The Christian man will judge and try his life by the standards of
Christ, with growing sensitiveness of conscience as spiritual
experience deepens: not shrinking from the confession of sin and
failure, desiring not to be self-deceived, but to know and to
acknowledge the truth. There is nothing in this of priggishness or
unreality. It is a necessary discipline. The Christian life is meant
to bear the fruit of a character developing in growing likeness to the
character of Christ: but none is suddenly made perfect: the old Adam
dies hard: and the Christian by confession of repeated failure may at
least learn the lesson of humility and self-distrust.
The rightful complement of self-distrust is trust in GOD: the rightful
issue of self-examination and confession is the realization of divine
forgiveness, fresh courage, and a new start. The very core of the
Gospel is here. He who has bidden men forgive those who trespass
against them "unto seventy times seven" is not to be outdone in
generosity by man. But in order that sin may be forgiven it must be
acknowledged as sin against GOD and treachery to Christ, and repented
of with true sorrow of heart.
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