Living Innocence in the Eyes of God's Law
As we ponder the concept of living innocence, we are reminded of the pristine state of our first parents in the Garden of Eden, where they walked in unbroken fellowship with God, their hearts untainted by sin. This is the standard against which we measure true innocence, as seen in the words of Jesus, "Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Yet, we know that since the fall, humanity's innocence has been lost, and our natural inclination is towards sin, as the apostle Paul laments, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh" (Romans 7:18).
However, through the redemptive work of Christ, believers are clothed in His righteousness, and our innocence is restored, not based on our own merits, but on the imputed righteousness of Christ. As the prophet Isaiah declares, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10). Living innocence, then, is not about achieving sinless perfection in this life, but about walking in the freedom and joy of being forgiven and redeemed, as the psalmist exclaims, "Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit" (Psalm 32:2).
In practical terms, living innocence looks like a life characterized by humility, transparency, and a willingness to confess and repent of sin, as John encourages, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). It is a life marked by a deepening awareness of our own sinfulness and a corresponding dependence on the mercies of God, as Paul reminds us, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment" (Romans 12:3). As we walk in this way, we begin to experience the beauty of living innocence, where our hearts are free to love and serve God and others, unencumbered by the weight of guilt and shame.