The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-05-31

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so greatly slnned,
&%X% . as this Psalm In
~ ~sx# dicates. Through
4MTyxfE a sudden and
8 ~ \M strong temptation
he committed the
gross sin Of adultery and then even
tried to cover over some Of the effects
OF 1t by being accessory to the sin Of
murder. Nevertheless, and because he
did really know God his conviction of
sin In the premises nearly broke his
heart His cry Of repentance and APP
peal for mercy are recorded in this
Psalm, whose wall of sorrow and sub
sequent shout Of Joy have been heard
through all the ages bringing instruc-
tion and comfort to many another sin
ming saint.
It Is for this reason so instructive
for us to observe how David returned
to God. First of all, he clearly and
definitely judged his own sin before
God. This Is expressed in the first six
verses of the Psalm where he cries out
for mercy acknowledging his guilt and
pleading for thorough cleansing from
his iniqulty.
Forgiveness and Cleansing.
In the next division of the Psalm we
see forgiveness and cleansing accord
ed him and secured on his part by
faith in the atonlng blood. This is
expressed In verses 40, in the sym.
bolism Of the hyssop, in the washing
of his soul until II Is whittier than snow,
in the blotting out of his iniqulty, and
in the creation within him of clean
heart.
We now see the restored one filled
with the Spirit of God, in verses I'LL.
He Is filled with the JOY Of salvation ;
he is filled with power to teach trans
gressors and convert sinners; he Is
filled with the spirit Of service and
with the spirit Of worship as indicated
in his overflowing praise, and the pre-
sentatiOn unto God of the sacrifice of
broken spirit and contrte heart.
Finally he Is seen In fellowship with
God and Interested now, not so much
in things concerning himself, rs in the
things that concern God. His cry is,
do good In thy good pleasure unto
Zion; build thou the walls Of Jeru-
This beautiful outline Of the Psalm
Is suggested by the Scofeld Refer
ence Bible, and ought to bring the
greatest comfort to any soul weary
and heavy-laden with the burden Of
sin, and who Is really desirous to find
the way of deliverance from 1t.
The Same Truth In the New Testament.
One finds all the more encourage
ment to urge this because the same
truth, only put in another way, is set
before us again in the New Testa.
ment. You will find 1t In the First
Epistle of John, chapter /, verse 8,
where, addressing Christian believers,
he says, 'If we confess our sins, He
Ii. e. Cod, is faithful and just to for
give us our sins, and to cleanse us
lIOiu uli uuIlShttOuSueSs.
Because man Is saved by Gods
grace through faith in Christ, |. e.,
because he is true Christian bellev-
er, is not to say that he will never
again commit sin against God. 1t Is
indeed his privilege, through the power
of Gods spirit dwelling within him, to
continually live life of victory over
sin, and yet, like David, he may fall.
Under such circumstances, what Is
he to do? Has he lost out again?
Has he utterly fallen never to be re-
stored any more? Has Christ's sac
rifice forever lost its efficacy for him?
No, thank God, Christ, as his high
priest in heaven, ever liveth to make
intercession for him. And now, like
David again, 1t Is for him to judge
his sin before God, for that is really
the meaning of the word, Confess"
Let him do this, and he will find God
faithful and just to forgive" him.
Faithful" to his promise that means,
and "just" because Jesus Christ has
paid the penalty of his sin.
"Merciful and Just"
That word "just" is full of strength
and comfort for us. God is not only
''merciful" in forglving the man who
comes to him through Christ, but he Is
"just" in doing so. He Is "just" be-
cause that mans sins have already
been atoned for on the cross, and 1t
would be unjust to ignore that great
fact and to cast the man away.
This is a lesson for Christian back
sliders, and alas there are many Of
them in the church. Some Of them
would gladly return to the fathers
house, but they are timid and fearful
and so discouraged. But let them take
heart again, for God loves and yearns
over them. The story Of the prodlgal
son In Luke 10 was meant for them.
That which he did insured loving
welcome for him in his old home, and
so let them follow his example as out
lined in the language of Psalm 81 and
John %. They also will be met in
the same way, and know what It is to
have the old JOY Of their salvation re-
stored unto them, because by grace
they will be cleansed from all unright-
eousness.