Fear of THE LORD is the beginning of WISDOM, but LOVE from THE LORD is it's completion; and is what teaches, as well as inspires us to humble ourselves before HIM. In fear of THE LORD we recognize and acknowledge HIS OMNIPOTENCE, HIS MIGHT, HIS SOVEREIGNTY, thus we respect HIM, are in awe of HIM, and submit to HIM. HE IS THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY WHO CREATED ALL, and EVERYTHING, WHO WAS, IS, and EVERMORE SHALL BE, hence HE IS LORD OVER ALL, and EVERYTHING! HE CREATED us, and our souls belong to HIM! We were CREATED to PRAISE HIM, and WORSHIP HIM, and HIM ALONE! The carnal, egocentric being works against HIM in that it favours itself over *GOD*, and is prone to pleasing the self instead of HIM; it is inclined to feel independent of THE LORD, and is convinced of abilities and capacities to exist separated from THE CREATOR. *GOD'S* enemy has pounced on this, and has added to the struggle to surrender the flesh...
Again, FAITH is the spring-well of FAITHFULNESS; meaning that one whom has HONEST FAITH knows, and understands the battle in which they exist; they realize that the flesh works against the spirit, and introduces the errs of sin. These understand that they CANNOT be independent of THE LORD and manage the valley of the shadow of death, where the evil one, and sin, ARE the chains which rob the soul of it's rightful place in eternity. These acknowledge their errs/sins, and work through them, while resisting those that surely, will pop up in time...
Some are overconfident, even arrogant of THE LORD'S forgiveness, and maintain that they can do anything they like in that forgiveness. These miss the point of being forgiven, and of being born anew in CHRIST JESUS; where the old being, the flesh, is gone, and the new being, the spirit, now LIVES, and that those OF HIM, endeavor to become MORE LIKE HIM...
PSALM 32...
1+++How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2+++How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3+++When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4+++For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.
Selah.
5+++I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah.
6+++Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
7+++You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah.
8+++I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9+++Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10+++Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11+++Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
Sin is the cause of our misery; but the true believer's transgressions of the Divine law are all forgiven, being covered with the atonement. Christ bare his sins, therefore they are not imputed to him. The righteousness of Christ being reckoned to us, and we being made the righteousness of God in him, our iniquity is not imputed, God having laid upon him the iniquity of us all, and made him a sin-offering for us. Not to impute sin, is God's act, for he is the Judge. It is God that justifies.
Notice the character of him whose sins are pardoned; he is sincere, and seeks sanctification by the power of the Holy Ghost. He does not profess to repent, with an intention to indulge in sin, because the Lord is ready to forgive. He will not abuse the doctrine of free grace. And to the man whose iniquity is forgiven, all manner of blessings are promised.
It is very difficult to bring sinful man humbly to accept free mercy, with a full confession of his sins and self-condemnation. But the true and only way to peace of conscience, is, to confess our sins, that they may be forgiven; to declare them that we may be justified. Although repentance and confession do not merit the pardon of transgression, they are needful to the real enjoyment of forgiving mercy. And what tongue can tell the happiness of that hour, when the soul, oppressed by sin, is enabled freely to pour forth its sorrows before God, and to take hold of his covenanted mercy in Christ Jesus! Those that would speed in prayer, must seek the Lord, when, by his providence, he calls them to seek him, and, by his Spirit, stirs them up to seek him. In a time of finding, when the heart is softened with grief, and burdened with guilt; when all human refuge fails; when no rest can be found to the troubled mind, then it is that God applies the healing balm by his Spirit.
God teaches by his word, and guides with the secret intimations of his will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of communion with God is far the most pleasant and comfortable. Let us rejoice, O Lord Jesus, in thee, and in thy salvation; so shall we rejoice indeed.
PRAISE THE LORD, and WORSHIP HIM aright! HONOUR HIM, and REJOICE, for HIS LOVE IS THE WAY, and IS what makes us anew!!!
LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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