“… he will save his people from their sins.”
It’s true, there will never be a time this side of heaven when sin will be completely eliminated from the lives of true believers. Indeed, if God were to refuse to accept us into glory because of the sin that still remains in our lives, then not one of us would be allowed to enter. That’s why the psalmist says, “If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3). The question is rhetorical, and the answer is clear. No one could stand. No one walks in sinless perfection this side of glory.
Nevertheless, something has happened to us. We’re not the same anymore. Sin does not have the same kind of control over us that it once had. Jesus has saved us from our sins. He has not saved us in our sins, but from our sins. He has removed us from the power and dominion that our sins once had over our lives. The Apostle Paul puts it this way, “… because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). Although we still sin, we’re free from the mastery of sin.
That’s why we hate our sins, that’s why we struggle against them, and that’s why we confess them and repent of them whenever we do them. Jesus has cast down Satan from the throne of our hearts and has taken his place. We don’t want to go back to the way we once were. We don’t want sin to regain mastery over our hearts. Although Satan may still try to get back on the throne, although he may still try to regain the upper hand, he will never succeed in his wicked endeavor. Jesus will prevail and Satan will be cast down. The saints of God will persevere.
Perseverance includes a desire to overcome sin; therefore, continue to pray prayers that God will root out any sins that remain in your life, and thank Him for sending Christ Jesus to save sinners.
