SINS HIDDEN by M. W. Howard

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 19, 1869

SINS HIDDEN.

By M. W. Howard

We are taught in the Bible that being instrumental in converting “a sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins.” James v, 20. Surely, a hiding and a saving worthy a life-labor; results, each of which might open a wide scope for investigation. Each carrying the mind forward to the events of a passing judgment—that “great assize” where the good and evil deeds of every one's life are weighed in just and unerring balances.

This event most justly fills each heart with awe, and should lead us to inquire if our views are really correct concerning what the Scriptures teach regarding a coming Judgment. From those scriptures we learn that “God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccl. xii, 14. And the teachings of Christ fully corroborate this: “When the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his holy angels, he shall reward every one according to his works. Matt. xvi, 27. Therefore we have inspired authority, yea, the words of Christ himself, that when he thus comes, it is not to judgment, “but to carry out the decisions of a judgment already past.” Nor does this in any wise conflict with those scriptures that affirm that “each shall give account for himself to God;” that each “secret thought” and “idle word shall be brought into judgment.” For this is needful; else how could each verdict be ascertained? Yet, it does not imply that the offender must be personally present, but that the knowledge or record of his doings be brought to bear upon the judgment arrived at.

Christ is our Judge, and judges us by our deeds and motives, or secret thoughts, as he does the unpardoned. But it does not accord with Scripture, that the misdoings of the righteous,—cancelled, pardoned through his faith in Christ’s blood, shall be exposed before an assembled universe. Just the contrary. The antecedent, omniscient knowledge of our Judge is here exercised, and the righteous are made conscious of their acquittal, by the resurrection “from among the dead,” and reception where Christ is, evermore to be with the Lord. And those canceled sins are hidden, being the “hiding” spoken of at the beginning of this article; for the psalmist exclaims, “Blessed is the man whose sins are covered;” and we are also told of “the revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” at the final day. Blessed in that hour, will he be, who can present a pardon written in the blood and signed with the name of Christ.

The event spoken of in Rom. xiv, 10-12, and in 2 Cor. v, 10—“appearing before the Judgment seat of Christ,” has been anticipated by the Christian. So that the sins for which himself would have had to be judged, have been already borne by another, who is now the Judge. Thus by him are they canceled, or hidden;—made as “white as snow.” So that when the pardoned soul “stands before the Judgment seat of Christ,” it is before him who has put those sins all away, and given “boldness in the day of Judgment” (1 John iv, 17)—a boldness none could assume, but from a consciousness of sins expiated or hidden, instead of being rehearsed (as some say), to vindicate the justice and mercy of God.

Alas! that we have the illustration given (Matt. vii, 21, 22,) that some shall manifest this boldness through self-deception, and shall unavailingly presume to say, “Lord, Lord, open unto us.” Let us then examine, and give earnest heed, lest we “come to the Judgment deceived,” to meet our sins in dread array, while we might have been “sealed by the Holy Spirit of God unto the day of redemption.” Happy thought, that if we are thus sealed—marked, or labeled with God’s true mark, we may rest in hope and trust, that in the day of redemption, or resurrection, we shall be claimed by our rightful owner, and nothing shall be able to pluck us from his hand. Oh! that our sins may be hidden; hidden by Jesus in that great day.

M. W. HOWARD.