The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-06-09

SA .s dicateS. Through
Eas sudden and
~ M A strong temptation
sz'szssz --s he committed the
gross sin Of adultery, and then even
tried to cover over some Of the effects
of it 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-
ton and comfort to many another SIN
ming saint.
! 1t 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 a thorough cleansing from
his iniquity.
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 atoning blood. This is
expressed in verses ITO, in the SYM
bolism Of the hyssop, in the washing
of his soul until it is whittier than snow,
In the plotting out Of his iniquity, and
In the creation within him of clean
heart.
We now see the restored one filed
with the Spirit Of God, in verses ILL.
He is filled with the JOY of salvation;
he is filed with power to teach trans
gressors and convert sinners; he Is
filed with the spirit of service and
| with the spirit of worship as indicated
In his overlooking praise, and the pre-
| sentation unto God of the sacrifice Of
/ q broken spirit and contrite heart.
Finally he is seen in fellowship with
4 God and interested now, not SO much
| In things concerning himself, as In the
| things that concern God. His cry is,
"Do good in thy good pleasure unto
| Zion; build thou the walls of Jeru-
/ SALEM"
/ 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 Tesla
ment. You will find it in the First
Epistle of John, chapter I, verse 8,
where, addressing Christian believers,
/ he says, IF we confess our sins, He
/ Il. e. Cod, is faithful and just to for
give us our sins, and to cleanse us
4 from all unrighteousness."
i Because a man is saved by Gods
/ grace through faith in Christ |. e.,
1 because he is a true Christian believ-
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-
i stored any more? Has Christ's sac
rifce 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, it is for him to Judge
his sin before God, for that Is really
the meaning of the word, Confess
i Let him do this, and he will find God
/ faithful and just to forgive" him,
| 4Faithful" to his promise that means,
and "just" because Jesus Christ has
/ paid the penalty Of his sin.
/ "Merciful and just"
i That word "just" is full of strength
4 and comfort for us. God is not only
"merciful" in forgiving 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 II
would be unjust to ignore that great
fact and to cast the man away.
/ This is lesson for Christian back.
sliders, and alasi 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 prodigal
son in Luke Is 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
q / John 9. They also will be met In
the same way, and know what 1t is to
have the old joy of their salvation re-
stored unto them, because by grace
they will be cleansed from all unright
eousness.