THE BELIEVER’S CONDITIONAL SECURITY—CHAPTER 7

Chapter 7

The Truth About Sin

Much needs to be mentioned regarding sin and its relationship to the believer’s security. Without writing a whole book on hamartiology (the study of sin) certain truths about sin relevant to the believer’s security must be communicated in brief. But first we need a definition of sin.

According to Scripture, sin is: everything that doesn’t come from faith (Rom. 14:23), knowing to do good but not doing it (Jam. 4:17), lawlessness (1 Jn. 3:4), and all wrongdoing (1 Jn. 5:17).

Scripture teaches there are various ways to sin. We can sin by omission (Jam. 4:17) and commission (1 Cor. 10:8; etc.). It is also possible to sin in thought (Mt. 5:28; etc.), word (Mt. 12:37; etc.) and deed (Mt. 27:4; etc.).

Let’s drop all preconceived ideas and go to the Scriptures as we test what some are saying about sin, especially in the life of a believer.

Are All Sins Equal In Degree?

OSAS proponents comment on this:

In relation to eternal life or everlasting death, there are no degrees of sin, all are the same.[1]

Man classifies sin as “little, medium, or big.” But there is no such things as “a little sin” against a holy God. Sin is big, ugly, loathesome [sic], black as the walls of hell (italics his).[2]

Similarly, Robert Thieme wrote:

The Scriptures do not classify adultery as more depraved than other sins.[3]

According to the Bible, is this type of teaching true or false? Are all sins of the same degree? Do all types of sin affect the soul in the same way? Can we equate worry to murder and unthankfulness to sexual immorality? Let’s examine what God had recorded.

Are Some Sins Greater?

Are some sins greater than other sins, according to Jesus?

Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin” (Jn. 19:11, NKJV).

If there is greater sin then there must also be lesser sin.

Two verses which clearly corroborate Jesus’ statement about greater sin are Gen. 18:20 and Exo. 32:30. The NKJV reads:

And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave.”

Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”

This issue of greater (and lesser) sin is also clearly shown by Hophni and Phinehas, Eli’s wicked sons:

Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD (1 Sam. 2:17, NKJV).

Perhaps even more clear is what we find in Ezekiel chapter 8. Please note first there were great abominations, then greater abominations, then greater abominations than these:

Furthermore He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations (Ezek. 8:6, NKJV).

And He said to me, “Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing” (Ezek. 8:13, NKJV).

Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these” (Ezek. 8:15, NKJV).

There is also terrible wickedness (Neh. 13:27) and great transgression (Psa. 19:13).

Also, in Moses’ day, when capital punishment was enforced, there was sin deserving death (Deut. 21:22) and sin that was not deserving of death (Deut. 22:26, NKJV).

Moreover, one type of sin is eternal (Mk. 3:29), while others are not. Another type of sin (sexual immorality) is uniquely against our own bodies, while other sins are outside our bodies (1 Cor. 6:18, NIV). 1 Jn. 5:16 adds to this by declaring that there is a sin that does not lead to death, while there is a sin that leads to death.

Furthermore, certain types of sin like worry (Phil. 4:6), unthankfulness (Lk. 17:11-18; Col. 2:7; 3:15) and not being completely humble and gentle (Eph. 4:2) are not cited in any list of sins that will exclude one from the kingdom, like sexual immorality, drunkenness, greed or lying are (1 Cor. 6:9,10; Rev. 21:8; 22:15).

Besides all of that, there are willful sins (Psa. 19:13), unintentional sin (Num. 15:22, NKJV), defiant sin (Num. 15:30), detestable sin (2 Ki. 21:11) and deliberate sin (Heb. 10:26).

From all of this it should be apparent that there are not only different degrees of sin, but sin can also be classified in different ways, such as unintentional, deliberate, etc., as just shown.

What Happens When A Believer Sins?

