Godly Sorrow (4)

How does such a sorrowing one come to the knowledge of the Saviour? In which way does he acquire this knowledge?

It should be noted that this godly sorrow justifies and is in agreement with God. God’s honor and justice are so bound upon the heart that it becomes our deepest sorrow that we have dishonored God with our sins, the God who is so worthy to be served. David says in Psalm 51:6, “Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” He may, therefore, heartily agree with God.

Calvin speaks more than once about God’s justification. In his second sermon on Genesis 15:6, he says the following, “After He has pronounced the sentence, ‘Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them,’ He is not satisfied just to be Judge and to have pronounced His sentence orally, but He desires that this people acknowledge it with their Amen, which means that everyone acknowledges his wrong which he has committed and that he considers himself completely condemned and that the punishment is just and righteous.”

Calvin, therefore, has spoken of the justifying of God in His righteous judgment. Calvin further states in the same sermon, “There you have in one word upon which God insists, when He strips us of all of our self-supposed virtues because that He alone wishes to be acknowledged as righteous and that we are lost and condemnable in ourselves.” What a lesson it is to acknowledge God as only righteous, as Calvin so states.

Calvin’s message is totally in agreement with the Heidelberg Catechism where it is stated in the answer to question 12 that, “God will have His justice satisfied.” With that godly sorrow, God works toward the moment that we will learn to acknowledge and accept God’s holy justice, even if it means our total condemnation. That acknowledging of God’s justice is an act of love; then we love God in His righteousness. Then we come to the realization that we could never be truly happy if God’s justice would be offended because of our salvation.

When in this sorrow I heartily learn to acknowledge the Lord in His justice, where I accept that I am doubly worthy of His punishment, what a wonder it becomes when the gospel is then opened for my soul and the light may fall upon Christ.

Joy in Christ

What a blessed joy when Christ reveals Himself to the sorrowing heart by means of the gospel. Paul writes in his epistle to the Galatians that it had “pleased God…to reveal His Son in me” (Galatians 1:15&16). In using the word “reveal,” Paul uses a word which means removing the veil. What a wonder when the Lord removes the veil. That is possible for such a sorrowing one as he sits in church under the preaching. Yea, truly, and especially it is there where the gospel is heard. It may also be in the inner chamber of prayer when the Bible is opened. Those moments are unforgettable, especially the first time when the veil is removed. At that time, you can see something of who Jesus is. In Him is everything such a sorrowing one needs. Already at the first glimpse by faith upon Christ, there is a blessed fullness wherein everything is contained, and the soul may rejoice in Him.

A sorrow which deepens with time

When a person is brought to the saving knowledge of Christ, is that the end of the godly sorrow? No, the sorrow becomes even deeper and more intimate. Then I come to rightly see what my sins have cost Him. My sins are never more bitter than when I see them in the wounds and the blood of the Saviour. You must not think that godly sorrow is something which is connected only to the onset of spiritual life; that sorrow accompanies them until their last breath. Even though I might know that my anchor lies firm in the righteousness of Christ and that my sins and guilt have been atoned for, it is still my daily sins which continue to make a separation between God and my soul, and which take away my view of my precious King. That sorrow is, therefore, an ongoing matter in the lives of God’s children.

I have come to the realization that, even though the veil is at times removed and I receive a view upon the Saviour, I continuously pull the veil over my eyes with my sins. Yet, the faithful Lord is willing time and again to remove that veil and by renewal to cause me to see more and more of and to discover the completeness in the work of Christ. According to the measure of faith, the sorrowing heart may then experience the steadfastness in the mediatorial work of that blessed Christ.

(To be continued)

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen