The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(Friends, the current series regarding confession of sin is centered on the meaning of the word "confession" in the New Testament, namely, "to say the same thing." We are considering what God says about our sins, and how we join Him in His grace, mercy, and truth in order to adequately and effectually confess our sins.)
Confession of Sin
Part 7 - "The Second Sin"
"May our Heavenly Father grant much grace in our abstaining from the countless "first sins," as it were, that tempt us. May He grant just as much grace to keep us from the "second sin" of neglecting His restorative mercy in times of unbelief and disobedience."
A believer in the Lord Jesus Christ encountered a fellow Christian, who seemed particularly discouraged. "What is the matter, my brother?" he asked. The man responded, "I woke up this morning and had a wonderful time in the Scriptures and in prayer. It seemed like it was going to be a really wonderful day in walking with the Lord. However, my children misbehaved in the car on the way to school. I lost my temper and yelled at them in anger. I apologized, but I don't know how I went from being so in tune with the Lord to such sin and carnality."
The man's friend looked at his disheartened fellow believer. "My friend," he said kindly, but firmly, "Has the blood of the Lord Jesus lost its power to provide forgiveness and cleansing?"
Has it? No. Never. Not possible for those who "come boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). This is God's perspective and determination. It must be ours as well. Thereby, we avoid the second sin, that is, the failure to say the same thing as God says about whatever sin makes necessary our confession and repentance. "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7).
We will never know how vast and consequential the cross of the Lord Jesus looms in God's sight. The measure of such sacrifice fills His field of vision as He looks upon trusting sons and daughters He greatly desires to fill with His peace. He well knows that, while never excusable or inevitable, we will sometimes sin during this present lifetime as we live amid devilish, worldly, and fleshly temptations. Thus, He has made a perfect way of not only eternally securing our relationship with Him by grace, but also of quickly restoring our fellowship with Him in times of sin. Only "the second sin" of failure to agree with Him about our sins through humble confession, honest repentance, and confidence in Christ's atoning restoration keeps us mired in pits of discouragement and spiritual paralysis. Yes, our Lord and His shed blood must become ever more vast in our own field of vision, particularly in times when we requires its power to provide forgiveness and cleansing. "They looked unto Him and were lightened" (Psalm 34:5).
May our Heavenly Father grant much grace in our abstaining from the "first sins," as it were, that tempt us. May He grant just as much grace to keep us from the "second sin" of neglecting His restorative mercy in times of unbelief and disobedience. Too much was sacrificed by our Lord on the cross of Calvary for us to wallow in unconfessed sin and the accompanying consequences.
Indeed, the Holy Spirit beckons us to "Get up!" if we fall by directing our hearts to "Look up!" A Savior perfectly able to forgive and cleanse us from all sin awaits our approach to the throne of grace in the confidence, confession and contrition whereby we say the same thing about sin as God says…
"The law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
(Romans 5:20-21)
"He delighteth in mercy."
(Micah 7:18)
Weekly Memory Verse
Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.
(Micah 7:18)
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