearing in mind the fact that without Christ we can do nothing; what may seem humanly contradictory is perfectly consistent with the divine plan of redemption and sanctification.
On this subject, Newton was pleased to echo the notes that resonated with the Bible: the scriptures call us to run with all our might (1 Corinthians 9:24) and to face the struggle with all our strength (1 Corinthians 6:12) We do not need to understand all the reasons why God calls us to strive so hard and yet , allows us to fail so often, but we must submit to god’s wisdom and, out of love and gratitude to Him, seek to obey. His commandments. Jesus said, “If you love me, will you keep my commandments?(John 14. 15). In fact, the more we know about the gospel, the more we grow in love and gratitude for Christ, and the more we desire. “attracts and motivates us.