“Father, I have sinned.”
— Luke 15:18

It is quite certain that those whom Christ has washed in his precious
blood need not make a confession of sin, as culprits or criminals,
before God the Judge, for Christ has for ever taken away all their sins
in a legal sense, so that they no longer stand where they can be
condemned, but are once for all accepted in the Beloved; but having
become children, and offending as children, ought they not every day to
go before their heavenly Father and confess their sin, and acknowledge
their iniquity in that character? Nature teaches that it is the duty of
erring children to make a confession to their earthly father, and the
grace of God in the heart teaches us that we, as Christians, owe the
same duty to our heavenly Father. We daily offend, and ought not to
rest without daily pardon. For, supposing that my trespasses against my
Father are not at once taken to him to be washed away by the cleansing
power of the Lord Jesus, what will be the consequence? If I have not
sought forgiveness and been washed from these offences against my
Father, I shall feel at a distance from him; I shall doubt his love to
me; I shall tremble at him; I shall be afraid to pray to him: I shall
grow like the prodigal, who, although still a child, was yet far off
from his father. But if, with a child’s sorrow at offending so gracious
and loving a Parent, I go to him and tell him all, and rest not till I
realize that I am forgiven, then I shall feel a holy love to my Father,
and shall go through my Christian career, not only as saved, but as one
enjoying present peace in God through Jesus Christ my Lord. There is a
wide distinction between confessing sin as a culprit, and confessing
sin as a child. The Father’s bosom is the place for penitent
confessions. We have been cleansed once for all, but our feet still
need to be washed from the defilement of our daily walk as children of
God.

On this day...

• April 15, 2014 - 2014
• You Have the Words of Eternal Life - 2010
• THE INSPIRATION OF SPIRITUAL INITIATIVE - 2009
• THE DEVOTION OF HEARING - 2009
• Nehemiah 9:20 - 2009
• HAVE YOU FELT THE HURT OF THE LORD? - 2009
• Zechariah 1:12,13 - 2009
• Definition of Faith - 2007
• Luke 6:42 - 2007
• Breath of Life - 2007