Chapter 77—God’s Love for Sinners
Dear Brother P,
I see by your letter that you are in a state of unbelief, questioning
whether there is hope in your case. As Christ’s ambassador I would
say to you: “Hope thou in God.” He “so loved the world, that He gave
His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.” Now cannot you take courage from
this gracious promise? Satan may tell you many times that you are
a sinner; but you can answer: “True, I am a sinner; but ‘Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners.’”
Said Jesus: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to re-
pentance.” And again: “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons, which need no repentance.” Will you not believe these
precious words? Will you not receive them into your heart? “Seek ye
the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Is not this promise
broad and deep and full? Can you ask more? Will you not allow the
Lord right here to erect a standard for you against the enemy? Satan is
ready to steal away the blessed assurances of God. He desires to take
every glimmer of hope and every ray of light from the soul; but you
must not permit him to do this. Exercise faith; fight the good fight of
faith; wrestle with these doubts; become acquainted with the promises.
“When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if
he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righ-
teousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath
committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked,
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Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is
lawful and right; ... he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his
sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him; he hath done
that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.”
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