The Root Of All Sin
Tullian Tchividjian Blog | November 25, 2011
Temptation is a false promise--a promise that doesn't deliver. When we give into temptation, we are believing a lie. In the moment that we're being tempted to do something, say something, or believe something, there is a deeper temptation happening under the surface. This may come as a surprise to you, but temptation has more to do with belief than it does behavior. Every temptation to sin (going all the way back to the Garden of Eden) is, at it's root, a temptation to disbelieve the gospel. Gerhard Forde puts it this way:The sin to be ultimately expelled is our lack of trust, our unbelief.
When we are being tempted, we are being enticed to purchase something we think we need in order to escape the judgement of emptiness. On the surface, the bait might be lust, anger, greed, self-pity, defensiveness, entitlement, revenge, having to win, and so on. But the only reason we take the bait is because we think it will satisfy our deeper hunger for meaning, freedom, validation, respect, empowerment, affection, a sense of identity, worth, and so on.
So, here's the connection between sinning (the fruit of the problem) and unbelief (the root of the problem): our failure to lay aside the sin that so easily entangles is the direct result of our refusal to believe in the rich provisional resources that are already ours in Christ--we're not believing that, by virtue of our Spirit-wrought union with Christ, everything we need and long for, we already possess. John Calvin rightly said that, "Christians are in perpetual conflict with their own unbelief."
This is why when Jesus was asked in John 6:28, "What must we do to be doing the works of God?" he answered, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him who he sent." Jesus was making the indisputable point that unbelief is the force that gives birth to all of our bad behavior and every moral failure. It is the root. While the disciples located godliness in something they must do, Jesus pointed them back to himself--the One who came to do for them what they could never do for themselves. "Believe in me."
In the preface to Martin Luther's commentary on Romans, he writes:
...only unbelief is called sin by Christ, as he says in John 16, "The Spirit will punish the world because of sin, because it does not believe in me." Furthermore, before good or bad works happen--which are the good or bad fruits of the heart--there has to be present in the heart either faith or unbelief--the root, sap and chief power of all sin. That is why, in the Scriptures, unbelief is called the head of the serpent which the offspring of the woman (that is, Christ) must crush, as was promised to Adam in Genesis 3.
Believing that "it is finished", that everything we need in Christ is already ours and therefore we need nothing more, is the hardest thing (so much harder than modifying our behavior) because we are all seasoned "do-it-yourselfers." Self-salvation engineers (that's all of us) find it much easier to make a moral "to-do" and "not-to-do" list and try to live by it, then they do trusting, believing, and resting wholly in the work and provision of Another. "To be convinced in our hearts", said Luther, "that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace alone is the hardest thing" because "the sin underneath all sins is the lie that we cannot trust the love and grace of Jesus and that we must take matters into our own hands."Failing to believe the gospel leads to slavery because now finding peace, joy, meaning, and satisfaction is up to me. I'm on my own. This is why we give into temptation--we're desperately looking under every rock and behind every tree searching for something to make ourselves happy, something to save us, something to set us free.
The gospel declares that I don't need to save myself, defend myself, legitimize myself, justify myself, free myself, or in any other way, ensure that the ultimate verdict on my life is pass and not fail. The gospel frees me from the obsessive pressure to avoid the judgement of joylessness, the enslaving demand to find happiness. Walker Percy has described humanity as waiting for news. Christianity announces that the news has come: I'm not on my own. It's not on me. We all know that "further, better, and more aggressive living" on our part isn't producing life for us, and so the gospel comes as good news to those who have crashed and burned. What I need and long for most has come from outside of me--from "above the sun"--in the person of Jesus.
Real freedom in "the hour of temptation" happens only when the resources of the gospel smash any sense of need to secure for myself anything beyond what Christ has already secured for me.
Like the father of the boy with the unclean spirit in Mark 9, let us cry out daily, "I believe; help my unbelief!"
Comments:
November 30, 2011 at 02:00 PM
PAUL,
I couldn't agree more with your evaluation regarding Joseph Prince.I have been listening to his weekly sermons on Sunday mornings on CNBC Europe, 0930 a.m. European time for roughly 2 years. When it comes to law and grace he and Tullian are absolutely in the same boat, i.e. they both understand and preach law and grace on the same level. That the LORD may rise a new generation of Grace preachers like them. It is fascinating and life changeing at the same time.
