When Christians Stop Sinning
Last week, the belief that it’s impossible to stop sinning was only briefly examined, and countered. Commenting further, Jesus said “if you love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15), and He would never ask us to do something He knew would be impossible for us to do.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).
All belonging to God’s church when Jesus arrives will have successfully claimed the above promise of full victory over sin. The following is a word picture of what the church will look like at that time.
“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
The real question is not whether we can stop sinning, but when, and why not now?
While the “now” time frame is possible on an individual basis, the “when” period, which will embrace the entire church, is the great tribulation that immediately precedes His second coming. Paul referred to that time in a letter to Timothy. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Why?
“And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God” (Zechariah 13:9).
When the metal is right, and sin no longer has a hold upon His people, God makes an announcement that reverberates throughout the universe.
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:11, 12).
From the time of this announcement, to His arrival, no one knows how long “quickly” is, the faithful will demonstrate that it is possible to stop sinning, even in a sinful world.