Guilt
69
Humbled Souls Acknowledge Guilt—Those who have not hum-
bled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt have not yet
fulfilled the first condition of acceptance. If we have not experienced
that repentance which is not to be repented of and have not confessed
our sin with true humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit, abhor-
ring our iniquity, we have never sought truly for the forgiveness of sin;
and if we have never sought, we have never found the peace of God.
The only reason why we may not have remission of sins that are past
is that we are not willing to humble our proud hearts and comply with
the conditions of the word of truth.
There is explicit instruction given concerning this matter. Confes-
sion of sin, whether public or private, should be heartfelt and freely
expressed. It is not to be urged from the sinner. It is not to be made in
a flippant and careless way or forced from those who have no realizing
sense of the abhorrent character of sin. The confession that is mingled
with tears and sorrow, that is the outpouring of the inmost soul, finds
its way to the God of infinite pity. Says the psalmist: “The Lord is
nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a
contrite spirit.”—
Testimonies for the Church 5:636, 637
(1889).
Essential to Forsake Sin—Here is where you bring yourself into
condemnation, that you continue to sin. In the strength of Christ cease
to sin. Every provision has been made that grace should abide with
you, that sin shall ever appear the hateful thing that it is, sin. “And if
any man sin,” he is not to give himself up in despair and talk like a
man who is lost to Christ.—Lt 41, 1893.
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God Pardons All Who Come—God justly condemns all who do
not make Christ their personal Saviour; but He pardons every soul
who comes to Him in faith and enables him to work the works of
God, and through faith to be one with Christ.... The Lord has made
every provision whereby man may have full and free salvation and be
complete in Him. God designs that His children shall have the bright
beams of the Sun of righteousness, that all may have the light of truth.
God has provided salvation for the world at infinite cost, even through
the gift of His only-begotten Son. The apostle asks, “He that spared
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not
with Him also freely give us all things?” (
Romans 8:32
). Then if we
are not saved, the fault will not be on the part of God, but on our part,
that we have failed to cooperate with the divine agencies. Our will has