In a sincere spirit Paul wrote this about himself: "I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23:1.) Paul lived in harmony with his beliefs until he discovered that he was opposing the promised Messiah and Savior of mankind. Then he changed the course of his life.

According to Paul, what causes one not to be healthy-minded is sin or carnality. Sin brings spiritual death to a person even while he is alive physically. Paul wrote about some sinful widows, "But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives." (1 Tim. 5:6.) Some at Corinth who were not properly discerning the Lord’s Body in the communion were described as being "weak and sickly among you and many sleep." (1 Cor. 11:30.)

Some people reject Christianity because they believe that religion causes man to not be healthy-minded. Distortions of Christianity may indeed cause one not to be a whole and happy person. But true Christianity is not the cause of it. The unhappiness and spiritual sickness of man is caused by sin. Man alone is not able to solve this grievous problem. The only solution is the Gospel and following the life of Jesus Christ. It is regrettable and sad that false versions of Christianity add to man’s difficulty instead of making him whole and happy.

Paul explained to the Romans the source of his unhappiness. He said that it was not because he did not will to do God’s will. He wrote, "To will is present with me." (Rom. 7:18.) His wretchedness was not caused by the Law. He said that the law was spiritual and that it was holy, just and good. (7:12-14.) The problem was that he (and all of mankind) was carnal, sold under sin. "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." (Rom. 7:23-25.)

It is true that all have sinned against God, man and himself. (Rom. 3:23.) It is likewise true that God hates evil and will punish all who persist in sin. (Psalm 7:11, Rom. 11:22.) The incompleteness of man morally and spiritually is not caused by Christianity or any other religion. It was present even before we knew the Gospel. The Gospel points it out and then offers the only solution. Distortions of the Gospel, like hell-fire and brimstone preaching, can hurt people who are already suffering spiritually. They need some Good News, not a repetition of what they already know.

Many favor theological liberalism because it takes the edge off the universal problem that we face. However, the failure of liberalism, as applied to man, is that denying the problem is not a good solution. The problem remains whether we participate in Christianity or not. Denying the problem will not make it go away. Some seem to think that if they will stay away from the church and preaching that they will feel better. They think that the constant reminder of sin and judgment causes them to not be happy. The problem with that thinking should be obvious. If a person is sick, staying away from the doctor will not you feel better. The doctor’s work and purpose is to face the illness and seek a remedy.

But I agree with part of the complaint against the church, to the extent that we have seemingly delighted in pointing out the weakness and sinfulness of man more than we have rejoiced in the wonderful solution God’s has given to mankind.

While we admit all the things that the Bible says about man and his sinfulness, we should be just as ready to accept to accept what it says about our full and complete redemption in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16-17.)

The evidence that Jesus came not to condemn sinners is evident in how Jesus treated lost sinners. He told the sinful adulterous woman, "Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more." (John 8:11.) "Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:1-2.)

How would you answer this question? Which of these two is there more of in the world? Sin or grace? Grace is God’s answer to sin. We are saved "by grace through faith, that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9.) Sin is everywhere among all peoples of the world. Everywhere you go, it is evident. Is there more sin than grace? From much of the preaching that we hear, you would think so. You might come to the conclusion that sin is winning the day. Some even tell those of us who preach, Now, don’t preach too much on grace. A member actually said that to a preacher in a Gospel Meeting. They actually wanted more preaching on sin than on grace. That would be like a doctor telling you over and over that you have a serious sickness, but did not want to tell you what to do about it. What if he did not offer you any medicines, antibiotics or surgery? It is good to be sensitive about sin and its serious nature. But that sensitivity can actually work against you having assurance of your salvation and being healthy-minded, if you do not likewise have a good understanding of God’s solution to the problem. What if the doctor told you that he could not do anything to help you, that you had to do it alone?! That is exactly what many preachers are telling desperate sinners. Sorry, I do not know of a solution to your problem. You are beyond grace!

Back to our question. Which abounds more? Grace or sin? Listen to the answer by Paul. He compared Adam and Jesus in what they did. Adam was disobedient to God. What he did affected us all against our will. Sin was introduced into the world by him. On the other hand, Jesus was obedient to God. What he did can affect us all in a good way. Then Paul wrote, "Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 5:20-21.) There is more grace than sin!! The songwriter had it right when he wrote for us to sing, Grace greater than all our sin. (Praise for the Lord, 189.)

We often get it wrong on two counts. One is that we insinuate if not outright teach it that there is more sin than grace. Secondly, we tell lost sinners that the only way for them to be saved is for God’s grace to reign through their righteousness unto eternal life. Did you notice that Paul identified whose righteousness it is that saves us? It is not ours, but the righteousness of one person; that is, Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:18.) I wish every Christian understood and believed this great truth. It is not ambiguous or difficult. It is stated quite clearly by Paul. God’s grace reigns through the righteousness of Jesus Christ unto our eternal life. Does that mean that we can after being made whole continue a life of sin? You know better than that. Such is not a valid objection. Jesus said, Go and sin no more. Paul wrote emphatically, God forbid. If God’s grace reigns through our righteousness unto eternal life, then where does the righteousness of the One Person who is truly righteousness enter the picture?? It is left out altogether. Is it not needed? (Gal. 2:21.)

To be fully assured and healthy-minded spiritually, we need to hear that in Christ Jesus there is now no condemnation. After presenting the problem that Paul faced personally, he concluded with the solution.

"I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So the with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. 7:25-8:1.)

I was emphasizing this passage once in a message on our hope in Christ Jesus. An aged brother in the audience did not like what the passage says, apparently. He wanted me to emphasize that in order to be free from condemnation that we must walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Of course, that is true. But note that places the responsibility on us again and removes the hope and assurance announced by Paul. Some seem to refuse to be assured, or they want us to say that the freedom from condemnation comes by our effort and not by the grace of God.

Those who are in Christ do not have their sins imputed to them. (Rom. 4:8, Psalm 32:2.) That is how we are free from condemnation. We are in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is a monstrous doctrine full of condemnation that Christians are never sure if they are saved. It is wrong to say that every time a Christian sins that he is lost again. In Christ there is no condemnation. In Christ, this person does not have his sins imputed against him. Someone objected to this truth that I presented in a sermon in Richmond. This brother asked me afterwards if I was preaching "once saved always saved." I replied, No, but I am preaching against the notion "once saved always in doubt!" I am opposed to both those errors. The first one gives false assurance. The second error destroys the hope of any real assurance. It cannot produce a healthy-minded state spiritually.

The healthy state of mind is described by Paul to the Philippians. He wrote, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Phil. 4:6-8.)

The prophet wrote, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee." (Isaiah 26:3.) The footnote says that the Hebrew actually says "peace, peace." The KJV translated it "perfect peace."