The truth that every man sins can either humble the soul or harden it.
For the false professor, it becomes a comfortable excuse. He says, “No one is perfect,” not because he hates sin, but because he wants permission to keep it. He hides behind the weakness of all men so he does not have to face the rebellion of his own heart.
“Indeed, there is no man who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46).
But the true believer cannot use that truth so easily. He knows sin still remains in him, but he cannot make peace with it. What the hypocrite uses as a cushion, the child of God feels as a grief.
“For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body” (Romans 7:22-23).
The Christian does not deny remaining sin, but neither does he defend it. He confesses it, mourns it, fights it, brings it to the cross, and asks the Lord for deeper holiness.
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).
There is a world of difference between a man who falls into sin and grieves before God, and a man who lives in sin while using grace as a hiding place. One runs to Christ for cleansing. The other uses Christian language to avoid repentance.
“My sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3).
Yes, no man lives without sin. But that truth was never given to make us comfortable in corruption. It was given to strip away pride, drive us to Christ, and make us long for the day when sin will trouble us no more.
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