Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,
    no one who does what is right and never sins.

• Ecclesiastes 7:20

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

• John 15:5

“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near;

• 1 Kings 8:46

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
    when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

• Psalm 17:15

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

• 1 John 1:8-2:6

The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

• Genesis 8:21

but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

• James 3:8

but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

• James 1:14

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

• Genesis 6:5

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

• James 3:2

But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.

• Psalm 19:12

“Q. 65. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
“A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God (Eccl. 7:20), but does daily break them in thought (Gen. 8:21), word (Jas. 3:8), and deed (Jas. 3:2).”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
“A. No mere man, since the Fall, is able, in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them, in thought, word, and deed.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 149. Is any man able perfectly to keep the Commandments of God?
“A. No man is able, either of himself, or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the Commandments of God; but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

The catechisms have the same wording, with slightly fewer commas in the Spurgeon catechism.  The Spurgeon Catechism and the Shorter Catechism use different proofs to state that we are incapable of being perfect, even in the grace received.  The Shorter Catechism adds biblical proofs.  And the Larger Catechism adds even more biblical proofs.

If we cannot live up to the standard that God set, then why bother?  Many have accepted this attitude, but we look to these Ten Commandments and the meaning behind them, that is the sin in thought, word, and deed that accompanies each commandment.  We recognize and confess those sins.  We turn away from those sins with the power given us by God.  And we live better lives.  Not perfect lives, but better, keeping our eyes on Jesus lest we stumble.

And now let us sing.

The following song is I Lay My Sins on Jesus, sung by Hymns of Grace, with a prelude explaining the origins of the song by Horatius Bonar.  Although the narrator talks of four stanzas, they skip the third.  I have written about that.  A. W. Tozer was infuriated that the third stanza often had great theology, but was most often skipped due to a sermon that was too long.

“I lay my sins on Jesus,
the spotless Lamb of God;
He bears them all, and frees us
from the accursed load;
I bring my guilt to Jesus,
to wash my crimson stains
white in His blood most precious,
till not a spot remains.

I lay my wants on Jesus;
all fullness dwells in Him;
He heals all my diseases,
He doth my soul redeem;
I lay my griefs on Jesus,
my burdens and my cares;
He from them all releases,
He all my sorrows shares.

I rest my soul on Jesus,
this weary soul of mine;
His right hand me embraces,
I on his breast recline.
I love the Name of Jesus,
Immanuel, Christ, the Lord;
like fragrance on the breezes
His Name abroad is poured.

I long to be like Jesus,
meek, loving, lowly, mild;
I long to be like Jesus,
the Father’s holy Child;
I long to be with Jesus
amid the heav’nly throng,
to sing with saints His praises,
to learn the angels’ song.”

• Horatius Bonar, It is Well with My Soul

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
You are our need Your power to repent of our sin.  We too often try on our own and fail.  Help us to worship You, the One who can work in us what we cannot do.  And we thank You for loving us while we were yet sinners.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.