Sometimes, the believers most likely to harp on how sinful we are miss the other side of sanctification, an element of the good news that’s every bit as powerful and life-changing. It’s this: You don’t realize the pervasiveness of Christ’s holiness in you. A Christian living by the Spirit does far more good than he or she even realizes. Isn’t that what we see when Jesus separates the sheep and the goats and then begins to list off the good things his followers have done?

In theological circles that stress the pervasiveness of sin, we’re often told we’re more sinful than we realize. We can’t comprehend the extent of sin’s effects: its parasitic attachment to whatever good we do, its potential to taint even the purest of motives, the way it fractures shalom in the tiniest of ways, the resistance of sin’s rebellious heart toward God, or the sly and insidious actions motivated by a quiet fear of people. “Out damned spot!” cried Lady Macbeth after all her futile efforts to get rid of the bloodstains from her complicity with murder.

Even after we’re rescued by Christ—trusting him not only to save us but also to make us more like himself—our sense of our sinfulness grows. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we see and feel our lack of holiness, our stubborn sinful patterns, our spiritual inadequacies. As the extensiveness of their sin dawned on people around pastor Jack Miller, he’d do the opposite of the world that constantly chants “You are enough” and “You are good” by saying instead, “Cheer up! You’re a much bigger sinner than you think!”

Yes, we’re far more sinful than we can comprehend, and we’re guilty even of sins we’re unaware of, the sins the psalmist asks forgiveness for, our “hidden faults” (Ps. 19:12–13) that require purification.

Unseen Holiness of Christ in Us

But there’s a flip side to this lack of awareness of how deep our sins go. Sometimes, the believers most likely to harp on how sinful we are miss the other side of sanctification, an element of the good news that’s every bit as powerful and life-changing. It’s this: You don’t realize the pervasiveness of Christ’s holiness in you. A Christian living by the Spirit does far more good than he or she even realizes.

Isn’t that what we see when Jesus separates the sheep and the goats and then begins to list off the good things his followers have done? “Lord, when did we do these things?” comes the question (Matt. 25:31–46). They’re gobsmacked. They can’t even recall all the good things they did, whether large or small. The closer you get to Jesus, the more you spot your lingering sins, yes, and the less you feel your progress in holiness. But that progress is there nonetheless.

In his recent book of reflections on Christ’s second coming, Come, Lord Jesus, John Piper reflects on the astounding promise of Ephesians 6:7–8.

Read More