The New Life

2 1 John V. 5, ii. 12. 58
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The New Life.
deliver up the sinful deed to be laid aside. By it
deliver up the sinful feeling with a view to trusting
in God. Confession implies renunciation, the putting
off of sin. Give up sin to God, to forgive it to
you, and to cleanse you from it. Do not confess, if
you are not prepared, if you do not heartily desire to
to be freed from it. Confession has value only as it
is a giving up of sin to God.
Let the confession be trustful.^ Reckon firmly
upon God actually to forgive you, and also to cleanse
you from sin. Continue in confession, in casting the
sin of which you desire to be rid into the fire of God's
holiness until your soul has the firm confidence that
God takes it on His own account to forgive and to
cleanse away. It is this faith that really overcomes
the world and sin : the faith that God in Jesus really
emancipates from sin.
Brother, do you understand it now? "What must
you do with sin—with every sin ? To bring it in confession
to God, to give it to God ; God alone takes
away sin.
Lord God, what thanks shall I express for this
unspeakable blessing, that I may come to Thee with
sin ?
It is known to Thee, Lord, how sin before Thy
holiness causes terror and flight. It is known to
Thee how it is our deepest thought, first to have sin
covered, and then to come to Thee with our desire
and endeavor for good. Lord, teach me to come to
1 2 Sam. xii. 13 ; Ps. xxxii. 5 ; Isa. Iv. 7.