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Steps to Christ
character of sin. The confession that is the outpouring of the inmost
soul finds its way to the God of infinite pity. The psalmist says, “The
Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as
be of a contrite spirit.”
Psalm 34:18
.
True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges
particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before
God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals
who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public
character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession
should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of
which you are guilty.
In the days of Samuel the Israelites wandered from God. They
were suffering the consequences of sin; for they had lost their faith
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in God, lost their discernment of His power and wisdom to rule the
nation, lost their confidence in His ability to defend and vindicate His
cause. They turned from the great Ruler of the universe and desired
to be governed as were the nations around them. Before they found
peace they made this definite confession: “We have added unto all our
sins this evil, to ask us a king.”
1 Samuel 12:19
. The very sin of which
they were convicted had to be confessed. Their ingratitude oppressed
their souls and severed them from God.
Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repen-
tance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life;
everything offensive to God must be put away. This will be the result
of genuine sorrow for sin. The work that we have to do on our part is
plainly set before us: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil
of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do
well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead
for the widow.”
Isaiah 1:16, 17
. “If the wicked restore the pledge,
give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without
committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.”
Ezekiel
33:15
. Paul says, speaking of the work of repentance: “Ye sorrowed
after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clear-
ing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what
vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye
have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
2 Corinthians
7:11
.
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