CONDITION NOT DEEDS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 1, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 22.

CONDITION NOT DEEDS.

THE deeds of sin are many times especially hateful. Nay, more, they are oftentimes desperately wicked, repulsive, horrible. Yet it is ever well to remember for our own soul's sake, that primarily it is condition not deeds which should give us most concern.

Satan would, if possible, blind mankind to the true nature of the case. He would lead them to think that if the deeds are good, or, rather, if they are not very bad, it will be well with the individual in the judgment, or at least quite tolerable. And men thus love to be blinded; they love to think themselves better than they are; and so they solace themselves in their "good deeds," hoping that their worst will not be counted very bad; and, measuring themselves among themselves, boast of their own righteousness. Thus Satan deludes them. Thus they delude themselves.

But let them know that even the small outcroppings of sin in themselves are evidences of a source of corruption within. Man's condition is one of spiritual, incurable disease. That is, there is no power in man or in his fellow men to cure him. He is incurably sick. He has the leprosy of sin. "The heart [man's natural heart] is deceitful above all things, and it is desperately sick." Jer. 17:9, R. V. "Every head is sick, and every heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and festering sores." Isa. 1:5, 7, R. V., margin. This is man's natural condition, poisoned through and through with the leprosy of sin. It may not be as outbreaking in some as in others, the sores may be few, the inflammation little, and, to the diseased eyes of earthly observers, the man may appear well; nevertheless, the disease is there, working, developing, ever tending toward and ripening into the death, which is inevitable; for "sin, when it is full grown, bringeth forth death." James 1:15, R. V.

The deeds of such a diseased man must be imperfect. The fruit of a corrupt tree must be corrupt. However good may be the deeds, or fruit, of a sinful life, they still "come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. Jesus says, "A corrupt tree can not bring forth good fruit." The works of the flesh are uncleanness, envyings, strife, emulation, wrath, sedition, adultery, fornication, evil thoughts, pride, murders, wickedness,—all of which come from the carnal heart, all of which are inherent in sinful flesh. See Gal. 5:19-21 and Mark 7:21-23. How can man, with such a nature, bear any other than such fruit? It is evident, therefore, that what the sinner should long for is not merely that a sinful deed might not be repeated, but that he should have such a heart and such power that he would never repeat it. He should not only mourn over the individual sins against God and his fellows, but plead that the disease of sin itself might be removed.

Praise God, there is a Balm for the bruise, there is a Physician who is able to make whole. Jesus Christ can change the sickness to wholeness. He can not alone forgive each and every sin, but can heal the disease. "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." Isa. 53:5. He says: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them." Eze. 36:26, 27.

The Lord will do all this through simple faith; "for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26. If we will yield all to God and accept Him as He is revealed in Christ Jesus, His power will regenerate us, and make us new creatures in Christ Jesus. See Titus 3:3-7; 2 Cor. 5:17. Where sin and Satan before reigned incarnate, poisoning and destroying body and soul, righteousness and Christ will reign, healing and building up the entire man, bringing forth fruit to the glory of God.