The Good Ministry of Sin

The Good Ministry of Sin

By Fred O. Blakely

As Paul declares, Christ is certainly not "the minister of sin." God forbid that it should be so (Gal. 2:16-18). Neither can God be faulted for taking vengeance against impenitent sinners (Rom. 9:18-21), though their sin justifies Him in His "sayings" (Rom. 3:4-7; cf. Ps. 51:4). Under the reign of Divine grace, however (which is able to turn the curse into a blessing), sin can ac­tually minister both succor to the sinner and glory to God in those who are properly affected by it.

Although forgiven of past sins and set apart unto God by obedience to the gospel, the best of men (notwithstanding the claims of some of them to the contrary), on occasion, continue to be painfully guilty of sin. As they are convicted of this by the Word and led by the Spirit, they are caused to hasten with all speed to the throne of Divine grace for forgiveness and cleans­ing, that they may go on walking before God with a conscience "void of offense" toward Him (Acts 24:16).

Because these saints recognize that it is "the blood of Jesus Christ" that constitutes the basis upon which the Father grants this additional cleansing (1 Jn. 1:7), the very sin that was com­mitted becomes a reminder to them of the exceeding precious­ness of that blood, with the propitiation for sin which it ef­fected. Since the experience of falling into sin is continually repeated, sin, under this procedure, can veritably be used by God to make us more deeply appreciative of the soul-cleansing efficacy of His dear Son's blood, and to bind us closer to Himself.

It is in this view of the situation that the Lord's table at the center of the church's weekly assembly takes on new and vital significance. The brethren come to present themselves as a body before the God of their salvation. During the past week they have been striving against sin; perhaps they came off the loser in some of the strife.

How refreshing and strengthening to sit together at the table acknowledging mutual dependence upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and at the same time receive both individual and corporate assurance from God that their sins are forgiven them "for His Name's sake" (I Jn. 2:12; cf. Eph. 4:39). Their very sin, rather than keeping them from their appointment their Lord, thus draws them to His table. So do they have, as it were, their feet "washed" by Him (Jn. 13:4-10) and are cleansed for another week of conflict with the evil one.

Certainly, we do not sin in order that grace may abound. God forbid! But we praise His Name that, despite the agonizingly humiliating experience of sin by His children, it can serve to enhance to them the infinite value of Jesus' blood, and so endear both Him and the gracious Father to them. Thus, does the marvelous wisdom, grace, and power of God bring to naught the work of the Devil in seducing us into sin, and make his wrath against us to glorify God's grace.
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