Original sin is not perfectly cured in this life. Though grace does subdue sin—yet it does not wholly remove it. Though we are like Christ, having the first fruits of the Spirit—yet we are unlike him, having the remainders of sinful flesh. There are two nations in the womb. Original sin is like that tree, in Dan 4:23, though the branches and the main body of it were hewn down—yet the stumps and root of the tree were left. Though the Spirit is still weakening and hewing down sin in the godly—yet the stump of original sin is left. It is a sea that will not, in this life, be dried up.
But why does God leave original corruption in us after regeneration? He could free us from it if he pleased.
(1.) He does it to show the power of his grace in the weakest believer. Grace shall prevail against a torrent of corruption. Whence is this? The corruption is ours—but the grace is God’s.
(2.) God leaves original corruption to make us long after heaven, where there shall be no sin to defile, no devil to tempt. When Elijah was taken up to heaven his mantle dropped off; so, when the angels shall carry us up to heaven, this mantle of sin shall drop off. We shall never more complain of an aching head—or an unbelieving heart.
Use one: If original sin be propagated to us, and will be inherent in us while we live here, it confutes the Libertines and Quakers, who say they are without sin. They hold to sinless perfection; they show much pride and ignorance; but we see the seeds of original sin remain in the best. “There is not a just man lives and sins not.” And Paul complained of a “body of death.” Though grace purifies nature, it does not perfect it.
But does not the apostle say of believers, that their “old man is crucified;” and they are “dead to sin?”
(1.) They are dead spiritually. They are dead as to the guilt of it; and as to the power of it; the love of sin is crucified.
(2.) They are dead to sin legally. As a man who is sentenced to death is dead in law, so they are legally dead to sin. There is a sentence of death gone out against sin. It shall die, and drop into the grave; but at the present, sin has its life lengthened out. Nothing but the death of the body can quite free us from the body of this death.
Use two: Let us lay to heart original sin, and be deeply humbled for it. It cleaves to us as a disease, it is an active principle in us, stirring us up to evil. Original sin is worse than all actual sin; the fountain is more than the stream. Some think, as long as they are civil, they are well enough; ay—but the nature is poisoned. A river may have fair streams—but vermin at the bottom. You carry a hell about you, you can do nothing but you defile it; your heart, like muddy ground, defiles the purest water that runs through it. Nay, though you are regenerate, there is much of the old man in the new man. Oh how should original sin humble us!
This is one reason God has left original sin in us, because he would have it as a thorn in our side to humble us. As the bishop of Alexandria, after the people had embraced Christianity, destroyed all their idols but one, that the sight of that idol might make them loathe themselves for their former idolatry; so God leaves original sin to pull down the plumes of pride. Under our silver wings of grace, are black feet.
Use three: Let the sense of this make us daily look up to heaven for help. Beg Christ’s blood to wash away the guilt of sin, and his Spirit to mortify the power of it; beg further degrees of grace. Though grace cannot make sin not to be—yet it makes it not to reign; though grace cannot expel sin, it can repel it. And for our comfort, where grace makes a combat with sin—death shall make a conquest of sin. But you hope to be kings to reign in heaven, and will you let Satan reign in you now? Never think to be kings when you die, and slaves while you live. The crown of glory is for conquerors, not for captives. Oh get out of Satan’s jurisdiction; get your fetters of sin filed off by repentance!
Thomas Watson. A Body of Divinity.