November 29, 2011 at 09:27 AM
Did anyone see Joseph Prince @ Olsteens church last night? He said “It is not our love for Jesus but His love for us that matters more ” or something to that effect.
paul st.,
I listened to the whole massage and also listen to J.P. often. In a post earlier I stated that take away some penticostal differencies J.P. and Tullian or almost word for word on the gospel of Grace. (“It is not our love for Jesus but His love for us that matters more). I could not agree more with this statement. It is our path to freedom when we are OVERWHELMED by the love of Jesus everyday. When that comes first, then the Spirit in us rejoices and love for Him and others radiates effortlessly. Not to speak for Tullian but I believe he would also agree. God Bless
November 29, 2011 at 05:17 AM
I loved this post. Especially 'we’re desperately looking under every rock and behind every tree searching for something to make ourselves happy, something to save us, something to set us free'
November 29, 2011 at 04:50 AM
Steve
I gave them my two cents worth. I should have been thrown off this blog 2 yrs ago. I get Grace now.
Did anyone see Joseph Prince @ Olsteens church last night? He said "It is not our love for Jesus but His love for us that matters more " or something to that effect.
November 29, 2011 at 02:30 PM
This line especially spoke to me: "Real freedom in “the hour of temptation” happens only when the resources of the gospel smash any sense of need to secure for myself anything beyond what Christ has already secured for me."
Thanks for sharing this powerful and encouraging post!
God Bless,
Bryan
November 28, 2011 at 12:30 PM
I needed that, awesomely written and right on!
As Christians what leads us to unbelief, is open for discussion.
Look at the power God displayed to Israel, yet they were in unbelief.
I think (like Peter) we take our eyes off of Christ.
We stop fellow-shipping,praying,reading; all which lead to the progression of unbelief. We stop guarding our hearts, stop putting on the Armour, and so on. We are in a battle!
November 28, 2011 at 08:18 AM
[...] is a great post about temptation and the gospel from Tullian [...]
November 28, 2011 at 07:46 PM
There is a blog site that highlights Pastor Tullian's point of view and his book Jesus + Nothing, and they are saying that this is false teaching. No suprise there...most Christian churches believe that way, too.
Anyway...here's the blog address if anyone wants to go over there and challenge them:
http://5ptsalt.com/2011/11/28/tchividjians-error/#comment-10588
I put in a comment over there. Come join in the fun and see how long it takes before they censor us! I shouldn't say that... maybe that won't happen.
November 28, 2011 at 04:55 PM
[...] reading “The Root of All Sin” on Tullian Tchividians’s blog, I’ve been thinking about the difference between [...]
November 27, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Good post.
The other side of that wonderful coin is that we sin only when we are deceived by "the world, the flesh and the devil".
It is now UNNATURAL for us to sin (as a new creation with a new nature - "reckon yourselves dead to sin and alive to God" - Rom. 6:11).
Yet we will sin, insofar as we don't keep the truths of the New Covenant (indeed Jesus Christ Himself) renewing our minds, in opposition to the deceiving by the world, the flesh and the devil.
"You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free."
"Sin shall no longer be master over you, for you are not under Law, but under Grace."
November 27, 2011 at 06:21 PM
[...] The Root of All Sin [...]
November 27, 2011 at 06:03 AM
[...] Life and Grace: The Root Of All Sin [...]
November 26, 2011 at 10:49 PM
[...] http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tullian/2011/11/25/the-root-of-all-sin/ Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in KFD. Bookmark the permalink. ← The Devil’s Playbook [...]
November 26, 2011 at 10:46 PM
This is exactly what I needed to read tonight. It often is. I saw you speak in Jacksonville a few months ago at a point when I was on the verge of throwing in the towel on inner city ministry and it was the impetus to a new season of Gospel-centered, Christ-driven work. Thanks so much. Keep being used to point us to Him.
November 26, 2011 at 09:39 AM
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November 26, 2011 at 08:46 PM
That is it... the root of sind is unbelief... trusting myself, depending on my resources... which are alway lacking... setting me up for temptation and its fruit - sin. Thank you Pastor Tullian for another clear declaration of my problem and God's remedy... Christ alone, my salvation, refuge, and comfort. Faith that transforms grows as the gospel is declared.
Jack
November 26, 2011 at 06:50 PM
Great post.
We are all idolators at heart.
Substituting anything at all in the place of the Living God.
But He gives us faith. And He keeps us in faith...as we walk away from Him, day after day.
What an awesome God we have.
November 26, 2011 at 06:02 AM
I did a post a while back on my little site about repentance, and my conclusion was the same - the root of repentance is belief that God is for you, that God loves you. We come to the throne of grace for help in ORDER to get help cleaning up, we don't clean up in order to be fit to go to the throne.
But the flesh want manly repentance, repentance with hair on its chest. Grand promises of moral reform, dramatic points of behavioral change. Belief is so ethereal! What is it?
Of course, it is everything, and all reform without a belief in the all-encompassing grace of God is doomed to utter failure.
November 26, 2011 at 04:40 AM
Great post! But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.
