dealing with sin: part 4
In conclusion, repent.
“to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one’s life for the better.”
The motivation for repentance.
God hates sin. How much? Look at what Christ suffered on the cross. God loves the redeemed. How much? Look at what Christ suffered on the cross. God wants us to be reconciled to him, and enjoy him forever. How much? Look at what Christ suffered on the cross.
You know, I think there might be another reason for that experience some of us have gone through—when we find it easiest to want to “get right with God” in the immediate aftermath of sin and find it easiest to go back to chasing after idols after a few days of “getting right with God.” Could it be because our spiritual lives are so guilt-driven? We want to get rid of the heavy guilt we feel, so we get on our knees and pray and read the bible again and avoid doing bad things. Then, we find that the guilt’s gone and maybe it wouldn’t hurt to dabble a little.
But to repent of our sin, we need more than the guilt we feel, or the pricking of our consciences. It is work, born of a commitment grounded in a faithful desire to obey Christ—our king and savior.There is a radical dedication to altering conduct—figuratively, cutting off body parts and plucking out eyeballs.
And is it enough to just turn away from sin? There must be, above all things, a desire to know and obey God! We cannot just run away from temptation. It must be because we are running towards something else! Hate sin because you love God. And we love, because he first loved us.
But I have no desire to, even though I know (deep down) that I ought. Maybe on a better day.
Repent, regardless. And repent for your lack of desire. And beg, via prayer, that an amazed and cherished understanding of God would be graciously restored to you—despite your sin. Get counsel. Look to the gospel. Look in his Word. Look at his attributes. But don’t ever, ever give up.
And take heart! because this indicates that you have understood enough of the glory of God, and been saved, that your deepest affections are for him. If you are truly saved, God is working in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. You are being sanctified.
But he will not take me back. Maybe in a few days.
If he will send his son for us, what will he hold back? If Christ’s blood was spilled—not one drop to be wasted—to atone for the sins of the truly saved, what greater priest do we require? What further demonstration of his deep, unconditional love could God the Father provide?
Do not forget who saves whom! Do not forget how he made the dead alive. Do not forget that the king provided unfathomable mercy to rebels. Do not forget that his redemptive work and his love do not depend on your works, but on his grace for the elect.
It’s true; it’s a really hard balance we have to strike. On the one hand, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. On the other, we must not cheapen grace by sinning more so that it can abound. But that balance hangs on the gospel!
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