0518. The Confession
The Confession
"For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
"Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: That Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest" (Psa_51:3-4).
How blessed it would be if every believer would take the same attitude toward their transgressions as David took. Let us notice three things.
1. "I acknowledge my transgressions." Fellowship with God, can be enjoyed only when sin is put away. Sin can be put away, or forgiven, only when it is acknowledged or confessed. The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." The emphasis must be placed on the "if."
We are not discussing the believer’s standing, but his state. We are not considering the imputed righteousness of Christ, for we know full well that in Christ Jesus, all of us stand holy and without sin. What we are discussing, is how the believer’s state is made right. How is it that he who stands clothed in the righteousness of Christ, can enjoy fellowship. If we are children of the light, we should walk as children of the light.
It is a great mistake to imagine that a believer, because he is Blood-washed, and justified, can live as he likes. Grace yields no license to licentiousness. Wherever there is any sin, that sin must be confessed before the Lord. "He will lift up His face upon the transgressor."
2. "My sin is ever before me." David had no rest by day nor night. Even before Nathan, the Prophet, had come unto him and showed him his sin, he was miserable. No wonder he so quickly cried, "I have sinned." There was not a moment’s peace, until peace was found in sins forgiven.
Some of us wish that God would not put our sins so heavily upon us.
When the body is out of adjustment, we know it because of pain. We do not enjoy it, yet we should thank God for the pain because it reveals unto us where the body is sick.
It is not pleasant for any believer to experience an aching heart. There is no comfort in rolling and rocking upon one’s bed. However it is true that a troubled spirit, is God’s sign to the believer of his sin. God’s chastening is a manifestation of His favor, not of His wrath. God weighs us down with the woes of sinning, in order that we may come to Him, the Great Physician, to seek relief.
3. "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned." David had sinned most grievously against Uriah, he had sinned also against Bathsheba, he had also sinned against every man in Israel. He had caused people everywhere to blaspheme God’s name, and yet David prays: "Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned and done this evil in Thy sight."
When we awake to the full realization of what sin is, we find it is always, against God. The Ten Commandments give preference to our obligation to God, as over against our obligation to our fellow-men. The commandment is, indeed, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor;" but it is, primarily, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God." Every one that sins, sins against God.
The universe is God’s universe, the people upon the earth are the creatures of God’s handiwork. Sin breaks the rhythm, spoils the music of God’s creation. Sin, therefore, is against God’s purpose, plan, and glory.
One other thought is wrapped up in these words. When Jesus died upon the Cross, our sins were all laid upon Him. Therefore, when we sin, we sin against Him, because by His stripes we must be healed. Every sin of ours added just that much, to His weight of woe.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR