In closing we add a loving caution to each dear reader, especially those who are younger. More particularly, those who may have experienced a fall, and now, through the goodness and grace of God have repented and been restored to joy and fellowship with Himself.
The Lord had a solemn warning for one He had graciously forgiven of her grievous sin—"And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" (John 8:1111She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:11)). It was His desire command—that the forgiven sinner was to live in a way suited to the glory and holiness of the One who had so freely forgiven her. To make light of such infinite restoring grace, and heedlessly return to a path of self-willed sin from which she had been delivered, would doubtless bring far more solemn consequences into her life.
We know that the Lord multiplied Peter's willingness to forgive an erring brother seventy times ("Peter ... said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith... Until seventy times seven."-Matt. 18:21, 2221Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21‑22)).
But to use the Divine willingness to forgive as an excuse a return to a path of self-will is in principle, to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness (Jude 1:44For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4)). In Heb. 10:2929Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29) we read of those who did despite unto the Spirit of Grace. Such received a sore punishment. Oh! do not treat lightly your sin or the restoring grace and goodness of God which brought you to repentance and restored your joy! How solemn the results of such a course! "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)).
The path of deep and abiding Christian happiness is found first in repenting and confessing known sin, and then in forsaking it.
In closing, let us hear the words of King David when he confessed to Jehovah his sin with Bathsheba. May the spirit he displayed be that of each one who has returned in repentance to the Lord.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not the spirit of thy holiness from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and let a willing spirit sustain me" (Psa. 51:9-119Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (Psalm 51:9‑11), JND Trans).
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