Present Truth - Govermental Forgiveness - Sinless Living

From: The Christian Shepherd: 1997

• 2 min. read • grade level: 9

Governmental Forgiveness

Governmental forgiveness means the forgiveness that God exercises over us as His children. It has to do with this life.

When the believer sins, he loses his communion as a child with the Father, but not his relationship as a child of God.

The subject of 1 John 1 is communion; therefore the Apostle says: “If we confess our sins [note, not ask for forgiveness], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This is governmental forgiveness and is also referred to in Matthew 6:14-15¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14‑15) and chapter 18:35. The Lord’s prayer has also this thought when it says, “Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4⁴And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Luke 11:4)).

The “sin unto death,” referred to in 1 John 5:16-17¹⁶If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (1 John 5:16‑17), is that of a believer who has so dishonored the Lord through sin that he is removed in the government of God, though not lost.

First Corinthians 11:30 is another passage that refers to the government of God. Some were sickly and some slept (were taken in death) because they “broke bread” and walked carelessly with unjudged evil in their lives. May we walk carefully prayerfully, with exercised hearts to please God, who has done great things for us!

Sinless Living

1 John 1:8⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8) declares, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

James 3:2²For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2) declares, “For in many things we offend all [or, “all offend”; JND].”

Romans 6:12¹²Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (Romans 6:12) exhorts, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

2 Corinthians 4:10-11¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. ¹¹For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:10‑11) exhorts and declares, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”

These verses addressed to believers show that the old nature is still there. Our constant need is to “watch unto prayer,” as we find in 1 Peter 4:7⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7).

Colossians 3:3³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) states the truth that we “are dead.” It is the truth of Romans 6³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3) that we died in the death of Christ.

Romans 6:11¹¹Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11) exhorts us to reckon ourselves to be dead. That is how we are to begin our Christian life. Then 2 Corinthians 4:10¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10) tells us to carry out this truth in our daily life.

2 Corinthians 3:18¹⁸But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18) gives us the principle of victory through occupation with Christ.

“Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” (Psalm 16:1¹<<Michtam of David.>> Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. (Psalm 16:1)).

H. E. Hayhoe (Present Truth for Christians)

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.