Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1915 — FORGIVENESS IS BLESSED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FORGIVENESS IS BLESSED

P»aldf iS2. -June 13. Sins Forgiven, Covered, Blotted Out. Iniquity Not Imputed—Who May Pray For Forgiveness—Under the Law Covenant—Under Grace Covenant —Under New Covenant—Some Sins Not Forgivable but Expiable. “Bless&l is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”—Verse i. CIIE Scriptures teach that sins may he forgiven in the sense that God will not continue to treat us as sinners, the sins, however, remaining to be dealt with—merely covered. They also show that the time for actually blotting out sins is in the future, not in the present life. To illustrate: The Christian Wlvo has transgressed the Divine Law quite unintentionally through inherited weaknesses may promptly go to .God for forgiveness through the Redeemer, and is assured that God will not remember his sin against him, because Jesus made Tull atonement for strch sin. There is another class of sin, partly of weakness and heredity, and partly assented to by the mind. This we might term a mixed sin. In forgiving this sin, the' Lord will cover or overlook whatever portion was uii wilful, unintentional, through ignorance: hut

lie will punish whatever was of knowledge, connivance or assent of the mind. There is still another kind of sin, which the Bible describes as wilful—one against knowledge. This is sometimes called a sin against the lloly Spirit; for whoever wilfully trans-

gresses against knowledge and Truth transgresses against the Spirit of Truth. Such sin never has forgiveness (Matthew 12:32); it must be expiated. If, however, it were a sin against full light, the expiation would mean the [ Second Death. We have reason to believe that on account of inherited weaknesses and unholy environment, nearly all sins committed by God's people are mixed sins—only partly wilful. Whoever realizes his transgression forgiven and his sin covered must have great peace and joy toward the Lord. Nevertheless he may be troubled with aches, pains and various diseases as a result of those Sins. The sins, there fore, are not blotted out, although forgiven; their marks are seen in whatever way they have blemished him. St. Peter declares that our sins will be blotted out fit Christ’s Second Coming. (Acts 3:19-21.) We readily see how this will he; for in the resurrection the Church will be given perfect bodies. Conditions For Forgiveness. Much confusion of thought prevails respecting forgiveness of sins. To understand clearly, we must remember that Hie whole world rest under Divine sentence of death, with no direct offer of hope. The Lord’s people have the Scriptures, informing them that God purposes great things for mankind, but that at present God’s mercies and favors are confined to those in covenant relationship with Him. God entered into a Covenant with Israel, through Moses as mediator. On the basis of the Atonement Day sacrifices, forgiveness was imputed to them, for that year. Thus they could come to God in prayer respecting forgiveness of sin, as in David's case. This privilege did not extend to the Gentiles; and even with the Jews it merely typified the permanent arrangement of this , Gospel Age, based upon Jesus’ “better sacrifices.” j Since Jesus’ day another Covenant j has been opened, the Law Covenant being practically inoperative meanwhile. Those who enter this Covenant 1 of Grace sacrifice thgir earthly rights and interests, accepting by faith the I spiritual blessings which God has

promised. Jesus was the first who made this Covenant He carried out its terms zealously even unto (103111, 0116 in His resurrection was highly exalted to the Divine nature. (Philippians 2:8-11.) The work of this Gospel Age is to select such of the sinner race as have

His spirit. His disposition. What they lack is made up to them by the imputation of His merit Thus they may enter into the Covenant of Sacrifice, He acting as their Advocate.—Psa. 50:5. Many seem unaware that only those in covenant relationship with God can go to Him in prayer.—John 9:31; 14:6. The Advocate’s Only Terms. With the false 'idea that the penalty for sin is eternaPtorment, many imagine the Lord,Jesus sitting dejectedly, waiting for sinners to show the slightest sign of repentance, when lie would accept them without terms or conditions. Nothing could be further from the Bible. There the repentant sinner desiring our Lord to make him acceptable to the Father is promptly told that be can have this privilege only on certain fixed terms. See Matthew 16:24. Misinformed evangelists may, in the name of the Lord, make different terms; but they are thus far away from the authorized Message of God’s Word. Jesus, on the contrary, advised some to sit down and count the cost (Luke 9:20-35; 9:62.) If these views were generally accepted, Christians would be of a better standard, more acceptable to the Lord.—Matt. 7:13, 14.

Jesus—The Christian’s Advocate.

Moses—lsrael's Mediator.