I suppose a majority of the unregenerate souls in this world are under the impression that once a person comes to faith in Christ, they sin no more. That’s not what the Bible teaches. Just read Romans 7:14-25. The Apostle Paul states he did what he didn’t allow himself to do. The things he wanted to do, he didn’t. The things he hated were the things he did. Why? He did so because of sin. When he wanted to do good, evil was present with him. It’s no different for any person who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ today.
We don’t want to sin, and yet we do. The question is what do we do once we have sinned? Do we stay there, or do we repent? The Bible says in Proverbs 24:16…
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
What does that mean? Simply this…a true Christian will sin, but will repent, get right with God and rise up again. Not so with the wicked. A person with an unregenerate heart, even one professing to know Christ, will sin (fall into mischief) and stay there making excuses and blaming others in an attempt to remove the responsibility for sin from himself and shifting it to others.
Something else we need to realize is that there are consequences to our sin and they don’t only affect us. Sin is far reaching. David, king of Israel, sinned and tried to cover it up. He found out the hard way that a man’s sins will find him out.
Numbers 32:23 …behold, ye have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.
What did David do after his sin found him out? He repented of his sin and rose up again. Read Psalm 51. It is here we read of his repentance before Holy God. A broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart is what God is looking for. When that happens in the life of the Christian, God will be pleased with his sacrifices.
Though David repented of his sin and the LORD forgave him; though he was restored to right fellowship with God, yet there were consequences that he and his family had to live with the rest of his life. David had given the enemies of God occasion to blaspheme His Holy name. His youngest son died and the sword never departed from David’s house, meaning there was always strife and envy between the members of his family.
Understand that sin deserves the full wrath of God. According to the word of God, sin must be dealt with. God is a just God and He is neither unfair, nor unjust to exact upon a man that which he rightly deserves. However, God is a God of mercy as well. It is not wrong for Him to extend His mercy as He pleases. His justice and His mercy are not at odds with one another. They do not war against one another. Rather they are in perfect harmony as are all His attributes.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
In reference to the true believer who has sinned, is God wrong to forgive him of his sin? No! Here’s why not. His sin was justly dealt with on the Cross of Calvary. He didn’t get a free pass for his sins. Jesus Christ paid the full price for that sin, and now the believer is no longer a servant to sin, nor is he the master of his own ship…he was bought with a price and is a servant to Christ…a child of God. As such, God will chasten those who are His when they sin.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Yes, as Christians, we will be chastened for our sin, yet in repentance, there is nothing wrong with asking for mercy. The people of Israel, God’s chosen nation, had sinned against God in worshipping idols and false gods. God sent His prophets to warn the people that failure to repent would result in the severe chastening of the Lord.
They rejected the prophets and in so doing, rejected God. He chastened them hard. Habakkuk, one of God’s prophets, prayed this prayer as the chastening hand of God came upon Israel…
Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
God is a merciful God. He hears the penitent prayers of His people. He will show mercy upon whom He will show mercy and compassion upon whom He will show compassion. Concerning God’s mercy, A.W. Tozer wrote, “To receive mercy we must first know that God is merciful. And it is not enough to believe that He once showed mercy to Noah or Abraham or David and will again show mercy in some happy future day. We must believe that God’s mercy is boundless, free and, through Jesus Christ our Lord, available to us now in our present situation.”
The publican in Luke 18:13-14 recognized he was a sinner in need of a Savior and he cried out for the mercy of God. God was merciful and he went to his house justified or in right standing with God.
If you are saved and presently struggling with sin, go to Christ in repentance and faith and seek His mercy. Otherwise, you will suffer the consequences of your sin and it won’t be only you who suffers. Your family, as well as your friends, will suffer along with you.
If you have an unregenerate heart, yet realize you are a sinner and your sin is against a Holy God, whose wrath is abiding on you right now, seek Christ while he may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. Forsake your own wicked way and unrighteous thoughts and turn unto the Lord. Cry out to Him for mercy…and He will have mercy on you and will abundantly pardon you. He will take out that stony heart and replace it with a heart of flesh. He will quicken your spirit, give you the gifts of repentance and faith and save your soul. Whoever comes to Christ will not be cast out.