According to OSAS teachers, sin in the life of a believer is limited to the following:

The Father-son relationship is not broken by sin; only the sweet fellowship is lost by the believer.[4]

Sin breaks the communion with the Father, takes away the joy of salvation and loses much of the reward a Christian might have.[5]

Sin stains the believer’s record; it robs him of a good standing among men; it reduces his store in heaven; but it does not destroy the life that is hid with Christ in God.[6]

First, when a believer sins, he loses fellowship with God. . . Secondly, when a believer sins, he loses the joy of his salvation. . . Thirdly, when a believer sins, he grieves the Holy Spirit . . . Fourthly, when a believer sins, he loses rewards.[7]

According to Robert Lightner, the effects of sin on the believer are loss of: fellowship with God, direction in life, confidence in prayer and joy.[8]

John Bray wrote that when a saved person sins he loses: fellowship with God, his joy and happiness, power and victory, testimony and influence. Also, he is chastened of the Lord, liable to death from the hand of God, and will give account at the Judgment Seat of Christ.[9]

Charles Ryrie states the penalties for the sinning believer include fellowship, joy, walk, prayer. Then he adds for the persistently sinning believer, they are punishment, excommunication and physical death.[10]

D. James Kennedy says sin results in loss of twelve things: joy, assurance of salvation, peace, fruitbearing, interest in spiritual things, guidance, health, wealth, possible loss of your child, loss to the church, loss to the whole nation—to the kingdom of God, and your physical life.[11]

But according to OSAS proponents, one thing a saved person can never lose when he sins is his salvation:

A Christian who commits sin certainly does not lose his salvation.[12]

If our salvation is not secure, then our new birth would have to be able to die or we would have to be able to destroy it by some act of sin. But never does the New Testament even hint that such could happen.[13]

Christians may pay a very heavy price in this life for their sin, but sin has no power to cause the loss of their salvation because of the atonement of Christ (italics theirs).[14]

Since Christ paid for all our sins, there is no way that we could commit a sin that would cause us to lose our salvation . . . Once we are truly saved, we can never lose that salvation because each and every sin we commit has been covered by Christ’s blood.[15]

. . . his sins jeopardize only his fellowship with God day by day. They do not jeopardize his final salvation from hell.[16]

Sin never destroys the believer (italics his).[17]

According to OSAS teaching, sin in the life of a believer can only do limited harm, but not the ultimate harm of causing him to be spiritually lost again. This means even the greater sins and the willful, deliberate sins, such as David’s premeditated murder of Uriah and his adultery, could never cause loss of salvation. That would mean if a person truly gets saved he can afterwards become a serial murderer, bank robber and rapist and remain saved though in unrepentant sin, since sin will never negate his salvation!

In contrast, Jesus didn’t single out the unbelieving when he gave his most serious message on sin. Ponder the Lord’s teaching to his disciples and let it make an indelible impression on you regarding the seriousness of sin:

And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where “their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mk. 9:42-48, NIV).

The Lord clearly taught certain sin (not just unbelief) could cause one to die spiritually and not enter the kingdom of God. This is the consistent teaching of Scripture from Gen. 2:17, where we first read of sin, to Rev. 22:19 where we learn that a believer can have his share in the holy city revoked by sin.

The Believer’s Sins And 1 John 1:9

According to some OSAS advocates, the believer’s future sins are already forgiven.

First, all your sins — past, present, and future — were forgiven when you believed in Jesus. There are none He hasn’t already forgiven (italics his).[18]

What can possibly condemn a believer who has all his sins forgiven, past present and future?[19]

God’s plan of redemption includes salvation, both from past sins and all that come after salvation; that is, sins committed before the new birth and those committed after it. So that when the believer sins, he is still safe, because his sins are charged against the One who took his place under the law and met all its demands against him.[20]

Only God knows how many have been adversely affected by this type of teaching about sin. If it was true that our future sins were already forgiven even before we commit them, then 1 Jn. 1:9, which was written to the believer, would be nonsensical.

