Have you noticed that the unbeliever seldom struggles with doing wrong, sinful actions. Oh, they may feel guilty when they have broken a socially accepted value – do not steal, kill, lie etc., but these can be overcome by simply changing the value into acceptable behaviour, justified according to the occasion.
It is the believer in God, the one that has come to God in faith by believing on Him through His Son Jesus Christ, that struggles in life with the issue of sin.
The Old Testament Law gives us a wonderful illustration of this. Only believers had the privilege of access to God through the sacrificial system He provided. God provided both offerings of worship and offerings of confession. It should be noted that no offerings were provided for premeditated sin, only judgment.
Non-believer’s, then as now, only standing before God was that of one condemned –
John 3:17-18 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God declared that the sacrifice was not the final solution, only part of it. While God established the sacrifice and accepted it’s value, He would not impute righteousness without faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
When one gets saved, a conflict arises in life because there is a desire to do right according to the Word of God, the Bible. The mind begins to be transformed which brings change. Fear and trials can arise through change, even change for good. The Apostle Paul shares his personal testimony in this struggle and every believer can agree with him in Romans 7. It is important to note, though, that he continued to state in Romans 8 that even though there are many times that we may not feel saved, God has purposed to save those that have trusted in Him and nothing can thwart His plan.
The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and has completely satisfied the justice of God forever. God accepts the believer’s confession of sin based on the blood of His Son and restores the believer to fellowship – 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There is a struggle in believer’s lives which produces hurt and disappointment, but as we continue our walk with the Lord and follow Him according to His Word, we will find His care in every way abounds in our lives.