The Doctrine of Sin

"The biblical doctrine of sin reminds us that indwelling sin remains, and it is active, hostile to grace, and hostile to the pursuit of godliness. 'How often,' writes Kris Lundgaard in The Enemy Within, 'do you think about the fact that you carry around in you a deadly companion?' Paul reminds us of the reality of this deadly inner opponent: 'For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.' (Galatians 5:17) Clearly this is not a pre-conversion description of the human heart, but a post-conversion description of the war within the regenerated heart and life. The daily opposition of the flesh is something we must assume to be at work in us, particularly as we devote ourselves to growth by grace in godliness. John Owen insightfully warns us: 'There is no duty we perform for God that sin does not oppose. And the more spirituality or holiness there is in what we do, the greater is its enmity to it. Thus, those who seek the most for God experience the strongest opposition.' As we grow in our desire for God we'll see not a lessening of sin's opposition but, if anything, an intensification of that opposition. Do you expect that increased opposition? Are you aware of it? It's why we are commanded to watch ourselves closely. We watch our hearts and study our hearts in the shadow of the cross as a means of protecting our hearts from the daily presence and opposition of sin. If you don't watch, you'll inevitably weaken. As you mature personally, as our families mature, and as our churches mature, we need the doctrine of sin more, not less; and we need to keep growing in rightly understanding and applying this doctrine." (C.J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness, pp.131-133)