The Plague of Indwelling Sin

(The Pastor's Letter January 1974)

Dear Friends,

By the time this particular issue of the Wicket Gate reaches your hands, we will be far enough into the days of this new year to have discovered that, in spite of the newness of the year, we are still, nevertheless, presented with many of the old problems that confronted us this time last year, and which will, in the natural run of things, do battle again with us when the next twelve months have elapsed.

This is particularly true of the issue of sin still remaining, and still very much alive and active, within the heart and the mind of the believing child of God. The very idea of “New Year Resolutions,” although invariably pointless after the first few days of the new year, would seem to underlie some kind of natural inclination to “turn over a new leaf” on the part of many men and women. But, the believing child of God, especially with a right estimation of the nature of sin and salvation from it, is only too well-aware of the fact that when he “would do good, evil is present,” with him. Be that as it may, the problem of sin remaining and recurring – in spite of what time of year it is – is a problem that has very often sent the believing people of God off into one of two unhealthy positions – either to minimize or disregard the dregs of sin remaining in them, or else to be driven into a pitiable condition where they are of little real use to themselves or anybody else. The first direction would appear to be the one most likely to be taken today, for it would appear that there is a very low concept of what sin really is in the thinking of a great many professing people. Yet, there are some tender souls who find themselves bearing sin burdens beyond their capacity, and lapsing into a forgetfulness to “cast their burden upon the Lord.” In between the two, of course, are very many Christians who find themselves ever being called on to grapple with the problem from day to day, and for them, there must be a constant reminder of some of the basic facts contained in the problem of indwelling sin in the believer.

Now old John Bunyan probably comes as close as anyone to a real “heavenly-minded-down-to-earth” approach to the problem of that sin which still rears its ugly head – sometimes when we least expect it.

The scene is set in the City of Mansoul in Bunyan's Holy War. The Holy War is an allegory which sets forth man in the form of a city called Mansoul. Mansoul, Bunyan tells us, was once “a fair and flourishing metropolis,” and was ruled over by a great King called El-Shaddi. There came a day however, when the city of Mansoul “fell” under the siege of an evil prince by the name of Diabolos, and this Diabolos “killed off all the chief citizens” of Mansoul, locking old Mr. Conscience (whom he couldn't kill outright) away in a deep dungeon, where his voice couldn't be strongly heard. At an appointed time, however, another “siege” took place on this Mansoul of John Bunyan's. This siege was led by El-Shaddi's Son – the Prince Immanuel – and through many vivid pages, John Bunyan sets forth this siege, and the final conquest, and re-establishment of El-Shaddi's government in the city of Mansoul again.

As we come to the closing pages of the Holy War, we find John Bunyan, relating for us the Prince Immanuel's closing address to Mansoul before He returns to the Courts of El-Shaddi again; and in the course of this address, we find the Immortal Tinker taking up the problem of indwelling sin yet remaining in the redeemed soul of man – in the now liberated City of Mansoul. “Dost thou ask at me,” the author makes Immanuel say, “Dost thou ask at me why I and my Father have seen it good to allow the dregs of thy sinfulness still to corrupt and to rot in thine heart?” He then gives five reasons – (i)“To humble thee, he says; take knowledge, take warning, and take forethought. To make thee humble, and to keep thee humble.” (ii) “To keep thee wakeful …” (iii) “to teach thee to war also …” (iv) “To try thy love also …” (v) “To extol and exalt the grace of God …”.

“Oh, yes,” says someone, “but that is only John Bunyan.” But, it is not only John Bunyan, for Bunyan is only vividly illustrating what the whole word of God continually sets forth with regards to this crippling mystery of how and why sin still dwells in our mortal flesh. Remember that fearsome struggle that the apostle Paul had over that “thorn in the flesh”? What that thorn actually was in reality we are never told in the Word of God, but the “permission” and “purpose” of it, the great apostle himself makes clear for us. It was “a messenger of Satan”, he says, “sent to buffet me.” God had permitted such an infirmity to cling to Paul – aye had permitted the devil himself to attach it to the great apostle. But when the purpose of its remaining with him, in spite of his fervent prayers that it might be removed, was revealed to him the whole issue took on a different light. “Here's what I have discovered,” he concludes, “God knows me better than I know myself. He knows I have a great big tendency to glory in myself. And so, He has sent me this thorn, this messenger of Satan lest I be exalted above measure.”

Is that not simply what Bunyan was saying in the closing address to Mansoul? What is the purpose of any of the dregs of sin remaining in the believer? “To humble thee,” said Immanuel, “… to make thee humble and to keep thee humble.” Ah, my friends, no matter how strange or paradoxical the issue might appear to our natural eyes and thinking at times, the purpose of God permitting the assaults of sin and Satan still to rage within us, is for our own good and the ultimate praise of His name. Remember one of the glorious offices of our Lord Jesus Christ; it is this – His Priestly Office.

What is entailed in that Priestly Office? The old Catechism gives a good answer: “Christ executeth the Office of a Priest,” it says – in the first place, “in His once offering up of Himself as a sacrifice to satisfy Divine justice and reconcile us to God,” and – in the second place, “in making continual intercession for us.” In other words the Saviour performed only one part of His Priestly work when He died on the cross for our sins, making the perfect sacrifice in Himself. This was how it was in Israel where the Priesthood was ordained of God to show forth the great fulfilment in Christ. The Priest offered the blood of sacrifice for the people, and then, once God had accepted the offering that was made, the Priest could begin to make intercession on behalf of the people. This was his second work, or the second part of his work. So with Christ. On the cross, He made the perfect, acceptable offering for our sin, but now – at this very present time – He makes Intercession for us as we come before Him with our sins – those sins that still break forth within our mortal frames.

Surely, it is the apostle John who sets the true course for our feet in this issue of indwelling sin – a course that clearly avoids both of those dangerous roads that we mentioned at the beginning. To minimise or disregard remaining sin in our selves is to deceive ourselves, he says; and to “bottle-up” the plague of our hearts instead of applying to the great Physician of our souls is to set an affront before the faithfulness of our gracious God. “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us; but, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” So many believers have it in their heads that the purpose of “the throne of grace” is to change God's mind on some matter so that everything works out for our favour. The very first purpose of that throne of grace, according to the Word of God, is very far different from that. Says the apostle Paul, “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy …” Here is the primary purpose of that throne, says Paul; at that throne, we obtain mercy. What? But, surely Paul obtained mercy on the Damascus road? Yes, he did. But he had many “infirmities” yet. And what could he do about those infirmities? He could take them to the throne of grace, because at that throne of grace there stood a great High Priest Who was able to be “touched with the feelings of those infirmities.”

Strange and all as it may seem, my friends, we are driven more and more back to the fact that God is a Sovereign God. May as well ask why was there ever sin in the first place, as to ask why is sin permitted to remain in me. Had there been no sin there would have been no cross – no gracious and glorious sacrifice at the hands of the church's Great High Priest. But, were there no remaining sin, then there would be no purpose for that other, and continual side of that Great High Priest's work. What did Mr. Bunyan begin with? “To humble thee,” he said. And what did he finish with? “To extol and exalt the grace of God.” That's what he said. On those two poles must be set the problem of indwelling sin in the believer, until that which is in part shall be done away, and that which is perfect is come.

Sincerely,
    W. J. Seaton