"The plain truth is that a right knowledge of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity. Without it such doctirnes as justification, conversion, sanctification, are 'words and names' which convey no meaning to the mind.The first thing, therefore, that God does when He makes anyone a new creature in Christ, is to send light into the heart and show him that he is a guilty sinner. ... I believe that one of the chief wants of the church in the nineteenth century has been, and is, clearer, fuller teaching about sin." - John Charles Ryle
This quote is from "Holiness", a classic book written by JC Ryle. It's a must read for the Body of Christ in our day.
Every person ever born in this world will have to answer for their sins. I thank the Lord for taking my sins upon His perfect body, so that He has already answered for them, and I won't have to.
What a gracious Lord and Savior we have.
10 comments:
I believe that one of the chief wants of the church in the nineteenth century has been, and is, clearer, fuller teaching about sin."
If that was JC Ryle's concern in the 19th century, what do you think he would say about the 21st?
Great post, Don. We need to boldly embrace as a right doctrine of sin, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us.
Don and Greg;
I have to disagree with you.
The sinners of this world do not need to be told, that they are totally depraved and utterly sinful.
It is like a Hospital full of sick people; they all know that they are sick and do not need to be told over and over again that they are sick.
But what they need to know is (the good news), that there is a master physician in the Hospital, by the name of Jesus, who can heal every sickness and disease! If they call him, they surely are healed.
The same is with sin.
If you preach sin, sin is magnified!
If you preach the Lord Jesus, Jesus Christ is magnified!
Greg; we do not need the right doctrine of sin.
We need the right doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanks for stopping by Paul.
But we'll have to disagree.
Jesus came to call sinners to repent and believe.
He said if your eye causes you to sin, then pluck it out.
Better to be blind in heaven, then have both eyes in hell.
People are not sick and need healing; they are sinners and need to be holy.
God is holy, and He demands perfect holiness.
Jesus lived a perfect sinless life, and the Father said, "This is My Beloved Son, and I am well pleased with Him".
We can't live that life, which is required to enter the Father's presence. He hates sin, and will judge every one.
We need the forgiveness of Christ's blood and broken body for our sins, and we need His righteousness imputed to us.
2 Cor. 5:21
Greg, thanks bro.
Paul,
I appreciate the debate, and thank you for sharing your thoughts. Let me say 2 things:
1) I couldn't agree with you more that we must be passionate about proclaiming the glories and excellencies of the Savior- right on, brother!
2) But I must passionately disagree with you about "not needing a right doctrine of sin." Consider the book of Romans. Paul spends the bulk of the first three chapters detailing the nature, scope and results of sin. He did this BEFORE sketching out the glorious truth of Christ as the propitiation for our sins. In order to magnify Christ's victory over sin, sin must be exposed.
Don;
Everything you have said has been achieved and accomplished by the Lord Jesus at Calvary.
In Christ everyone has repented, believes, and is perfect and holy in His presence. None of His children are sinners, because they all stand in His righteousness, and the Lord has not imputed sin to them. Rom. 4:8
Outside of Christ everyone is a sinner, unholy, desperately wicked and can NOT repent or believe and be holy. They are dead in sin and trespasses, and dead people can NOT meet the demand of the Lord, no matter how many times you ask them to repent of their sins.
They need the good news, that Jesus is the only one who gives life to the ungodly as a free gift and not on a hidden condition of repentance of their sins.
Greg;
On Romans; I fully agree with you!
About the right doctrine of sin;
A sinner does not need to know and understand exactly and in details the right doctrine of sin.
Anyway, who would have the right doctrine of sin? Is it you? Me? or the Pope?
I don’t know!
But what I know is that Jesus came to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin righteousness and judgment. John 16:8
So then, when a man preaches Jesus Christ, the Lord will do the rest.
"None of His children are sinners,"
Paul said he was sure of two things that Christ saved him, and that he was the chief sinner. In fact he said, "I am the chief of sinners".
That goes for me to.
I am imputed the righteousness of Christ. Amen.
And I am at the same time a sinner.
Jesus surely bore every one of my sins, past present and future, and I am forever grateful.
Don;
That Paul was the chief sinner that is true.
That Paul is the chief of sinners that is NOT true.
No sinner has an inheritance in Christ, and surely not a chief sinner.
Don, you should not amalgamate the two!
The Scripture tells us, that he who is in Christ is a NEW creation, old things have passed away behold all things are new. 2 Cor. 5:17
So then, he who is in Christ is a brand NEW man and is NOT a sinner!
Jesus has created out of the same lump of dirt or ‘clay’ new creations, born again believers, children of Christ and in the likeness of Christ, spotless and without wrinkles who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, so that we might show forth His praises.
You said;
Jesus surely bore every one of my sins, past, present and future, and I am forever grateful.
Jesus did the same for me, just like you, I am forever grateful to our wonderful Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
"That Paul is the chief of sinners that is NOT true."
Then you disagree with the Apostle Paul.
We'll have to disagree.
I'm a sinner saved by grace.
I am righteous and a sinner simultaneously. Rom. 7:25
If Paul was, then how much more are we.
Don;
It is very simple! Paul WAS a sinner or the chief sinner, but NOT in the new birth or in the new creation.
You can not be a sinner and holy at the same time. If so, you would be called a holy sinner, which is an impossibility and a contradiction.
Or as you call yourself, a righteous sinner!
No Don! Somebody has told you a lie.
A sinner can not see God.
Only a holy person can see God. Heb. 12:14
And such we are, a holy nation and a holy people belonging to God. 1Peter 2:9 and Eph. 5:3
It is very important for every believer to know their standing in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I think, I better quit before I have overstayed my welcome.
I know that the Lord will bless you richly!
"It is very simple! Paul WAS a sinner or the chief sinner,"
That's not what the Apostle said.
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"
Amen
"of whom I AM chief". -Paul
Paul, who was such a godly servant of the Lord, was so godly, because he knew how sinful he was:
As all good saints should come to understand, hopefully.
I am as righteous as I will ever be. My righteousness is Christ's imputed to me.
And my sins are as forgiven as they ever will be, (as far as the East is from the West), washed in the precious blood of the Lamb.
And yet i sin every day, and even every hour.
Though these sins are forgiven, they are sin.
I myself obey the law of sin and death, and my inner man obeys the law of Christ. Rom. 7:25
When I finally reach glory, then I will be whole. I will be pure. And I will not be a sinner any longer.
HALLELUJAH!
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