0378. Sorrow for Sinning

Sorrow for Sinning

"Have mercy upon me, O God, * * blot out my transgressions: Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Psa_51:1-2).

An evident token of salvation is sorrow for sin. David sinned in the case of Uriah; Nathan the Prophet rebuked him for his sin; David’s heart was broken, his bones waxed old with their roaring all the day.

The 51st Psalm presents the prayer of David’s broken heart, and certainly assures us that David was God’s child.

Thus any child of God may sin, but when he sins, and realizes his sin, he is consumed with tears.

Peter walked afar off. He warmed himself at the enemy’s fire. He said, "I know not the Man." He cursed and swore.

No one however need doubt that Peter was saved. He was not only saved, but he was a devoted follower of Christ.

One of the strongest tokens of Peter’s salvation lay in the fact that, when Christ turned and looked upon him, and he saw the heinousness of his deed, he went out and wept bitterly.

A token of perdition is no sorrow for sinning. Of course the sinner will bemoan his sins when he is caught. If the iron hand of the law grips him, he might put up a few weeps, but that is not sorrow toward God.

Mary crept up behind the Lord and wept upon His feet, and with her hair she wiped her tears away.

Simon found fault; but Christ said to Simon: "I entered into thine house, and thou gavest Me no water for My feet; but she hath washed (rained on) My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss My feet: My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment, wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven * * and He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace."

True faith in Christ and a real salvation will always be marked by a Godly sorrow for sin. Christians cannot and Christians do not sin, and realize their sin, apart from sorrow for their sins.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR