Consciousness Of Our Sin

An increasing consciousness of our sin is a God-given blessing. An 80-plus-year old Pastor who had been in ministry for 50 or 60 years was asked what was his greatest blessing. He replied A consciousness of my sin. We need a growing consciousness of our sin so we will be willing to repent of it and forsake it.

Proverbs 3:12: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Job 5:17: Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

That 80-year-old was happy and he knew why. An increasing consciousness of our own sin is something unbelievers do not have enough of before the Holy Spirit reproves them. Some new believers think that an increasing consciousness of their sin means that they are unsaved. It means that the Bible and the Holy Spirit are doing their reproving work more than before they were saved and more than in their early days as a Christian.

John 16:7: Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

We need reproof when we are in the world AND after we become men of God.

2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Romans 7:24: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I don*t believe that the apostle Paul knew what a wretched man that he was until he had been saved for quite some time. I certainly did not. I tend to believe that every believer would have great difficulty accepting the truth about how wretched he is before he also knows about how great the forgiving grace of God is. The more we know of our wretchedness, the more we are grateful for the grace of God. I believe that 80-year-old preacher understood how much he had been forgiven AND the greatness of God*s grace.

Luke 7:40: And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

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