The Scriptures And Sin # 2

 The Scriptures And Sin # 2

2. An individual is spiritually profited, when the Word makes him sorrow over sin. Of the stoney-ground hearer it is said that he "hears the Word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, he quickly falls away. (Matt. 13:20-21). But of those who were convicted under the preaching of Peter, it is recorded that they were cut to the heart. (Acts 2:37).

The same contrast exists today. Many will listen to a flowery sermon, or an address on "prophecy" that displays oratorical powers exhibits the intellectual skill of the speaker - but which, usually contains no searching application to the conscience. It is received with approhbation, but no one is humbled before God or brought into a closer walk with Him through it.

But let a faithful servant of the Lord (who by grace is not seeking to acquire a reputation for his "brilliance" bring the teaching of Scripture to bear upon character and conduct, exposing the sad failures of even the best of God's people - and though the crowd will despise the messenger, the truly regenerate will be thankful for the message which causes them to mourn before God and cry, "Oh, what a wretched man that I am!"

So it is in the private reading of the Word. It is when the Holy Spirit applies it in such a way that I am made to see and feel my inward corruption, that I am really blessed.

What a word is that in Jeremiah 31:19: "After I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even confounded." Do you, my reader know anything of such an experience? Does your study of the Word produce a broken heart and lead to a humbling of yourself before God? Does it convict you of your sins in such a way that you are brought to daily repentance before Him? The paschal lamb had to be eaten with "bitter herbs" (Exodus 12:8); so as we really feed on the Word, the Holy Spirit makes it "bitter" to us before it becomes sweet to our taste.

Note the order in Revelation 10:9. "So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will be bitter in your stomach, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." This is ever the experimental order: there must be mourning, before comfort (Matt. 5:4); humbling, before exalting (1 Peter 5:6).

3. An individual is spiritually profited, when the Word leads to confession of sin. The Scriptures are profitable for "reproof" (2 Timothy 3:16), and an honest soul will acknowledge its faults. Of the lost it is said, "For everyone who loves evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (John 3:20). "God be merciful to me a sinner!" is the cry of a renewed heart, and every time we are quickened by the Word (Psalm 119) there is a fresh revealing to us and a fresh owning by us of our transgressions before God. "He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). There can be no spiritual prosperity or fruitfulness while we conceal within our hearts our guilty secrets; only as they are freely owned before God, and that in detail, shall we enjoy His mercy.

There is no real peace for the conscience and no rest for the heart, while we cherish unconfessed sin. Relief comes when it is fully unbosomed to God. Mark well the experience of David. "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer (Psalm 32:3-4). Is this figurative but forcible language unintelligible upon you? Or does your own spiritual history explain it? There is many a verse of Scripture which no commentary but that of personal experience can satisfactorily interpret. Blessed indeed is the immediate sequel here: "Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" - and You forgave the guilt of my sin." (Psalm 32:5).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)