Word of Encouragement (10/7/2020)

Yesterday, we talked about the importance of self-censure when we are in sin. Today, we will talk about the importance of being “careful not to censure yourself too much, for the purpose of censure is not to lead you to despair but to work true repentance in your heart” (#19). The following are some wise instructions:

“a. Do not conclude that you have fallen from the state of justification and the grace of adoption. ‘The love of God in Christ is an endless and unchangeable love (John 13:1), and its perpetuity is founded not upon anything in us, but upon the firm rock of his will and counsel.’ A fall into gross sin will breach your justification and adoption by withholding their comforts and privileges, but your right to those comforts and privileges by repentance is in no way extinguished [as long as you come back to God in humble acknowledgment of your guilt and with sincere desire to repent of your sins. Remember, the grace of repentance is for those who are in sin. If you are in sin, you are eligible for this grace and you can receive it by faith.]

“b. Do not conclude that the pardon of your former sins is voided by your present sin. The commission of new sins does not revoke the pardon of former sins or make the guilt of former sins return, no more than subsequent debt makes former payments void (Isa. 44:22). [This is true unless you denounce your faith in Jesus Christ. God forbid that such a thing should happen to any of us but, if it did happen, it would show that you never truly believed and none of your sins were ever forgiven: ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us...’ (1 John 2:19). One important characteristic of true faith is that it perseveres until the end without ever giving up. And if we persevere by returning to Christ no matter how big or many our sins may be, we receive God’s full and complete forgiveness.]

“c. Do not conclude that you have lost all sanctifying grace. Grievous sins may put you into a spiritual coma, but they do not reduce you to a carcass. They may blast and wither your precious fruits of grace and profession [so, be very careful in your Christian walk!], but they do not wholly destroy the root and seed from which those grow. The seed of God still abides in you and you will again bring forth the fruits of repentance (1 John 3:9 “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God”). God has put His fear into your heart so that you will not turn from Him (Jer. 32:40 “I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me”), for ‘He that keeps us by faith keeps faith itself in us.’”

God is holding on to you. Hold on to Him and thrive in your communion with Him. Have a blessed day!