Furthermore, if 1 Jn. 1:9 applies only to the unbeliever or lost person, as Bob George believes,[21] then how could an unbeliever remember all of his innumerable sins to confess them to be saved?

Also, Lk. 18:13,14 show an unsaved person not confessing his sins specifically by name, but instead, asking for mercy in a general way, brought him instant justification!

Acts 10:43-48 cf. 11:14 is also crystal clear in countering this application of 1 Jn. 1:9 for it shows Cornelius and his household got saved without uttering a word, that is, without confessing a sin!

1 Jn. 1:7 cites the possibility of receiving a continuous purifying from sin by the blood of Christ, but only if we meet the cited condition of walking in the light, as he is in the light. Clearly this is written for the believer. Also, 1 Jn. 2:1 was clearly written for the believer. So we now have two clear references, just two verses before and two verses after 1 Jn. 1:9 written to the believer! Obviously the flow of this group of verses refutes the concept that 1 Jn. 1:9 is for the unbeliever.

Since 1 Jn. 1:9, therefore, cannot refer to the unbeliever getting saved, it must refer to the believer. That means a believer must confess his sins to find forgiveness after his salvation. 1 Jn. 1:9 reads:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (NIV).

Please note the plural pronouns in this verse. The Apostle John put himself in this group, which also shows 1 Jn. 1:9 refers to the believer after initial salvation. Sin, therefore, must still be an issue, as shown in this verse, and all throughout the New Testament.

Moreover, Psa. 51:1-12 cf. Psa. 32:5 is clear that David, subsequent to his initial salvation, confessed his sins to God after he committed adultery with Bathsheba. Certainly, no one would argue he did this to receive initial salvation.

Since 1 Jn. 1:9 is the God-given way of getting forgiven after salvation, not to confess our sins, therefore, means not to get forgiven! This is the sad end result for all Christians who think their future sins are already forgiven even before they are committed.

Is Sin Still The Issue?

As cited in chapter 5, we are being told by some:

Sin is no longer the issue.[22]

sin is not the issue. . . .[23]

The destructive effects of sin should be obvious. It defiled Lucifer and the angels that rebelled with him. Adam’s sin brought him spiritual death and banishment from Eden (Gen. 2:17; 3:23). It was because of sin that God destroyed all people on the earth, except the ones in Noah’s ark (Gen. 6:5-17). The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with burning sulfur because of sin (Gen. 19:24; Jude 7). The ground opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan and Abiram because of their sin (Num. 16:30). Israel’s sin defiled the land (Jer. 3:9). Through sin people become corrupt (Deut. 9:12; Psa. 53:3) and enemies of God (Jam. 4:4). Everything that causes sin and all who do evil will be thrown into the fiery furnace (Mt. 13:41,42). Do not be deceived: sin has always been the issue and still is in our day of grace.

A specific New Testament example of sin being the issue is Ananias and Sapphira. In Acts 5:1-11, we read of their plan to deceive. Peter’s words to Ananias are most gripping:

Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart . . . . (v. 3).

Somehow Satan deceived Ananias to that degree. The point is, if sin is no longer the issue for us then why was it still the issue for Ananias and Sapphira, who were struck dead for their sin? That couple was in the community of believers!

Is Sin Imputed To The Believer?

Here are OSAS sources:

. . . none of the sins of the elect are imputed to them by God, because of their faith; while true believers still sinned, and they must fight against sin all their lives, the sin is not ‘counted’ or imputed.[24]

Sin Is Not Charged Up to the Christian.[25]

So when I trusted Christ, I got forgiveness for all my sins and from this time on my sins are charged back to Christ and are not charged against me at all. That is what God means when He says, “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose SINS ARE COVERED. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord WILL NOT IMPUTE SIN.” That is the reason a Christian will not come into condemnation and will not even come into judgment as far as his soul’s salvation is concerned (capital emphasis his).[26]

We should not be surprised regarding such teaching from those who want to defend OSAS. Remember now, to protect their doctrine they have to try to eliminate the possibility of spiritual death through sin for the believer! By saying sin is not imputed or charged up to the Christian to begin with, they can thereby protect OSAS from sin’s deadly poison.

