Remaining Sin Over-ruled for Good

No matter how frustrating, discouraging, and even depressing the reality of indwelling sin can be for the believer - yet, under the all-wise, omnipotent, and loving providence of God, our remaining sinfulness is over-ruled for our good and God's glory (consider Gen.50:20; Rom.7:23-8:39). This is the great subject of John Newton's final letter in his triology on the presence & effects of remaining sin in the believer. It is so encouraging to realize that though we "go softly all our days" because of our abiding depravity; however, "we need not sorrow as they who have no hope," so Newton says. And what makes this difference in the heart of the child of God, as he faces squarely his own corruption? Why should a Christian not cave in to despair over the down drag of sin which seems to impede his every step? It is due to one thing only, as mentioned from the beginning: God's sovereignty over-ruling our remaining sin for His glory and our good.

Consider how Newton explained this:

If the evils we feel were not capable of being over-ruled for good, [God] would not permit them to remain in us. This we may infer from his hatred to sin, and the love which he bears to his people...Though sin wars, it shall not reign; and though it breaks our peace, it cannot separate from his love. Nor is it inconsistent with his holiness and perfection, to manifest his favour to such poor defiled creatures, or to admit them to communion with himself; for they are not considered as in themselves, but as one with Jesus, to whom they fled for refuge, and by whom they live a life of faith.

In these observations, Newton reminds us of a present tension we all face with sin, while seeing that such a tension is merely temporary and shall in no wise separate us from God's love for us in Christ. How often do we need to preach this to ourselves everyday! Moreover, Newton brings us back to the glorious gospel truth of our spiritual union with Christ. This is vital to our understanding as we struggle and battle against those nagging ever-present corruptions. In fact, it is the truth of our union with Christ that God's Word uses as the basis for encouragment and exhortation so that we do not succumb to sin's attempts to regain control (see Rom.6:1-14; 7:1-5; 8:1-39). Furthermore, because we are "in Christ", the Scriptures promise us that we are no longer under God's deserved condemnation. This remains true in spite of all those times we do fall and follow the lusts of the flesh (Rom.8:1, 28-39). God's grace for us in Christ does indeed abound more than our sin (Rom.5:20)!

For John Newton though, these comforting gospel truths do not end his discussion of how God over-rules remaining sin for our good. The rest of his letter now focuses directly on the subject of how indwelling sin is a servant to God's providence and thus an advantage to the believer. He gives three examples which point to this truth.

First, he observes that God's "own power, wisdom, faithfulness, and love, are more signally displayed" because of remaining sin. He notes that God's power is shown by "maintaining his own work in the midst of so much opposition, like a spark burning in the water, or a bush unconsumed in the flame." God's wisdom is displayed "in defeating and controlling all the devices which Satan, from his knowledge of the evil of our nature, is encouraged to practice against us." And God's faithfulness and love are "more illustrated by the multiple pardons he bestows upon his people."

Secondly, Newton notes that indwelling sin is over-ruled to our advantage because "the Lord Jesus Christ is more endeared to the soul." He says that here "all boasting is effectually excluded, and the glory of a full and free salvation is ascribed to [Christ] alone." By way of illustrating this truth, Newton paints a striking and edifying picture to the struggling soul of every believer:

If a mariner is surprised by a storm, and after one night spent in jeopardy, is presently brought safe into port; though he may rejoice in his deliverance, it will not affect him so sensibly, as if, after being tempest-tossed for a long season, and experiencing a great number and variety of hair-breadth escapes, he at last gains the desired haven. The righteous are said to be scarcely saved, not with respect to the certainty of the event, for the purpose of God in their favour cannot be disappointed, but in respect of their own apprehensions, and the great difficulties they are brought through. But when, after a long experience of their own deceitful hearts, after repeated proofs of their weakness, wilfulness, ingratitude, and insensibility, they find that none of these things can separate them from the love of God in Christ, Jesus becomes more and more precious to their souls.

The third and final example Newton offers for how remaining sin works to our advantage is summed up in this way: "a spirit of humiliation, which...is the strength and beauty of our profession, is greatly promoted by our feeling, as well as reading, that when we would do good, evil is present with us." Expounding on this truth, Newton affirms:

A broken and contrite spirit is pleasing to the Lord who has promised to dwell with those who have it; and experience shows, that the excercise of all our graces is in proportion to the humbling sense we have of the depravity of our nature. But that we are so totally depraved, is a truth which no one ever truly learned by being only told it. Indeed if we could receive, and habitually maintain, a right judgement of ourselves, by what is plainly declared in Scripture, it would probably save us many a mournful hour; but experience is the Lord's school, and they who are taught by him usually learn, that they have no wisdom by the mistakes they make, and that they have no strength by the slips and falls they meet with. Every day draws forth some new corruption which before was little observed, or at least discovers it in a stronger light than before. Thus by degrees they are weaned from leaning to any supposed wisdom, power, or goodness in themselves; they feel the truth of our Lord's words, "Without me ye can do nothing;" and the necessity of crying with David, "O lead me and guide me for thy name's sake."

How utterly amazing are the works of God's providence in the lives of His people! Not only does God work our physical trials and tribulations for good, but even the remaining effects and corruptions of indwelling sin. This truth alone should prove to us that there is nothing too difficult for God. Sometimes, I am afraid, we treat our sin as if its power cannot be broken and overcome in spite of the sufficiency of Christ's saving work and the sovereignty of God. Our thinking at this point needs to be desperately renewed by God's Word. Every believer should take heart that God really is working all things together for the good of His people and the praise of His glory.

Thus with remaining sin, as Newton has so warmly reminded us, God over-rules it for the display of His power, wisdom, faithfulness, and love; for the endearment of Christ Himself to our battered souls; and finally, for the promotion and growth of humility before God. This of course doesn't mean that we slack off in our war against sin or treat sin lightly just because God is bringing this (along with everything else in our lives) to work toward our advantage. Far from it! Rather, even in the midst of our hardest fought battles and greatest failures against sin, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture: God is preserving us for His glory and therefore nothing in this world will thwart that destiny (Rom.8:29-31). This includes all the depravity of our flesh that has yet to be put to death. Thanks be to our Lord and God for such "amazing grace!"