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Saturday, June 1, 2013

Sin: Am I Done Yet?

Photo: photosofbiblicalexplanations1.blogspot.com
Repentance is a single act.
In that He died, He died unto sin once...--Romans 8:35

A single act, but one that for you and me may not, probably will not, be accomplished all at once.
Repentance is deep, and needs to finish all the way down to its dark, disgusting bottom. 
It is not just "I'm sorry" nor "I'm really sorry" nor "I'm (sniff) so very sorry." Repentance isn't even just "I won't ever do that again."
True repentance rips and racks down to a center that never wants to see the light of day.
It resists exposure to the point that we need to tear it out. 
In short, if one has not been miserable over sin, one has not truly repented.

Repentance requires that we plumb down to the full depths of our own depravity.
Guilt and shame are long and wide and they need to be. It is so for every sin, because the commission of any sin means that we have chosen the way of idolatry. We have chosen to worship other gods. That is the nature, the definition, of sin.
It is not a mistake or misstep. It is betrayal. And it needs to die.

That's the bad news. And it is very bad, indeed.
But there is also Good News, because once we have come to the end of it, once we have reached fully down, pulled out absolutely all of the disease, we can welcome the cure. 
Once I am done, God receives me into His presence, and His reception is complete and eternal. I am clean. He has made a way for me and holds my place.

In that He died, He died unto sin once, but in that He lives, He lives unto God. So reckon yourselves also dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ.--Romans 6:9-11

God does nothing halfway and neither can I.
I cannot become fully alive until I have rendered my sin fully dead. 
Repentance. 
The gateway to death.
The path of life.

9 comments:

  1. Wonderful post! Looking forward to reading some of your others, too

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    1. Thanks so much Val. Looking forward to hearing more from you, too.

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  2. Mrs P: Awesome word here... What a great reminder that we need to "truly" repent. Happy Saturday Blessings to you.

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    1. Not one of the most enjoyable things we do along our way, but certainly one of the most fruitful. Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. What a wonderful message! Thank you for this great post!

    Ritchil
    http://chengand3kids.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks for the feedback...Sin is no one's favorite subject, that's for sure.

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  4. Yes, repentance is at the same time fearful and wonderful! To come to the end of ourselves and cry out to our Pappa, begging Him to be merciful to us, brings such freedom!
    Blessings
    Mia

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    1. Yes, Mia. Mercy is the thing, isn't it? I was just thinking about that this morning..Lord, I am not worthy...

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  5. Paul says we must die daily to our sin nature. Not just confess daily, but die daily. Praise God that Jesus died to pay our sin debt in full, and that it is finished! Great post.
    God bless,
    Laurie

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