steps to christ-第7章
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God only； they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them； or they may be of a public character； and should then be as publicly confessed。 But all confession should be definite and to the point； acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty。
In the days of Samuel the Israelites wandered from God。 They were suffering the consequences of
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sin； for they had lost their faith in God； lost their discernment of His power and wisdom to rule the nation； lost their confidence in His ability to defend and vindicate His cause。 They turned from the great Ruler of the universe and desired to be governed as were the nations around them。 Before they found peace they made this definite confession： 〃We have added unto all our sins this evil； to ask us a king。〃 1 Samuel 12：19。 The very sin of which they were convicted had to be confessed。 Their ingratitude oppressed their souls and severed them from God。
Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation。 There must be decided changes in the life； everything offensive to God must be put away。 This will be the result of genuine sorrow for sin。 The work that we have to do on our part is plainly set before us： 〃Wash you； make you clean； put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes； cease to do evil； learn to do well； seek judgment； relieve the oppressed； judge the fatherless； plead for the widow。〃 Isaiah 1：16； 17。 〃If the wicked restore the pledge； give again that he had robbed； walk in the statutes of life； without committing iniquity； he shall surely live； he shall not die。〃 Ezekiel 33：15。 Paul says； speaking of the work of repentance： 〃Ye sorrowed after a godly sort； what carefulness it wrought in you； yea； what clearing of yourselves； yea； what indignation； yea； what fear； yea； what vehement desire； yea； what zeal； yea； what revenge！ In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter。〃 2 Corinthians 7：11。
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When sin has deadened the moral perceptions； the wrongdoer does not discern the defects of his character nor realize the enormity of the evil he has committed； and unless he yields to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness to his sin。 His confessions are not sincere and in earnest。 To every acknowledgment of his guilt he adds an apology in excuse of his course； declaring that if it had not been for certain circumstances he would not have done this or that for which he is reproved。
After Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit； they were filled with a sense of shame and terror。 At first their only thought was how to excuse their sin and escape the dreaded sentence of death。 When the Lord inquired concerning their sin； Adam replied； laying the guilt partly upon God and partly upon his companion： 〃The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me； she gave me of the tree； and I did eat。〃 The woman put the blame upon the serpent； saying； 〃The serpent beguiled me； and I did eat。〃 Genesis 3： 12； 13。 Why did You make the serpent？ Why did You suffer him to come into Eden？ These were the questions implied in her excuse for her sin； thus charging God with the responsibility of their fall。 The spirit of self…justification originated in the father of lies and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam。 Confessions of this order are not inspired by the divine Spirit and will not be acceptable to God。 True repentance will lead a man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or hypocrisy。 Like the poor publican； not lifting up so much as his eyes unto heaven； he will cry； 〃God be
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merciful to me a sinner；〃 and those who do acknowledge their guilt will be justified； for Jesus will plead His blood in behalf of the repentant soul。
The examples in God's word of genuine repentance and humiliation reveal a spirit of confession in which there is no excuse for sin or attempt at self…justification。 Paul did not seek to shield himself； he paints his sin in its darkest hue； not attempting to lessen his guilt。 He says； 〃Many of the saints did I shut up in prison； having received authority from the chief priests； and when they were put to death； I gave my voice against them。 And I punished them oft in every synagogue； and compelled them to blaspheme； and being exceedingly mad against them； I persecuted them even unto strange cities。〃 Acts 26： 10； 11。 He does not hesitate to declare that 〃Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners； of whom I am chief。〃 1 Timothy 1：15。
The humble and broken heart； subdued by genuine repentance； will appreciate something of the love of God and the cost of Calvary； and as a son confesses to a loving father； so will the truly penitent bring all his sins before God。 And it is written； 〃If we confess our sins； He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins； and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness。〃 1 John 1：9。
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Consecration
God's promise is； 〃Ye shall seek Me； and find Me； when ye shall search for Me with all your heart。〃 Jeremiah 29：13。
The whole heart must be yielded to God； or the change can never be wrought in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness。 By nature we are alienated from God。 The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these： 〃Dead in trespasses and sins；〃 〃the whole head is sick； and the whole heart faint；〃 〃no soundness in it。〃 We are held fast in the snare of Satan； 〃taken captive by him at his will。〃 Ephesians 2：1； Isaiah 1：5； 6； 2 Timothy 2：26。 God desires to heal us； to set us free。 But since this requires an entire transformation； a renewing of our whole nature； we must yield ourselves wholly to Him。
The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought。 The yielding of self； surrendering all to the will of God； requires a struggle； but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness。
The government of God is not； as Satan would make it appear； founded upon a blind submission； an unreasoning control。 It appeals to the intellect and the conscience。 〃Come now； and let us reason together〃 is the Creator's invitation to the beings He has made。 Isaiah 1：18。 God does not force the will of His creatures。 He cannot accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given。 A mere forced submission would prevent all real development of mind
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or character； it would make man a mere automaton。 Such is not the purpose of the Creator。 He desires that man； the crowning work of His creative power； shall reach the highest possible development。 He sets before us the height of blessing to which He desires to bring us through His grace。 He invites us to give ourselves to Him； that He may work His will in us。 It remains for us to choose whether we will be set free from the bondage of sin； to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God。
In giving ourselves to God； we must necessarily give up all that would separate us from Him。 Hence the Saviour says； 〃Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath； he cannot be My disciple。〃 Luke 14：33。 Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be given up。 Mammon is the idol of many。 The love of money； the desire for wealth； is the golden chain that binds them to Satan。 Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class。 The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others。 But these slavish bands must be broken。 We cannot be half the Lord's and half the world's。 We are not God's children unless we are such entirely。
There are those who profess to serve God； while they rely upon their own efforts to obey His law； to form a right character； and secure salvation。 Their hearts are not moved by any deep sense of the love of Christ； but they seek to perform the duties of the Christian life as that which God requires of them in order to gain heaven。 Such religion is worth nothing。 When Christ dwells in the heart； the soul will