November 25, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Pastor
check out Christfellowship.org
November 25, 2011 at 11:51 AM
Pastor
hope ya'll had a marvelous thanksgiving. I am at Miami, but may not be able to get to CRPC. God Bless and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
November 25, 2011 at 10:58 PM
Many, many thanks for bringing the place of the gospel back into focus again and again! I and those I serve with are continually refreshed in Christ by your posts. I wanted to add in another subtle facet to your "looking under every rock... for something to make us happy..." list. Namely, the desire to find relief from pain. It is heart wrenching to see so many believers cope with deep wounds (often decades in the making) through denial and distraction. Strangely, this doesn't seem or feel like as much of a self salvation project, in fact, it can even be perceived as strength, especially if some religious language is thrown in. But what a poor substitute for the healing and wholeness the Lord has for us in the gospel. I pray the Spirit will lead more of us more frequently and thoroughly to the liberating truth of our union with Christ!
November 25, 2011 at 07:35 PM
[...] The Root Of All Sin – Tullian Tchividjian [...]
November 25, 2011 at 03:53 PM
Amen! Happy Thanksgiving. I thought about you being a happy Cowboy fan yesterday.
November 25, 2011 at 01:52 PM
I'm reminded of Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." Here we find a clear argument that wrong belief is the root of all wrong doing. As a result of wrong belief, God "gives us over" to sinful behaviors. Nothing is more essential than correct belief.
May 17, 2012 at 11:46 PM
[...] The Root of All Sin (is distrust) This entry was posted in Uncategorized by admin. Bookmark the permalink. [...]
May 15, 2012 at 11:09 PM
[...] The Root of All Sin (is distrust) Posted by Runner at 5:56 pm [...]
June 20, 2012 at 01:48 AM
[...] The root of all sin, is unbelief. If you don’t believe me, maybe you need to hear it from someone with credentials. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tullian/2011/11/25/the-root-of-all-sin/ [...]
January 27, 2013 at 07:27 PM
[...] The Root of All Sin (is distrust) EmailPrintFacebookTwitterMoreTumblrPinterestLinkedIn ‹ About Grace and Struggle We’ll see what all the fuss is about. Was it worth the $10.75? Probably not, but who cares? #g › Posted in Links, Posts /* [...]
December 3, 2011 at 02:55 AM
Sorry for the typos above. But how hard do these guys have to work to prove they are saved. At what point does one lose assurance or gain it or meet that standard. After all there must be one. The catholics say their working for justification is the grace of God imparted in them, similar to how some say sanctification isn't merit, its the grace of God. It turns the whole gospel on its head.
December 3, 2011 at 02:44 AM
religious people hate the gospel. Its offensive to their finer sensibilities. They think there is some inner ray, maybe just one little bit of goodness they can contribute. They treat sanctification the way Catholics do justification, and many times end up making the Not to justification, they say, Heavens no, but only to sanctification. For after all, they say, its synergistic. If we don't do it to some degree (which nobody is willing to elucidate upon) then our justification proves false. What they fail to see is the sanctification that happens in our life is a result of gratitude which springs only from the gospel. As soon as you start talking about should and quantities, you're in deep doodoo. Or lawgospellaw, no matter how its spun or denied, it turns into another gospel. Gal 3 trying to be perfected by the flexor. A rose by any other name..sameesh. Oh no they say, were not obeying to be saved but because were saved so we have to do it because thats what saved people do. If we don't do then...How often and to what degree must you do it to be assured or find comfort friends? Nothing can merit grace, even after justification. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith is the key. He is the mover of our souls.Focusing on His grace upon grace is the only way true lasting grateful biblical fruit grows. Ill keep gazing at my savior and let these guys keep trying harder.
December 2, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Steve, here is a post from the wep page you posted above.
(Note: Don’t miss the 6 part series on Aggressive Sanctification which includes an in-depth review of Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian (the pastor of renowned Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida). It is well worth your time! Also, the conference itself will be streamed live here. – JT) WHAT TO [...]
http://5ptsalt.com/2011/11/28/tchividjians-error/#comment-10588
December 15, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Dear Tullian,
Please could you point me to the source of that great little John Calvin quote?
Many thanks,
Martin
PAUL
November 30, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Steve, here's a quote from the web site you posted above. It was from another article that shared the same theme as "Tchividjian's-error".
Terry Johnson "The Grace Boys" wrote:
We’re not sanctified merely by realization, unless we include the realization that we’re about to “get slapped upside the head,” as we used to say, if we don’t shape up. Realization, mortification, vivification, study, prayer, discipline, and consistent attendance at public services are all necessary ingredients in a successful and fruitful approach to the Christian life.
Wow, may I quote you? Paul