The Power Of Sin

Through sin the whole nation of Israel became vile:

When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved. . . . Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious (Hos. 9:10,15, NIV).

What a blow this passage is to those who misuse the love of God in an effort to undergird OSAS!

What else can sin do to the Christian, according to Scripture? Sin can defile (Heb. 12:15), corrupt (Jam. 3:6), contaminate (Jam. 1:27), soil our spiritual clothing (Rev. 3:4), enslave us again (2 Pet. 2:20,21) and make a person unclean (Mt. 15:19,20; Mk. 7:21-23).

Paul addresses believers and exposes sin’s defiling abilities:

Then having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and of spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1, Green’s).

Most importantly, according to the Lord Jesus, sin can bring forth spiritual death (Lk. 15:24,32), which is also what Paul wrote could happen to any Christian who lives according to the sinful nature (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:8). See also Jam. 1:14,15.

In contrast to these Scriptures, it is not uncommon to hear OSAS messages like the following:

Arminians often assume that “death” means “go to hell” or “lose salvation,” but there is no necessary exegetical evidence for this conclusion.[27]

Now if you’re a child of God, you’ll never perish. You’ll never die spiritually, but it is possible for a Christian to lose rewards.[28]

Clearly, no Scriptural reference says once a person has been regenerated or has received imputed righteousness that he can’t afterwards become defiled, corrupted, contaminated, soiled, enslaved, made unclean or brought to his spiritual death by sin! In fact, when one examines the context of all of the aforementioned effects of sin, it should be obvious that those passages were spoken or written to people who were believers.

In contrast, defenders of OSAS say:

God has judged the believer eternally righteous. . .[29]

At the moment of faith in Christ, the believer receives immediately the imputation of the perfect righteousness of God. You now carry with you for the rest of your life on earth and on into eternity, you have forever the righteousness of God imputed to you.[30]

Again, it is specifically the believer who can become adversely affected by sin in these ways! Since this is definitely a possibility, according to Scripture, then sin is still the issue, that is, one of the issues, which Paul repeatedly warned Christians could exclude them from the kingdom (Gal. 5:19-21). This proves that Paul knew sin could much more than just cause a believer to lose his rewards, joy of salvation, etc. Perhaps this is why Paul mentions his righteous anger when another believer sins:

Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? (2 Cor. 11:29, NIV).

Since sin can exclude a Christian from the kingdom it should be apparent that a believer’s sins can bring forth spiritual death, are imputed to him, and his future sins are not automatically forgiven even before they are committed! All of this is also implied in Paul’s charge to Timothy:

. . . do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure (1 Tim. 5:22, NIV).

Certainly, Paul knew something about sin in the life of a believer, including his own personal responsibility to keep himself spiritually pure, that many in our day are totally unaware of.

Moreover, even the sin of boasting is not good as it is likened unto a little yeast that works through the whole batch of dough (1 Cor. 5:6). In other words, sin can have a permeating effect unless dealt with by confession and renunciation (Prov. 28:13 cf. 1 Jn. 1:9). Even fretting leads to evil (Psa. 37:8).

Paul also wrote that if what he eats would cause his Christian brother to sin, he would never eat meat [sacrificed to an idol] again, so he wouldn’t cause him to sin (1 Cor. 8:13). This is the grace teacher himself making sin the issue to the point where it can destroy a believer (v. 11) through another’s example. What a contrast all this is to what we are generally taught in our day about sin and what it can do to the Christian.

Last but not least, even world famous Billy Graham understates sin’s power in the life of one who previously received Jesus as Lord and Savior:

Our fellowship with Him may be broken, but our relationship is not; we are still members of His family if we have truly committed our lives to Christ.[31]

Ponder This . . .

