12.14 Repentance for practicing sin
God doesn’t want the ordinary believer to be sin-conscious. But even as we share these important truths, you may ask, “What about the minority who may be living in a lifestyle of sin?” Obviously, such a believer would struggle with sin-consciousness, and find it hard to enjoy the promises of God’s word. The solution is for such believers to repent.
To repent is to have a change of mind. For an unbeliever, it is to repent for the remission of sins, to receive salvation in Christ (Acts 2:38). For the believer, it is to turn away from practicing sinful deeds to walking in righteousness and holiness (2 Cor 12:21).
This is not about normal believers who fall into sin unintentionally and occasionally. It is about believers who practice sin or who indulge in a lifestyle of sin.
Jesus told the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira to repent for practicing sexual immorality and for eating food offered to idols (Rev 2:14, 20). Paul asked the Corinthian Church to repent of the uncleanness, fornication and lewdness which they PRACTICED.
(2 Cor 12:21)
…lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have SINNED before and have not REPENTED of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have PRACTICED.
In 1 Cor 5:4-5, Paul told the believers to withdraw fellowship from a person living in sexual immorality, so the person gets the message that God does not want him living in sin. After he had repented, Paul asked the believers to reaffirm their love and forgiveness for him, so as not to give any room to Satan (2 Cor 2:6-11).
The Holy Spirit also helps a person to turn back to God by convicting the person of righteousness in Christ (John 16:8, 10), which results in repentance with justification rather than condemnation (Rom 5:1, 8:1). If repentance is motivated by condemnation, the person would remain far from God. He keeps repenting but is unable to overcome. Repentance by a believer should be motivated by the goodness of God. Rom 2:4 says, “The goodness of God leads you to repentance.” It restores his fellowship with God.
When a person repents, there is a sense of godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10). The person is sorry for taking God’s grace for granted. He feels even sorrier knowing that God still loves him so much. He embraces the forgiveness that was given on the cross 2000 years ago. When he knows that he has been forgiven much, his response is to love Jesus much (Luke 7:47).
God wants us to come boldly to the throne of grace with no consciousness of sins. The role of the worship leader is to declare to the people that they can come boldly to the throne of grace because Jesus’ blood has made them worthy. When we enter boldly into God’s presence with righteousness-consciousness, we will enjoy an intimate relationship with Him.
To repent is to have a change of mind. For an unbeliever, it is to repent for the remission of sins, to receive salvation in Christ (Acts 2:38). For the believer, it is to turn away from practicing sinful deeds to walking in righteousness and holiness (2 Cor 12:21).
This is not about normal believers who fall into sin unintentionally and occasionally. It is about believers who practice sin or who indulge in a lifestyle of sin.
Jesus told the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira to repent for practicing sexual immorality and for eating food offered to idols (Rev 2:14, 20). Paul asked the Corinthian Church to repent of the uncleanness, fornication and lewdness which they PRACTICED.
(2 Cor 12:21)
…lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have SINNED before and have not REPENTED of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have PRACTICED.
In 1 Cor 5:4-5, Paul told the believers to withdraw fellowship from a person living in sexual immorality, so the person gets the message that God does not want him living in sin. After he had repented, Paul asked the believers to reaffirm their love and forgiveness for him, so as not to give any room to Satan (2 Cor 2:6-11).
The Holy Spirit also helps a person to turn back to God by convicting the person of righteousness in Christ (John 16:8, 10), which results in repentance with justification rather than condemnation (Rom 5:1, 8:1). If repentance is motivated by condemnation, the person would remain far from God. He keeps repenting but is unable to overcome. Repentance by a believer should be motivated by the goodness of God. Rom 2:4 says, “The goodness of God leads you to repentance.” It restores his fellowship with God.
When a person repents, there is a sense of godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10). The person is sorry for taking God’s grace for granted. He feels even sorrier knowing that God still loves him so much. He embraces the forgiveness that was given on the cross 2000 years ago. When he knows that he has been forgiven much, his response is to love Jesus much (Luke 7:47).
God wants us to come boldly to the throne of grace with no consciousness of sins. The role of the worship leader is to declare to the people that they can come boldly to the throne of grace because Jesus’ blood has made them worthy. When we enter boldly into God’s presence with righteousness-consciousness, we will enjoy an intimate relationship with Him.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:36 AM
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