Good men are not perfect men. That should be evident to anyone who has lived for more than a couple of decades. I have been reading Heart Aflame, which is John Calvin’s meditations on the Psalms. His take on Ps. 89:30-31 is interesting because it deals with the difference between justification and sanctification. The language used is anachronistic, but its very denseness caused me to slow down and read what it actually says. Hope it’s the same for you.
When God adopts men into his family, they do not forthwith completely lay aside the flesh with its corruptions, as is held by some enthusiasts , who dream, that as soon as we are grafted into the body of Christ, all the corruption that is in us must be destroyed. Would to God that we could all of a sudden change our nature, and thus exhibit that angelic perfection which they require! But as it is quite apparent, that we are far from such an attainment, so long as we carry about with us this tabernacle of flesh, let us bid adieu to that devilish figment, and let us all betake ourselves to the sanctuary of forgiveness, which is at all times open to us. John Calvin, Heart Aflame
Since I myself am very far from “angelic perfection”, this message encourages me to continually run to the throne of grace where forgiveness is found.
Robert Frohlich 