Huisun Abraham Park - Lord’s Day 2nd Service, January 26, 2003
Disappearing sense of guilt
One of the most important issues in our life today is the disappearing sense of guilt in believers. The world lightly regards sin as no big deal, but God states that salvation cannot be found with the presence of sin, regardless of how great or small. There must be clear boundaries in our life of faith concerning God, the world, righteousness and sin.
Rebuked for wrong doings
When people are rebuked for their wrongdoings, there is a strong denial as they furiously attempt to justify themselves. But sin must not be present in our lives, homes, churches, countries, and nations. The world may think little of sin and turn a blind eye to it, but God sees everything and will not overlook our iniquities. He knows our every step and our innermost thoughts (Dan 5:25-27). How terrifying is this? Sin cannot achieve the glory of God, for the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).
Acknowledging sin results in forgiveness
King David sought God’s forgiveness above all things and fervently prayed with all his heart and utmost strength as if his very life and being wrung out of him. David fasted with prayer, beating his chest and tearing out his hair. He earnestly entreated God to blot out his transgression by His lovingkindness and compassion. King David felt bone crushing pain in concealing his sin of violating a married woman.He confessed and said; When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long (Ps 32:3). But even among the pain David felt gladness when he was forgiven and said; Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which You have broken rejoice (Ps 51:8). David’s inner torment was bone-crushing agony. However, by being scourged, David confirmed the love of God the Father who disciplines His beloved children (Heb 12:5-6). Through David’s repentance he came to fully understand the heart of God the Father.David did not offer up sacrifices to God because David knew that God desired the sacrifice of a broken spirit, an offering of which is already broken and rotting. Therefore God is delighted by the saints who are pained in their spirits from suffering pangs of conscience. All one must do is repent before God without saying a word to anyone else.
Comparing sins to others
Have we ever experienced such heartbreaking and bone-piercing pain from sinning? We are merely silent, and unaffected. Many claim that their sin is nothing compared to the sins of others. But the agony David suffered was like that of nature withering away in the summer drought (Ps 32:4). A guilty conscience drains a person of his or her vitality and replaces it with torment. How can there be happiness? When we conceal our sins we have many sorrows. The Word of God says; Many are the sorrows of the wicked however; those who trust in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him (Ps 32:10). This is why David did not hide his iniquity from God but acknowledged it, and as a result he received forgiveness for his sins. God comes near to those who are brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Ps 34:18; 51:16-17).
True happiness and forgiveness through the cross
God said to Job, Whoever perished being innocent? (Job 4:7). Nothing good can come from sin. Such words demonstrate the extreme of God’s love for us. Human beings have many transgressions but how blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is covered. How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit (Ps 32:1-2). According to 1st Corinthians 1:18, the Word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us whoare being saved it is the power of God. Jesus Christ became the sacrificial lamb who took our sins upon Himself on the cross and shattered the powers of death by resurrecting in three days, just as He had said (John 2:19). There are no graves in Christianity. Human beings cannot comprehend that the corruptible body, aged and failing with weakening bones and balding crowns, can come to life once again. But God is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him (Luke 20:38).
Conclusion: To Christians, the cross is not a means of execution but it is the emblem of life that delivers humankind from eternal death. Jesus did away with all of our sins through His crucifixion, including those passed down from our ancestors as well as our own respective sins that we unknowingly and knowingly committed. How wonderful is the cross!
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