Leviticus 4:6-7 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD… 1. Some tell us that repentance is sufficient without atonement. "Contrition," say they, "is all that God wants. Why insist on the need of sacrifice? Let a man mourn over his iniquities and he will be forgiven." This is a mode of speech not more unscriptural than unphilosophical. To maintain that "repentance is sufficient without atonement" is uncommonly like declaring that life is enough without bread or that heat is sufficient without the sun. The fact is, that as existence is sustained by food, and as warmth proceeds from the orb of day, so repentance is with most men the result of belief in redemption. John the Baptist was pre-eminently a preacher of repentance: we invariably associate the two. "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"; such was the keynote of his teaching. He bids the Pharisees and Sadducees "bring forth fruit meet for repentance." Yet he who thus spoke took care to cry, "Behold the Lamb of God." 2. "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," stand in the relation of effect and cause. The executioner of Socrates, handing him the cup of hemlock, burst into tears, deeply grieved that he should, in any way, be an accessory to the death of one so illustrious. In like manner, when we hear a well-known voice exclaiming, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," we are conscious that our transgressions necessitated the fatal draught, and, feeling their enormity, we mourn over them. Some years ago patriotic regard for their country introduced the following fashion among Polish ladies. Each wore a small iron cross bearing upon it the name "Warsaw." Thereby they were reminded of the wrong done to the nation which they loved so well, and thereby, also, they sought to stir up brothers, husbands, and sons to hatred of tyrannic Russia. Let us have the Cross near our hearts, for nothing will so effectually inflame animosity against sin. Aptly has it been remarked that "contrition is the tear in the eye of faith." (T. R. Stevenson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. |
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