The 39 Articles of Religion: Articles XV & AVI

Sin is at the beginning and end of faith. Without sin, why would we need a Savior? Why would we need to turn to Jesus? Yet Adam and Eve sinned, leading to the seed of Eve becoming the Word made flesh. Jesus, God in the flesh dwelling with us who are sinners. Jesus, standing in line to be baptized by John for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus, identifying with us, not shying away from us sinners, not abandoning us because we are not worth the cost. Jesus, taking on the sins of the world as the perfect sacrifice. And yet even after coming into full faith in Jesus, we continue to sin and to repent and return to the Lord. We do look forward to that day when sin and the former things will have passed away.

XV. Of Christ alone without Sin.

Christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things, sin only except, from which he was clearly void, both in his flesh, and in his spirit. He came to be the Lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world; and sin (as Saint John saith) was not in him. But all we the rest, although baptized, and born again in Christ, yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

XVI. Of Sin after Baptism.

Not every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism is sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God we may arise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned, which say, they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.