There are many delusions of a self-deceiving heart.

Posted : 25 Jul, 2013 02:12 AM

Psalm 133:133 Order my steps in Your word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.





To expect the favor of the Lord without an habitual desire of

conformity to His image, is one among the many delusions of

a self-deceiving heart. It is the peculiar character of the

Christian, that his desires are as earnest for deliverance from

the power as from the guilt of sin. Having therefore prayed for

acceptance, he now cries for holiness. For even could we

conceive the Lord to look upon him with a sense of His favor,

he would still feel himself a miserable creature, until he has

received an answer to his prayer-Let not any iniquity have

dominion over me.

But it is often difficult to distinguish the power of temptation

from the prevalence of sin, and thus precisely to ascertain,

when iniquity may be said to have dominion over us. Is it not

however the influence of temptation-not acting upon the mind,

but admitted with consent into the heart? It is this actual

consent of the will, obtained by the deceitfulness and

solicitations of sin, that marks its real dominion. Light,

knowledge, and conscience, may open the path of holiness;

but while the will-the sovereign power in the soul-dissents, the

reigning power of sin continues undisputed. Much care,

however, much singleness, and a most jealous scrutiny of the

springs of action, are required, accurately to determine the

bias of the will, and consequently the dominion of iniquity. The

perplexed, conflicting soul may mistake the rebellion for the

dominion of iniquity-its continued impression upon the heart

for its ruling sway. On the other hand, a constrained

opposition of conviction may present some hopeful symptoms

of deliverance, while the dominant principle is still unshaken.

The present resolution to any particular act of sin may be

weakened, while the love and habit of it remained unaffected.

Sin is not always hated, when it is condemned, or even

forsaken; nor are duties always loved in the act of their

performance. The opposition to sin, which the awakened superficial professor considers as his evidence of uprightness

of heart, is often only the unavailing resistance of a natural

enlightened conscience to the ruling principle of the heart. The

light and power of conscience may do much in condemning

every known sin, and in restraining from many; in illustrating

every known duty, and insisting upon the external

performance of many; while yet the full dominion of iniquity is

undisturbed. Were not Ahab and Judas as completely under

his dominion after their repentance as they were before? Did

not Balaam, with all his knowledge-and the young ruler, with

all his natural loveliness and semblance of sincerity, "lack that

one thing"-a heart delivered from the dominion of its own

iniquity? Yet it is not occasional surprisals, resisted workings,

abhorred lust, nor immediate injections of evil and

blasphemous thoughts; but only the ascendancy of sin in the

affections, that proves its reigning power. The throne can

admit but of one ruler; and therefore, though grace and

iniquity may and do co-exist within, they cannot be co-partners in one sovereignty. Yet do not forget that every sinful

indulgence is for the moment putting the scepter into the

hands of our worst enemies. The setting up of an usurper is

the virtual dethronement of the rightful sovereign. The

subjection to sin is therefore the rejection of Christ.

How inestimably precious is the thought, that deliverance from

this cursed dominion is inseparably connected with a state of

acceptance with God! The man who enjoys the unspeakable

blessing of pardoned iniquity, is he "in whose spirit there is no

deceit." He has a work done within him, as well as for him. His

Savior is a whole Christ-"made of God unto him

Sanctification" and complete "Redemption" as well as

"Righteousness." He comes to the cleansing fountain, as the

double cure of his iniquity-equally effectual to wash from its

power, as from its guilt.



by

Charles Bridges

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