Why would our arch enemy, the devil, tempt Christians to sin if our future sins are all forgiven and could never be imputed to us? In fact, the devil would be wasting his time if no sin could ever be charged against the believer! The devil obviously doesn’t believe what the OSAS teachers want us to believe, for he is ever trying to get us to yield to his temptations!

Jesus told us to pray to not be led into temptation (Mt. 6:13). Why would the Lord want us to daily pray about such if sin could not be imputed to the believer anyhow?

-----------------------

Notes

[1] J. F. Strombeck, Shall Never Perish (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1991), p. 165.

[2] Oliver B. Greene, The Gospel of Grace (Greenville, SC: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1974), pp. 28, 29.

[3] R. B. Thieme, Jr., Rebound & Keep Moving! (Houston, TX: R. B. Thieme, Jr., Bible Ministries, 1993), p. 29.

[4] Robert Glenn Gromacki, Salvation Is Forever (Chicago: Moody Press, Third Printing, 1976), p. 99.

[5] John R. Rice, Can a Saved Person Ever Be Lost? (Murfreesboro, TN: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1943), p. 23.

[6] T. G. Davis, Saved and Certain (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, Eighth Printing, 1955), p. 98.

[7] Charles Halff, Eternal Security: True or False? (San Antonio, TX: The Christian Jew Foundation, 1971), p. 17.

[8] Robert P. Lightner, Sin, the Savior, and Salvation (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991), pp. 267, 268.

[9] John L. Bray, Once Saved Always Safe (Lakeland, FL, 1982), pp. 27-31.

[10] Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology (Victor Books, Third Printing, 1987), p. 232.

[11] D. James Kennedy, Can A Christian Fall From Grace, pamphlet (Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Coral Ridge Ministries), pp. 11-14.

[12] Bray, Once Saved Always Safe, p. 27.

[13] Charles C. Ryrie, So Great Salvation (Victor Books, 1989), p. 139.

[14] The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute News Magazine (Chattanooga, TN: The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute), Vol. 4, No. 8, August 1997, p. 2.

[15] Harold Camping, God‛s Magnificent Salvation Plan (Oakland, CA: Family Stations, Inc., 1995), p. 66.

[16] Zane C. Hodges, The Gospel Under Siege (Dallas, TX: Redención Viva, Fifth Printing, 1988), p. 107.

[17] Davis, Saved and Certain, p. 98.

[18] Hal Lindsey, The Liberation of Planet Earth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1974), p. 170.

[19] The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute News Magazine (Chattanooga, TN: The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute), Vol. 4, No. 7, July 1997, p. 10.

[20] Davis, Saved and Certain, p. 87.

[21] Bob George (Dallas, TX: People to People), 9/29/93.

[22] Lindsey, The Liberation of Planet Earth, p. 173.

[23] George, People to People, 9/29/93.

[24] The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology, Alan Richardson and John Bowden, Editors (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1983), p. 540.

[25] Rice, Can a Saved Person Ever be Lost?, p. 22.

[26] Ibid., p. 23.

[27] Joseph C. Dillow, Reign of the Servant Kings (Hayesville, NC: Schoettle Publishing Co., Second Edition, 1993), p. 417. [Comment: Dogmatic but unscriptural assertions are often made by OSAS proponents. The student of the Scriptures merely has to go to the Bible to learn that sin can bring a Christian to his spiritual death, as Jesus taught in Lk. 15:24,32. See also the chapter entitled, Eighteen Biblical Examples.]

[28] Charles Halff, The Five Crowns, The Christian Jew Hour, 2/16/96.

[29] The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute News Magazine (Chattanooga, TN: The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute), Vol. 4, No. 6, June 1997, p. 8.

[30] R. B. Thieme, Jr., Doctrines/Eternal Security, Book of Life, lesson 138- Rev. 3:5b, 1981 Revelation, 5/27/82.

[31] Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Internet Website  http://www.theway.billygraham.org/questions.asp?pass=9

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldEditEdit in GingerEdit in Ginger×