Hope For the Sinning Saint
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Hebrews 10:1-4, 8-18
I recently had the privilege to sit in on a bible study for middle school guys. Amidst the chaos that courses through the veins of twelve year-old boys and the regular interruptions that flow from it, a question was asked that hit me square in the chest. The study they were following asked something along the lines of “How do you respond when you fall into temptation?” I was honest with them and spoke about how this question has been very difficult for me recently.
In my own life, the question of sinning and sanctification has been a consistent challenge. I asked my friend Connor to write on the subject and he published “Sinners and Saints” last week which I found really helpful. One line in Connor’s article really stuck out to me: “Our sin is very present in our lives, but it points to a gracious and loving Savior who came to take the punishment for us so that we might be called saints.”
His treatment of the subject is incredibly helpful and I would encourage you to read it if you haven’t. While his article focused more generally on our two titles (sinner and saint), I would like to take a look at how this dynamic works itself out in daily life. What does a Christian need to hear in the moment of failure? What hope is there for the saint who has sinned?
The Bible is clear about sin. It is the path of the fool (Prov 13:19), it leads to destruction (Prov 14:12), it’s fruit is death (James 1:15), it merits the angry wrath of God (Rom. 1:18), it is the work of Satan (1 John 3:8), it has separated us from a relationship with God (Isa 59:2), it is rebellion (Deut. 9:7), it is idolatry (Ex 32), it is to look for satisfaction beyond God (Jer 2). When we come to the Bible, we are taught that sin is not a trifling thing. It is a devouring disease spread across thousands of years of history that has been conquered only by the blood of God Himself made flesh.
How then, can a saint, someone who has been made a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), who has died to sin (Rom 6:11), who has been raised to newness of life (Rom. 6:4), who has been declared righteous (Rom 4:3), who has tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8), who calls even God their Father (Gal 4:6), ever give themselves over willingly to sin? This dynamic can cause even the strongest in the faith to doubt. Passages like 1 John 3:9, which say that those who continue in sin are not born of God, do not help ease the tension. But, there is hope for us who have been saved and yet sin: the blood of Jesus that was shed once and only once.
The author of Hebrews gives the sinful saint a great cause for hope. He prompts us to look at the Jews of the Old Testament, specifically to the practice of animal sacrifice. Every year, according to Leviticus 16, the High Priest would sacrifice a bull for his sin and a goat for the sins of all the people of Israel. It was to be a grand and bloody representation of the justice of God to punish sin. As the author of Hebrew reminds us, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Heb 9:22)
Jesus’ death is different. He doesn’t come down to earth annually to be killed for the sins that piled high during the year. In fact, the author notes that after his death he sat “until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.” The point is simple but so profound. Christ’s death atoned for our sins once and for all. If you are a saved person, one who has had salvation applied to them by the great grace of God, then there is no future sacrifice. There is no future penance. There is no future fear.
When a saint sins, it is natural to feel grief. It is natural to feel that “I am not worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:19) Sin is detestable and disgusting and it is completely logical to regret doing it and to be sorrowful for rebelling against such a good God. But, in the time of despair and doubt and sorrow, cast your eyes to Jesus who is seated at the right hand of the Father. Ask Him if he needs to die once again for your sins. Ask Him if this sin was known upon the cross. Ask Him if this is enough to remove you from the Presence of God.
The answer is so simple we may miss its incredible wonder. His death was for every sin you have, are, and will commit. He does not rise from the throne to make a new sacrifice because his death was sufficient. While sorrow and godly grief are natural reactions to sin, our first action must be to look upon Jesus who has already paid the price for the sin we just committed. “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!”
I’ve quoted my favorite hymn on this site several times, but it is especially relevant now. When I fall to sin and feel unworthy and unwelcome before God it is this hymn that I sing and I hope you would join me wherever you are in holding its truth dear:
Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea
The Great High Priest whose name is Love, whoever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart
I know that while in Heaven He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart,
no tongue can bid me thence depart
When Satan tempts me to despair, tells me of the guilt within
upward I look and see Him there, who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died my sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me
to look on Him and pardon me.
