God’s Love for the Sinner
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comfort and hope. The Sinless One pities the weakness of the sinner
and reaches to her a helping hand. While the hypocritical Pharisees
denounce, Jesus bids her, “Go, and sin no more.”
Christian Love Slow to Censure—It is not Christ’s follower that,
with averted eyes, turns from the erring, leaving them unhindered to
pursue their downward course. Those who are forward in accusing
others, and zealous in bringing them to justice, are often in their own
lives more guilty than they. Men hate the sinner, while they love the
sin. Christ hates the sin, but loves the sinner. This will be the spirit of
all who follow Him. Christian love is slow to censure, quick to discern
penitence, ready to forgive, to encourage, to set the wanderer in the
path of holiness, and to stay his feet therein.—
The Desire of Ages,
461, 462
.
Jesus, Friend of Sinners—I would call your attention to the pre-
cious promises in the Word of God. Not all who are children of God
have the same powers, the same temperaments, the same confidence
and boldness. I am glad indeed that our feelings are no evidence that
we are not children of God. The enemy will tempt you to think that
you have done things that have separated you from God and that He
no longer loves you, but our Lord loves us still, and we may know by
the words He has placed on record for just such cases as yours. “If
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any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous” [
1 John 2:1
]. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” [
1
John 1:9
].
Now, my dear sister, I have evidence that God loves you; and the
precious Saviour, who gave Himself for you, will not thrust you from
Him because you are tempted, and in your weakness may have been
overcome. He loves you still.
Peter denied his Lord in the hour of trial, but Jesus did not forsake
His poor disciple. Although Peter hated himself, the Lord loved him,
and after His resurrection He called him by name and sent him a loving
message. Oh, what a kind, loving, compassionate Saviour we have!
And He loves us though we err.
Sweet Promises of God—Now, do not worry yourself out of the
arms of the dear Saviour, but rest trustingly in faith. He loves you; He
cares for you. He is blessing you, and will give you His peace and
grace. He is saying to you, “Thy sins be forgiven thee” [
Matthew 9:2
].