Sin "in" the Flesh and Sin "on" the Conscience (PART ONE)

(PART ONE)


It is of the utmost importance that we accurately distinguish between sin "in" the flesh, and sin "on" the conscience. If we confound these two our souls must necessarily be unhinged, and our worship marred. An attentive consideration of 1 John 1:8-10 will throw much light upon this subject, the understanding of which is so essential.


There is no one who will be so conscious of indwelling sin, as the man or woman who walks in the light. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." In the verse immediately preceding, we read, "the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin." Here the distinction between sin "in" us, and sin "on" us, is fully brought out and established. To say that there is sin "on" the believer, in the presence of God, is to call in question the purging efficacy of the blook of Jesus, and to deny the truth of the divine record. If the blood of Jesus can perfectly purge, then the believer's conscience is perfectly purged. The Word of God thus puts the matter; and we must ever remember that it is from God Himself we are to learn what the true condition of the believer is, in His sight. We are more disposed to be occupied in telling God what we are in ourselves, than to allow Him to tell us what we are in Christ. In other words, we are more taken up with our own self-consciousness than with God's revelation of Himself. God speaks to us on the ground of what He is in Himself, and of what He has accomplished in Christ. Such is the nature and character of His revelation, of which faith takes hold, and thus fills the soul with perfect peace. God's revelation is one thing; my conscious is quite another.


But the same Word which tells us we have no sin "on" us, tells us, with equal force and clearness, that we have sin "in" us. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Everyone who has "truth" in him, will know that he has sin "in" him, likewise; for truth reveals everything as it is. What, then, are we to do? It is our privilege so to walk in the power of the new nature (that is, the Holy Spirit), that the "sin" which dwells in us may not manifest itself in the form of "sins." The Christian's position is one of victory and liberty. He is not only delivered from the guilt of sin, but also from sin as a ruling principle in his life. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin ...  Let not sin therefore "reign" in your mortal body, that ye should "obey" it in the lusts thereof ... For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under "grace." (Romans 6:6-14). Sin is there in all its native vileness, but the believer is "dead" to it. How? He died in Christ. By nature he was dead "in" sin. By grace he is dead "to" it. What claim can anything or any one have upon a dead man or woman? None whatever. Christ "died unto sin once," and the believer died in Him. "Now if w be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him; knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God." What is the result of this, in reference to believers? Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Such is the believer's unalterable position before God, so that it is his holy privilege to enjoy freedom from sin as a ruler over him, though it be a dweller in him.


But then, "if any man sin", what is to be done?" The inspired apostle furnishes a full and most blessed answer: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Confession is the mode in which the conscience is to be kept free. The apostle does NOT say, "If we pray for pardon, He is gracious and merciful to forgive us." No doubt, it is ever happy for a child to breathe the sense of need into the Father's ear - to tell Him of feebleness, to confess folly, infirmity, and failure. All this is most true; and, moreover, it is equally true that our Father is most gracious and merciful to meet His children in all their weakness and ignorance; but, while all this is true, the Holy Spirit declares, by the apostle, that "if we confess," God is "faithful and just to forgive." Confession therefore is the divine mode. A Christian, having erred in thought, word, or deed, might pray for pardon for days and months together, and not have any assurance, from 1 John 1:9, that he was forgiven; whereas, the moment he truly confesses his sin before God, it is a simple matter of faith to know that he is perfectly forgiven, and perfectly cleansed.


~C. H. Mackintosh~


(this is part one. Part two follows and is most important)