Many have indeed done this. They have relied on trying to live perfectly and, realizing their failure in this, give up trying to do right altogether. Since they feel that they "just can’t do it," then they indulge in whatever they desire. What’s the use in trying to do otherwise? Perhaps their problem is this: they have tried too hard to rely on good works for their salvation. They thought that being sinless was the only way that they would be saved. In failing to live perfectly, they think that they cannot be saved at all because sin has a horrid way of creeping back into their lives. So, why even try? They feel they will be condemned anyway so they might as well live it up.

Missing from the above picture is a proper understanding of the grace of God. We cannot be saved based upon flawless living! It will never happen. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace (Eph. 2:8). In a sense, then, there is a point at which we must realize that we "just can’t do it," with the added understanding that we cannot do it on our own. We must let God into our lives. Only when we realize that we are "helpless," "sinners," and "enemies" will the blood of Christ do us any good (Rom. 5:6-11). It is impossible to be saved by our simply deciding to "pull ourselves up" and do it all alone. This is reliance on sinlessness; and it cannot work. We must rely upon the grace of God.

Don’t misunderstand. This is not arguing that we may therefore engage in sin without feeling bad about it. Grace is no license to sin (Rom. 6:1-2); and we can never feel good about acting contrary to the holiness of God. However, grace does give us a reason to continue in service to God, for we know that the One we serve is no ogre who delights in our failures. When we sin, He is there, reaching out to give us a hand, willing and ready to pardon our sins if we will but cast ourselves back upon Him. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). Sin is not overlooked. We must not flippantly or presumptuously "forget" about our sins; but these passages are a great comfort to us all who realize that we do sin. God will forgive.