I RECALL when my pastor delivering a powerful series of messages going through the Book of Galatians dealing with the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Believers life: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)
THESE are the very things we’ve been looking at the past several months regarding our Position in Christ. We continue now in Chapter 25 regarding Sin and Purged Conscience, picking up where we left off last week. I’m going to limit my comments today, opting to present a little larger portion of our author’s content where he provides yet deeper explanation for our understanding our condition and our position, and the outworking of both.
IN the joy of the Lord,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
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Chapter 25—Sin and Purged Conscience Continued
The spiritually minded believer is conscious of sin in him, but he is fully assured that there is no sin on him; all of his sin has been laid upon the Lord Jesus. Although his condition is needy, for he is indwelt by the principle of sin, he lives in his position in Christ. His constant resources for spiritual growth are received from on high. He knows his freedom to “come boldly unto the throne of grace” in order that he may “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
When the growing believer sins, his conscience and his communion with the Father being thereby disturbed, he freely confesses his sin. He knows that the Lord Jesus “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). He also has recourse to the truth that when he does sin he has “an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Hence a pure conscience and communion are restored and maintained, and he is free to continue his fellowship with the Father and the Son. He has learned that “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 cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Condition
The condition-centered Christian has no other recourse but to fight against indwelling sin, and thus seek to control self as best he can. Added to this intolerable burden is the frustrating fact that God does not seem to help him in this endeavor. He is immersed in the defeat of Romans Seven. He battles here below, only to lose; he should rest above, where he is sure to win.
One of the chief reasons so many believers are spiritually ill (as well as mentally and physically) is a guilty, oppressed conscience. They are laboring under the burden of their unrighteous condition, rather than resting in the liberty of their righteous position. Sad to say, there aren’t many of God’s people today who know anything at all about a “pure,” a “perfect,” conscience. Countless Christians, including those who are awakened and hungry to grow, are bound by a bad conscience. They are honestly aware of their sinful condition, but are only vaguely aware of their perfect position.
This chapter has to do with the basic reason for the guilty conscience, which is the indwelling principle of sin. The next chapter will deal with the product of that principle, sins committed. First the cause, then the effect. There is a tremendous paradox in the Christian who, although redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ from the penalty and tyranny of sin, nevertheless is rendered spiritually helpless and useless by an overwhelming burden of guilt.
We are thinking of the hungry-hearted Christian who is awakened to the sin of self, since he is the only one who is ready (prepared by the Holy Spirit) to be freed from this guilty condition. Awareness of need is the primary motivation for intelligent faith. Is this not the cry of the honest, struggling guilt-ridden believer?: “…I do not understand my own actions—I am baffled, bewildered. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns] … However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home m me and has possession of me” (Rom. 7:15, 17 Amp.). Here is the progressing believer who sees his condition, but not as yet his position.
Position
There is but one place in which faith can rest, and that is in our Lord Jesus, where the Father has positioned us. And it is only in that abiding place that our conscience can be clear with regard to indwelling sin. Our guilt cannot be relieved through removal of the sin within, because that principle will be present as long as we reside in our unredeemed body. Nor is there hope of relief through improvement of self, since in the flesh there dwells no good thing to improve.
There was also the problem of a guilty conscience prior to Calvary. Then, into the holy place made with hands “went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people … which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience … But Christ being come an high priest … by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands … neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9:7, 9, 11, 12).
Yes, our Lord Jesus “appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself“ (Heb. 9:26). “…We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all … But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God … For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:10, 12, 14). As new creations in Christ Jesus, we have been redeemed from the penalty of indwelling sin; further, we have been sanctified (separated) from the domination of that same principle of sin. We have sin in us, but not on us; always indwelling, but never imputed!
It is essential to know how definitely and thoroughly God dealt with this principle of sin, especially since its presence within us is so burdensome. “…God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3). The principle of sin has not been forgiven, it has not been cleansed; neither has it been improved, nor removed. But, thanks be unto God it has been condemned by the crucifixion of the cross. In His flesh, our Lord Jesus condemned the sin in our flesh. Thus condemned, there can now be no condemnation for us.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus … For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:1, 2). It is due to this blessed fact that our conscience finds peace, and is purged from the guilt of indwelling sin.
It should not be difficult for us to make the correct choice between the consciousness of our condition, and the revelation of our position. If, because of feelings and lack of scriptural knowledge, we put more stock in our condition than our position, we will continue to labor under the intolerable burden of a defiled conscience. But if we agree with God concerning His condemnation of the old man, there is a perfectly peaceful conscience for us in the matter of indwelling sin. It is the infinite difference between our telling Him what we are in ourselves (condition), or heeding His testimony as to what we are in His Son (position). The former means guilt and enslavement, the latter freedom and growth.
At Calvary, when our Lord Jesus was made to be sin for us, He was crucified and thereby sin was condemned. …….to be continued
