The imagination that sin is destroyed
When we first know this, when we first find redemption in the blood of Jesus, when the love of God is first poured out in our hearts and his kingdom is set up there, it is natural to suppose that we are no longer sinners. It is natural to suppose that all our sins are not only covered, but destroyed. We do not feel any evil in our hearts then, and so we readily imagine that none is there.
Some well-meaning people have imagined this not only at that time, but ever after. They have persuaded themselves that when they were justified, they were entirely sanctified. They have laid that down as a general rule, in spite of scripture, reason, and experience. They sincerely believe, and they earnestly maintain, that all sin is destroyed when we are justified, and that there is no sin in the heart of a believer, but that the heart is altogether clean from that moment.
We readily acknowledge that the person who believes is born of God, and that the person who is born of God does not commit sin. Yet we cannot allow that he does not feel sin within. It does not reign, but it does remain. And a conviction of the sin which remains in our heart is one great branch of the repentance we are speaking of now.
1771 text
2. Indeed when we first know this, when we first find redemption in the blood of Jesus, when the love of God is first shed abroad in our hearts and his kingdom set up therein, it is natural to suppose that we are no longer sinners, that all our sins are not only covered but destroyed. As we do not then feel any evil in our hearts, we readily imagine, none is there. Nay some well-meaning men have imagined this, not only at that time, but ever after: having persuaded themselves, that when they were justified, they were entirely sanctified. Yea, they have laid it down as a general rule, in spite of scripture, reason, and experience. These sincerely believe and earnestly maintain, that all sin is destroyed when we are justified, and that there is no sin in the heart of a believer, but that it is altogether clean from that moment. But tho’ we readily acknowledge, he that believeth is born of God, and he that is born of God doth not commit sin: yet we cannot allow, that he does not feel it within: it does not reign, but it does remain. And a conviction of the sin which remains in our heart, is one great branch of the repentance we are now speaking of.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 14 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15. Dated at Londonderry, 24 April 1767.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.