JANUARY 1ST, 1938

JANUARY 1ST, 1938

^[p. 256] BELOVED BROTHER, — I am interested to have your letter, and I enter very sympathetically into your feelings and exercises as to the matter referred to. God has pleasure in a sensitive conscience, and He dwells “with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones”, Isaiah 57: 15.

It is to be noted in Ephesians 2 how we are reminded of what we were in times past, and also in Titus 3: 3, but this is evidently to intensify our appreciation of the wondrous grace that has come to us, and to fill us with profound gratitude. For all our sins have been forgiven and forgotten by God; He does not hold a single thing against us. In your own case you have made confession, not only to God but also to the one trespassed against, and there is no moral question outstanding in regard to the matter. It seems to me that Satan is seeking to hinder your liberty by keeping before you a matter which has really been dealt with in a righteous and holy way, and which grace entitles you to regard as divinely settled in all the sin-cleansing value of the precious blood of Christ.

I can well understand that any mention of a similar subject revives a certain recollection which is of a humbling nature. It can hardly be otherwise under the circumstances. But I believe God would give you immediately the consciousness by His Spirit of how perfectly you have been relieved of the moral stain, and that through the one offering of Christ you are perfected for ever. Your heart would thus be lifted up in grateful thanks.

You will remember that Peter charged upon the Jews that they had “denied the holy and righteous one”. He must surely have thought, as he uttered the words, of how he himself had denied Him, and yet he was now so freed from it by self-judgment and confession that he did not hesitate to bring the charge upon their consciences. God was really honoured in this, for we honour Him by taking full account of His grace. It does not honour Him if we, as it were, pull a cloud over our spirits which He does not put there. Satan would like to rob God of the glory that is due to His grace by retaining a cloud where God would give sunshine. You must watch and pray against giving way to anything of this kind. The very sensitiveness of your heart and conscience may be taken advantage of by the enemy in this way, but he is to be resisted by stedfastness in faith.

^[p. 257] I can understand your feeling that it would be a kind of relief to tell everyone of your past. But this would not really do you any good, nor would it be profitable for others. We do not want to occupy people with ourselves, but with Christ, and with the all-blessing grace of God. Of course a time might come when it might be an encouragement to some sin-convicted soul to put yourself near to him as having experienced the same exercise. But generally you would do this in your own spirit rather than by speaking to him of your own past sins. Those who feel ashamed of the past, as we all ought to be, have no desire even to speak of it. Nor is there any call that we should.

With much love in the Lord, and assuring you of my interest and prayers.

Yours affectionately in Him,

January 1st, 1938.