Calvin points out that “a good conscience is nothing but inward integrity of heart, and that the fulfillment of the law is love from a clear conscience and sincere faith.” He further says that his conscience was subject to the observance of God’s law even if no one else lived on earth. (Inst. III. 14.16). A guilty conscience comes then, from violating God’s law – sin is lawlessness.
Sin’s Power
We are often carried into sin & overcome by it because we love it. But we also often continue in it because we are afraid of the consequences that might occur should we repent & give full disclosure. Sin is powerful. Watch & Pray!
What is Sin?
The Bible calls sin lawlessness (1 John 3:4)
An examination of things that are morally good and / or evil must be done with the appropriate response because God commands it – but what is really needed is to know what sin is & what holiness is (which correspond to disobedience & obedience). We must know sin & holiness as they are essentially & unalterably. I can obey because I must – but when I truly grasp what sin is – then I truly will know why I must flee. Study the nature of sin & holiness. The one is natural to us & the other is natural & essential to God.
Grieving Over Sin
So long as we bewail sin, seek remission of sin, strive after perfection, and endeavor to keep close and sensitive to his commandments, though a naughty heart will carry us aside sometimes, we keep the testimony of the Lord in a gospel sense, and can be included in the compass of David’s blessed man.
Thomas Manton, Psalm 119, 1:14, 15
Holding onto Sin
John Bunyan lists 7 ways we hold onto our sins
1. If possible, the soul that entertains sin will hide it so that it will not be discovered.
2. The soul that cannot hide its sin will excuse it and plead that it really is not such a bad thing
3. The soul that justifies its sin will seek to cover it with a good name (i.e. change what I call sin into something good)
4. If our convictions will not let us call our sin, sin, then we might flatter God that we will put it away from us in due time – (it’s no big deal)
5. If God pursues us and seeks to see if we have put away our sin – we will give up some part of it but keep the choicest part for ourselves
6. All sin must be abandoned or the soul will have no rest – so we might let our sins go with reluctance
7. If our sins that we have pout away should meet us again – we will court them and commit them in the dark
So sin goes in a circle – it starts in death & ends in death – We must deal sin a death-blow daily, over and over again, as John Owen says. Strike the root. Dig it us and burn it – and then keep on doing that. It is a never ending task – but sin mortified will help us see sin for what it is and help us deal with it as we ought.