0377. Forsaking of Sins

Forsaking of Sins

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy on him" (Isa_55:7).

Forsaking sin cannot save, but forsaking sin is an evident token of salvation. The one who says, "I believe in Christ," but continues in the old life has no token of salvation.

When the prodigal son came home, he left the far country.

Illustration: A gambler was on his death bed. He had been wonderfully saved a few days before. The minister who led him to Christ was sitting by his side. "Preacher," said the once gambler, "did you not tell me that Jesus Christ put my sins behind His back?" "Yes," replied the minister, "they are all gone; they are washed away; you lie there, in the sight of God, as white, as snow."

It is said that the converted gambler then requested the preacher to get a pack of cards, and a flask of whisky and a pistol, and to put them behind his back. "For," said the once gambler, "if God has put my sins behind His back, I want them behind mine, too." And this is always the case; the saved soul will forsake his evil ways.

An evident token of perdition is continuing in sin. Balaam said, "I have sinned;" but he went on sinning. Saul said, "I have sinned;" but he continued in his sin. Let no one think that they have a genuine saving faith in Christ, if they wilfully, and with a "don’t care" spirit are walking in sin.

In Ephesians we read: "In the times past we walked * * in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind." But now, we have "put off all these." The child of God may sin, but the trend of his life is not sinning.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR