CHRISTIAN PERFECTION (FACT OR FABLE?) AND REPENTANCE
One of the most disputed issues in theology and in the church is the extent to which a Christian can overcome sin. Do we as Christians reach a state where we no longer sin or are we bound to be living a life where in the week we fill up our sin bucket, and then we come to church on Sunday to be cleansed and “lay it all at the foot of the cross”, and then we go back into the week to repeat the cycle?
Which of these is the normal pattern that represents the Christian life until we get our Resurrection bodies? What should be our expectation and standard and what are we really accountable for, before God? When are we being legalistic and when are we succumbing to cheap Grace?
A DEEPER LOOK AT THE BOOK OF ROMANS
Some of the most significant chapters in this regard are Romans 1 to 8. In these chapters you find all the key truths that foundationally explain your salvation and the role of repentance and discipleship.
However, if you read Romans 7 versus Romans 8 there is a different emphasis and people disagree about how these emphases are related.
In Romans 7 Paul describes himself in the following way:
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. (Rom 7:14-19)
Now, depending on where you stand on this issue as a Christian you may say, “Wow! I feel such comfort there, because what I’m experiencing Paul experienced.” On the other hand, you might be on the other side of the debate, saying, “No no no! This is not describing Paul as a Christian. Paul is just talking in the present tense about his life before Christ.”
There is a clear dispute and the way you see this affects how you relate to yourself and what you expect from yourself, as well as what you think God expects from you, as you live out your Christian faith.
Now both sides on the issue will know the beginning of the next chapter, which is a much more victorious sounding:
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-4)
So Romans 7 emphasizes the struggle and Romans 8 the victory and the issue is not that either of these groups don’t see both chapters and subscribe to their content. It is the emphasis and the sense of timing that is accorded to Romans 7 versus Romans 8 that causes the disagreement.
If you are more in the triumphant, positive confession group and you have more of a theology of Glory or a realized theology (meaning that the future Kingdom is realised; it’s already happening now), you will definitely see Roman’s 7 as describing Paul’s past life and it being completely inappropriate to suggest Paul was using it to describe any of his presence struggles. Romans 8, the victorious emphasis, becomes the normal Christian walk and Romans 7 describes your past life. If you ever experience that, it’s seen as a real aberration; a complete backsliding
If you fall more into the “grace group” you will see Romans 7 as the normal experience of Christians on their way to maturity and Romans 8 with its victory more as a promise that you do experience now in a deposit form, but will only fully realise when you get your Resurrection body.
The dispute is not easily resolved.
A SIMILAR TENSION IN 1 JOHN
One can see a similar tension in 1 John Chapter 1 versus 2.
If you read 1 John chapter 1 it sounds much more like we are still struggling with our sin:
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1Jn 1:5-10)
Verse 10 is the end of 1 John and we can go straight into the beginning of 1 John chapter 2, verse 1 to 6, which is much more focused on victory:
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (1Jn 2:1-6).
RESPECTING THE TENSION AND MYSTERY
It is possible to focus on the struggle in the Christian walk and focus on Romans 7 and 1John 1 at the expense of Romans 8 and 1John 2, or vice versa. The real problem is not with the Scriptures but with our propensity to reduce the tensions and mysteries in scripture to categories that we can understand and control. We need to intentionally resist this human bent.
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (34) “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (35) “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (36) For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Rom 11:33-36).
