Key Verse: "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,"
- Luke 15:18 KJV
It is quite certain, that those whom Christ has washed in
His precious blood need not make a confession of sin, as culprits or
criminals, before God the Judge, for Christ has forever taken away
all their sins in a legal sense, so that they no longer stand where they can
be condemned—but are once for all accepted in the Beloved. But having become
children, and offending as children, ought they not every day to go before
their heavenly Father and confess their sin, and acknowledge their iniquity
in that character? Nature teaches that it is the duty of erring children
to make a confession to their earthly father; and the grace of God in
the heart teaches us that we, as Christians, owe the same duty to our
heavenly father. We daily offend, and ought not to rest without daily
pardon.
For, supposing that my trespasses against my Father are not at once taken to Him to be washed away by the cleansing power of the Lord Jesus, what will be the consequence? If I have not sought forgiveness and been washed from these offences against my Father, I shall feel at a distance from Him; I shall doubt His love to me; I shall tremble at Him; I shall be afraid to pray to Him; I shall grow like the prodigal, who, although still a child, was yet far off from his father.
But if, with a child's sorrow at offending so gracious and loving a Parent, I go to Him and tell Him all, and rest not until I realize that I am forgiven, then I shall feel a holy love to my Father, and shall go through my Christian career, not only as saved—but as one enjoying present peace in God through Jesus Christ my Lord. There is a wide distinction between confessing sin as a culprit—and confessing sin as a child. The Father's bosom is the place for penitent confessions. We have been cleansed once for all—but our feet still need to be washed from the defilement of our daily walk, as children of God.
Are you Saved?
