Confessing Sin Even if It Means the Death Penalty
This sermon highlights the transformative power of Christ and the importance of confession and repentance through the story of a soldier who stole ammunition and was spared the death penalty after confessing his sins.
Marie Monsen shares a powerful testimony of a soldier who, after attending a revival meeting for the first time, experienced deep conviction of sin, leading to a profound transformation. Filled with peace and joy from the Holy Spirit's work, he confessed to a serious crime he had committed, facing a potential death penalty. Through prayer and repentance, he received unexpected mercy and a second chance at life, demonstrating the transformative power of God's grace and forgiveness.
Text
"In one place we felt the presence of spiritual power toward the close of the revival meetings, at which many had been saved. One day a soldier strayed into the meeting. Everything he saw and heard was strange and new to him. He said later that he had never heard of any gospel preaching before. The meeting had not closed before he had come under deep conviction of sin and was given help. A word of promise from the Lord was quoted to him once only: his praise and thanksgiving broke forth and he was filled with peace, a peace which showed on his face, as it always did when the Holy Spirit had worked. Finally we stood in one of the airy rooms off the courtyard and sang hymns of praise, and with shinning eyes he heard them for the first time and understood.
For a moment, a deep Shadow fell across his face, but it passed immediately. When the hymn was ended, he said: "It will be a short life of joy for me here on earth, but I shall be saved from myself and my sins forever. Will you pray together for me until you hear a shot from the military camp? I stole ammunition and sold it, and there is a death penalty for that. I must go back now and confess to the captain."
With a radiant, "We shall meet again in heaven," he ran off, a mere boy.
We stood there praying in a ring, holding one another's hands. We thought it was a very long time we had to wait, praying and listening for that shot. Suddenly he was there again in our midst, smiling. He had confessed everything and given a careful, detailed account of what he had stolen. The Captain sat silent a moment, then sighed heavily and said:
"As you have now become a new man and will not steal any more, I don't see why you should die, you may go.
Sermon Outline
- The Power of the Holy Spirit
- The Importance of Confession
- The Transforming Power of Christ
- The soldier's transformation from a thief to a new man
- The captain's decision to spare his life
- The significance of the soldier's experience
Key Quotes
“It will be a short life of joy for me here on earth, but I shall be saved from myself and my sins forever.” — Marie Monsen
“We shall meet again in heaven,” — Marie Monsen
Application Points
- Confession and repentance are essential for a transformed life.
- The gospel has the power to change people from the inside out.
- God's forgiveness and mercy are available to all who confess their sins and turn to Him.