“The Danger of Serious Sin” -- Article Four, The Fifth Point of Doctrine, Canons of Dort

Article 4: The Danger of True Believers’ Falling into Serious Sins

Although that power of God strengthening and preserving true believers in grace is more than a match for the flesh, yet those converted are not always so activated and motivated by God that in certain specific actions they cannot by their own fault depart from the leading of grace, be led astray by the desires of the flesh, and give in to them. For this reason they must constantly watch and pray that they may not be led into temptations. When they fail to do this, not only can they be carried away by the flesh, the world, and Satan into sins, even serious and outrageous ones, but also by God’s just permission they sometimes are so carried away—witness the sad cases, described in Scripture, of David, Peter, and other saints falling into sins.

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Yes, God preserves those whom he has chosen and called to faith in Jesus Christ unto eternal life as stated in Article 3. But this does not in any sense mean that the struggle with indwelling sin ceases because Christ preserves us unto final salvation. Indwelling sin (or the habit of sin) is a stark reality of the Christian life and remains a constant struggle until we die or Christ returns, whichever comes first. Such sin is ever-present and a Christian must be conscientious of this fact and strive to resist the three great enemies of God’s people identified here—the world, the flesh, and the devil.

First and foremost, Article 4 wisely directs those struggling with sin to rely upon the power of God which is given to God’s people through the preached word and the administration of the sacraments—the so-called means of grace. Vigilant prayer for the forgiveness of these sins is vital as John reminds us,

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 1:5-2:2)

Jesus knew the danger of indwelling sin (the flesh) his people will face as his disciples. He instructs us to pray “lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). He later exhorts his disciples to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). James reminds us that, “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (1:14). Sin arises within, we are not tempted by God.

These three enemies are to be dealt with in different ways. The world—in the sense it is used here—is the non-Christian way of thinking and doing. Worldliness is often connected to seeking to avoid persecution and the embarrassment associated with being a follower of Jesus. Paul speaks of this in two places. In Romans 12:2, he writes, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We must learn to think and act like Christians as a consequence of the word of God renewing our minds. Paul reminds Timothy of the fate of a certain Demas, who ceased following Paul (and Christ) because he “was in love with this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).

The flesh (as we speak of it here) is that internal desire which arises within which desires to indulge in sinful acts and behavior even though we know it to be wrong. Paul warns us “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). In Romans 7:14-25, he describes the frustration of knowing what is right, but doing the wrong anyway. In Romans 13:14, Paul tells believers to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Peter too, gives us the same counsel. “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul” (2:11). Since we are weak, we are to flee from those things which tempt us to sin in this manner.

As for the devil, we resist him with the truth of the gospel. Paul tells us to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil,” and James exhorts us to “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (4:7).

We avoid worldliness by thinking and acting like Christians. We flee from those things which tempt us given the weakness of the flesh. And we resist the devil with the truth.

The Canons acknowledge that great saints can and do fall into sin, and while they remain fully guilty and absolutely responsible for their actions, God uses these sins to further his greater purposes—the mystery of providence. The so-called hall of faith in Hebrews 11 is filled with the names of those Old Testament saints who faced this same internal struggle with sin we do, and who at times gave in, and yet are listed there to remind us that despite such sins, God preserved them—they believed his saving promise—until the end. The great hope for such people is our Lord’s parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-31). Prodigals (among the elect) will return.

God’s elect will persevere unto the end in faith, despite the struggle with sin. Paul makes this point clear in Ephesians 1:13-14: “In him [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.