The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-13
SIN AND FORGIVENESS.


1. The aged apostle wrote his message to
his dear disciples (little children), that they
might not sin, and having sinned that they
might be forgiven, and cleansed from its
pollution. None are absolutely free from
sin. Those who profess to be absolutely sim
less, or incapable of SHINING, are either de-
luded or hypocritical. To be sinner is to
yield to the power of and dominion of evil.
To be a Christian and righteous is to submit
the heart and life to the authority of the Cos
pei and the influence of the Holy Spirit, and
to live according to the example of JESUS,
"who did no sin," neither was guile found in
his mouth Those who are truly Christian
and most Godlike are the most sensible of
their sins and most willing to confess their
imperfections and shortcomings. JESUS is
the pattern and inspiration of a righteous
life, and also the medium of redemption
from the dominion of sin and iDiquity.
Through repentance and reformation is
wrought the deliverance from sin, To deny
having sinned is not only to be false and to
contradict truth, but is to remain in a sinful
state. To make confession of sin is the
we confess our sins, GOD is both faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all iniquity. GoD is forever exercising
His forgiving spirit toward His sinful chill
dren. His is the spirit of forgiveness. His
justice which requires only holiness and obe-
dience, forbids that He should withhold His
favor and blessing when these are rendered,
lie foif tha
of every promised reward of righteousness
To receive and enjoy any divine favor re-
quires fellowship with the divine. To have
the divine fellowship is to be pure in heart
and upright in life. To profess to be in di-
vine fellowship while living in impurity and
sin, or to deny having sinned, are both alike
contradictions of the Divine Word and there
fore false. Forgiveness of sin is divine ia
vor. Those who are living in sin cannot re-
ceive it or any spiritual blessing. All who
forsake their sins and turn to righteousness
with the whole heart, enter the divine fellow
ship, receive the divine approval, and enjoy
sense of the divine forgiveness. To for
give sin is to make it no longer bar to
friendship or favor, COP freely forgives all
sin, only on the necessary condition, that it
be put away, forsaken or abandoned, and
righteousness and truth chosen. "Cease to
do evil and learn to do WE'LL" is the divine
requirement.
To ask COP to put away our sins from be-
fore His face, to count them as nothing, and
to be well pleased with us while we wilfully
continue in them, would be to insult His pur-
ity, and to do despite TO His loving kindness.
GoD freely forgives them. He puts them
away from between Him and us. He does
not suffer them to hinder our communion
with Him. He is no longer displeased with
US because of them, but takes us fully into
His favor.-ReU. f.. c.. S,0eetser, ID. d., in
''The Latest Word of Universalism."
3. Advocate. "If any man sin we have an
Advocate with the Father. JESUS CHRIST the
righteous" ADVOCATE is the translation of
the same original word that is rendered conn
forter in Johns Gospel. (For a complete
discussion of the word and its uses see Les
son Study for September H. "One who
renders friendly service is indicated by the
primary meaning of the Greek word, para
eletos-helper. Such service is rendered by
faithful advocate in court or at law. As
those who have sinned and have forfeited the
divine favor, we have friendly advocate
with the Father whose forgiveness we need.
The same truth is declared in the Epistle to
the Hebrews (vii. 25) under the figure of a
high priest. "He ever liveth to make inter-
cession for them" An upright and faithful
advocate is favored by the court. A perpet-
ual priesthood is more effective than a tenn
porary one. In JESUS CHRIST we have the
equivalent of both of these. In him we are
sure of the divine forgiveness. All souls will
be brought into the divine fellowship and ia
vor through him. He loved all, and died for
ALL He is risen to live and love forever
3. Precipitation. JESUS is not only our
faithful advocate and friendly helper in OBJ
tanning the divine favor and fellowship, but
he is also ''the Precipitation for our sins, and