Plants require light to grow. Without light plants shrivel and die. Sin is exactly the opposite. Sin loves darkness. Darkness is the condition necessary for sin to grow. Anyone who wants sin to remain and take over only needs to keep away from the light. There is nothing else required.
For sin to shrivel up and die it must be brought into the light.
The Apostle John declared: If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 ESV
If we walk in the light, if...
Repentance turns on the light. Repentance is a change of mind that declares what I did was a sin, I'm responsible for what I've done and I accept the consequences.
When I change my mind about what I've done and declare it to be sin; when I take responsibility for what I've done; when I accept the consequences of my actions I have walked in the light. When I continue to admit sin, take responsibility and accept the consequences then I am walking in the light. Walking is a continuous action. Walking in the light is meant to be a continuous way of life for a Jesus follower.
Jesus, teach us how to walk in the light!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Repentance - An obsolete idea?
Repentance is a word that isn't heard much anymore. In the current mindset the word has become obsolete, it is no longer necessary. It is obsolete because there is another word that it works in conjunction with: sin. What was formerly referred to as sin has been rebranded.
The old fashion idea of sin has been replaced with "issues". A person doesn't do wrong instead they "have issues".
Sin has been replaced with “illness”. A person doesn't sin instead they are suffering from an illness.
What they did was not intentional it was a “mistake”.
The problem with replacing sin with: illness, issues and mistakes is that repentance is no longer a response to a person's choices and actions. Repentance is built on admitting wrong choices and taking responsibility for what has happened. Repentance is a change of mind that declares what I did was a sin, I'm responsible for what I've done and I accept the consequences.
Recently someone said to me “I've made peace with God.” The problem with their statement was that they were taking little or no responsibility for their actions. Repentance always takes responsibility.
The Apostle Paul wrote about the reaction of repentance in his second letter to the church in Corinth. “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment!” 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 ESV
This is what godly repentance looks like. Is there an area in your life where you need to declare something as sin, take responsibility and shoulder the consequences?
The old fashion idea of sin has been replaced with "issues". A person doesn't do wrong instead they "have issues".
Sin has been replaced with “illness”. A person doesn't sin instead they are suffering from an illness.
What they did was not intentional it was a “mistake”.
The problem with replacing sin with: illness, issues and mistakes is that repentance is no longer a response to a person's choices and actions. Repentance is built on admitting wrong choices and taking responsibility for what has happened. Repentance is a change of mind that declares what I did was a sin, I'm responsible for what I've done and I accept the consequences.
Recently someone said to me “I've made peace with God.” The problem with their statement was that they were taking little or no responsibility for their actions. Repentance always takes responsibility.
The Apostle Paul wrote about the reaction of repentance in his second letter to the church in Corinth. “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment!” 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 ESV
This is what godly repentance looks like. Is there an area in your life where you need to declare something as sin, take responsibility and shoulder the consequences?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)