J Heinrich Arnold-Freedom from sinful thoughts.pdf

F R E E D O M F R O M S I N F U L T H O U G H T S -H E A L I N GThere was a large splotch of ink on the wall – Lutherwas tempted by Satan, they said, and hurled his inkwellat him to frighten him away. At the time I was veryimpressed, and left the room with the childlike notionthat this is how a real man chases away the devil. TodayI know that all the inkwells in the world can do nothingin the face of evil. If they could, the fight against sin inthe human heart would be simply a matter of enlistingthe will at the right time and place. We have seen thatthis never works.Jesus alone can heal us and give us a new heart. Hecame to restore us through his blood, and every heart,however tormented, can find comfort and healing inhim. In an essay entitled “The Conscience and itsRestoration to Health,” my father writes:Jesus is the way to God. There is no other God than the one whois the Father of Jesus. Wherever we may seek him, we find Himin Jesus. Unless we are freed in Jesus from all our burdens, wetry in vain to draw near to the Father of all, who is brought nearto us as our Father by Jesus. Without forgiveness of sin, we haveno access to God. Jesus gives it to us by sacrificing his life – hisbody, his soul, and his blood.The Accuser of our brothers is silenced; and the conscience,too, is no longer allowed to accuse. Even…the blood of themurdered brother, Abel, has been erased. The better blood ofthe new Brother of Man speaks louder than his. In him is founda new representative and leader, who absolves and liberates.60