The LORD JESUS ~ Faithful & Just

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." —I John 1:9 [KJV]

Doubtless there are many confessions of sin made by the lips of men which are vain and fruitless. Yea, a man may be under a sense of legal terror and wrath in his conscience; and, like Judas, in the anguish of his spirit confess that he has sinned, and yet never obtain forgiveness from God. But every believer in Jesus is made a priest unto God, to offer spiritual sacrifices by Jesus Christ. And as the high-priest under the law laid both his hands upon the scapegoat and made confession of sins, Leviticus 16:21—so the Christian, every anointed one, lays both his hands of faith and hope on Jesus Christ, confessing the evil of sin, the desert of sin, the sin of his nature, and the sin of his life, and pleads for forgiveness. 

The sacrifice of Jesus is the alone object of his faith. And the blood of the Lamb is his only hope for pardon. This will be the daily exercise of believing souls; for we have daily need both of pardon and cleansing. Such souls, thus confessing sin, are not left in doubtful suspense. Do not argue, God is merciful and perhaps He may forgive sin: but through the perfection of the one atonement of Jesus, by the word of truth they are fully assured, God the Father absolutely will pardon; not merely as an act of mercy, but because He is faithful and just. FAITHFUL to His own word, His oath, His counsel and His covenant-promises. JUST to fulfil the engagements entered into with Jesus, and to bestow what the precious blood of His Son hath procured for poor sinners. The blood of Christ was the stipulated price for ALL our sins. 

This, Christ as our Surety hath paid to God. To demand payment for that debt of the debtor, which His surety has paid, is not just. But God is just, He doth not this. And thus through the faith of his heart the sinner is brought to make confession of sin with his mouth, with godly sorrow and holy shame for sin; and sincere abhorrence and detestation of sin. And lest such a soul should be "swallowed up with overmuch sorrow," God the Spirit is just, He will assuredly "cleanse him from all unrighteousness"—sprinkle his heart from a guilty conscience—cleanse his mind from every guilty fear, through the application of the blood of Jesus. So that the soul shall have, "the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,"—Isaiah 61:3.

 

And now the scales have left mine eyes, 

Now I begin to see; 

O the curs'd deeds my sins have done: 

What murd'rous things they be!

What, is't for crimes that I had done, 

My dearest Lord was slain, 

When justice seiz'd God's only Son, 

And put His soul to pain?

Forgive my guilt, O prince of peace, 

Nor let me wound Thee more; 

Hence from my heart, ye sins, begone, 

For Jesus I adore.

 

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)