Sin is a thing or a spirit that can exist at a place. Paul spoke of a law of sin at work in the members of his body. Paul exclaimed that in his mind he was in slavery to God but in his flesh he was in slavery to the law of sin. Since the chemical constituents of the physical body are morally neutral, sin must be regarded as something foreign that can be removed.

The Lamb of God has come in order to take away the sin of the world. He does this by forgiving the guilt, then by giving the believer the ability to subdue it, and finally by removing its very presence.

It is difficult even to imagine a world without the presence of sin. Yet God is going to make an end of unrighteousness.

Seventy "sevens" are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy. (Daniel 9:24—NIV)

"To put an end to sin." Hallelujah!

God is beginning with the victorious saints the work of putting an end to sin. From them the deliverance will spread to the remainder of the elect, the new Jerusalem. Finally all the creation shall be freed from sin and shall be in subjection to the Lord Jesus. Then the Lord will turn over the Kingdom to the Father, to Him who brought all in subjection to Jesus.

At present Jesus is waiting until every enemy has been made His footstool.

There appears to be confusion in Christian thinking concerning the guilt of sin and the urge to sin. When the Bible speaks of Christ taking away our sin we usually think of Christ forgiving our sin rather than taking away the urge to sin, the slavery to sin, the bondage of sin. In this essay we will attempt to rigorously hold apart these entirely different elements.

Forgiving the Guilt of Sin

Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:14—NIV)

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:2—NIV)

That the Lord Jesus has made an atonement whereby the sins of people can be forgiven has been preached throughout the world. The sacrifice has been completed. Whoever will choose to do so may come to God in Jesus' name, resolve to turn away from his sinful, worldly behavior, be baptized in water, and receive forgiveness for all his sins.

It is God's will that the individual's sins be forgiven continually as he walks in the light of God's will. If he should slip, he is to confess his sin and resolve that it shall never happen again. God will then forgive his sin and cleanse or purify him from all unrighteousness.

To be continued.