p. 4 | FALLEN INTO SIN by Elder J. H. Durland

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 2, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 47.

FALLEN INTO SIN.

By Elder J. H. Durland

BY ELDER J. H. DURLAND.

It is natural for man not to feel troubled to any great degree about what are sometimes called "little sins." While he is conscious that he has not done just right, he sees that many others do the same things. Public sentiment may not be against his deviations, so Satan rocks him to sleep in this cradle, and carries him along towards destruction.

On the other hand, when the Christian has fallen into a sin, against which the sentence of his fellow-men has been declared, he is likely to go into despair. He is conscious of his guilt, and his misery cannot be told. He receives no encouraging words from those who know of his sin. Perhaps there stand around him a band of Pharisees seeking for an opportunity to cast stones at him. They have forgotten the words, "If a man be overtaken [caught before he can escape] in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Gal. 6:1.

Under these circumstances the burdened sinner is likely to look at the dark side and go away from, rather than turn to, the Lord. He says, "The world is against me, and I can never persuade it that I am sincere in my repentance." Hundreds of souls have gone over the precipice of despair with this weight hanging to them. Could they have only been pointed to Him whose word says, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up," they might have been saved. Jesus exemplified this teaching when the sinful woman was brought to him. He did not excuse sin, neither did he commend the accusers. He taught the lesson of charity, when he said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Let him who knows nothing about the power of sin in his own life, cast the stone of death at the guilty. We suppose he had a fair representation of the human family before him when he spoke those words, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Had those accusers been dealt with as they proposed to deal with the guilty woman, they would have suffered the penalty of death long before they knew of her sins. Men's hearts have not changed since that time; Christ's words apply to the present generation.

If you have fallen into sin, even the darkest sin the world knows, do not brood over it in melancholy thought and despondent feeling, but heartily regret it and go at once to Him who "delighteth in mercy," and who "pardoneth" all those who truly repent and believe the gospel. With him there is mercy and plenteous redemption. It is his good pleasure to forgive them that come to him. He said to the woman whom the Pharisees would have stoned, "Go, and sin no more." He is the same loving Saviour now that he was then. He would rather blot out your sin from before him than have it recorded against you for condemnation. It perfectly accords with his nature, his character, his promises, his covenant, to forgive sin. "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1:18.

What gratification can it be to him to see you mourning and depressed? to see you polluted with the filth of sin? to see you hanging

down your head in dejection, as though he was either dead, or unchangeably wrathful towards you? No, no, my brother, my sister, he loves you too much to take pleasure in these. His love prompts him to invite you to him, to promise you forgiveness, to open his arms to receive you, to come to meet you, to cleanse you from unrighteousness, to return unto you the joy of his salvation, to uphold you with his free Spirit, and to lead you in the way everlasting.

Think how often he forgave backsliding Israel, how readily he forgave sinning David, how pitifully he looked upon unfaithful Peter, how many times he has received you when you have returned from your wanderings. He multiplies pardon. Did he teach his disciples to forgive until seventy times seven? and will he fail to do as he teaches?—Never.

Come, fallen one, as did David, and acknowledge your sins to him and he will pardon. As Peter, come and say, "Lord, save me." As the publican, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner." Lift up your head, for there is another pardon left for you. Take it by faith in the Crucified, resolving, in divine strength, that sin shall no longer have the dominion.

"With broken heart and contrite sigh, A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry; Thy pardoning grace is rich and free; O God, be merciful to me! "I smite upon my troubled breast, With deep and conscious guilt oppressed, Christ and his cross my only plea; O God, be merciful to me! "Nor alms, nor deeds that I have done Can for a single sin atone; To Calvary alone I flee; 'God has been merciful to me.'"