Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland

These people had all lived in a saving
relationship—until they withdrew from that
relationship. They fell because of unrealized and
therefore unconfessed sin which all the while lay
deep and unseen in their hearts. When we are
aware of a sin and confess it, we are indeed
forgiven; but John's promise in 1 John 1:9 does not
mean that such forgiveness is a blanket to cover all
buried sins yet to be confessed. If we remain
committed, the Holy Spirit will continue to convict
us of sin hitherto unknown but deep within.
As we respond positively, our confession of sin
becomes ever deeper, until in His infinite wisdom
God sees that the last root of alienation has been
torn from the heart. This is equivalent to receiving
the seal of God, or the blotting out of sin. It means
that the penitent has learned to hate sin "even as"
Christ hated it, and thus he has "overcome even as"
Christ also "overcame."
Then the decree goes forth, "He that is holy, let
him be holy still." Revelation 22:11.
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