Bewailing your sin continuously, bemoaning the condition of your wretched heart unceasingly, without end berating yourself because of the vile creature that you suppose yourself to be in the eyes of the Living God.
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
If those opening words describe you, constantly recalling your past sins, never removing your thoughts from the sins of the present, and in despair of the knowledge that you will indeed sin against the Almighty in the future, then you do not understand, or will not accept the words that the Lord Jesus Christ said about that man, and all those who do the same.
“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)
My lovely wife is reading for us in the mornings from a collection of hymns and poems from two men who started one of the largest religious denominations in the world, sadly one that in the last few short decades has fallen into the traps of Satan. And in a way it is not difficult to see why, for in nearly every page is not the expression of the assurance of salvation, but the cries of those who will not accept or receive in full that which the Lord Jesus Christ has taken for us and paid in full.
The conscience, the mind that is not freed from the guilt of sin is the person who is ensnared by it, who will not rest or move forward for the glory of the Most High in the assurance of their salvation. By default, many times it is that mind that moves from grace towards works for salvation.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8)
The last hope of the person who will not accept their own forgiveness, that will not believe that all of their sins, past, present and future were paid for on the cross of Christ, is to formulate within their minds some form of a works-based life to appease the wrath of God. They live in a false hope and not in the truths of the Scriptures.
Many religious organizations do this on purpose, by evil intent to keep those in attendance in bondage, others, along with many individuals, cannot see through the deceptions of either our adversary or their own heart. They know the words of the following verse, but they will neither believe them nor accept them.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
A poor, wretched sinner continuously, not one forgiven.
The bondage of sin is a terrible burden to bear, but it is exemplified, made many times worse, when it has been forgiven by God Himself, but still willingly carried by the one who will not forgive themselves. Neither the assembly of believers nor the individuals who will not accept the forgiveness given to them can move forward for the glory of the Living God in full assurance, in His strength and power towards that strait gate, for they will continuously bemoan a condition of tears that should not exist within them.
It is the great sin in the heart of unrepentant mankind my friends, to accept complete and total forgiveness from the Most High, and to move forward in confidence of the assurance of that forgiveness and your salvation. To believe that we are saved by grace through faith, without works.
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
Are you honestly free? Can you, have you, forgiven yourself? Or will you attempt to live with that which should not be a burden to you any longer?
If you have laid your sins at the foot of the cross, leave them there.
