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What rich comfort is missed by God's children when they fall into sin, neglect God's means of grace, and live spiritually careless lives for a time?
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After seriously sinning, David cried in Psalm 51:12, "Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation," but not "restore unto me Thy salvation." Why? What difference is there between losing salvation and the comfort of it?
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All God's children are to strive for spiritual growth, for moret: assurance of faith. They are to do this by seeking grace to:
"On a cold winter day, when clouds move in between you and the sun, what happens to the sun's light, warmth, and comfort? When a child of God sins, God and his state of grace remain, as the sun remains in the heavens. But his sins, as clouds, produce a separation from the felt light, warmth, and comfort of his relationship with God. How will this affect his spiritual growth?"
Read Question and Answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism.
Q. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
A. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my
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