"I have kept myself from my sin" (cf. Psalm 18:23). [Note "my sin" not "sin," since perfectionism is not possible this side of glory.]
"Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free form sin?" (Prov. 20:9, NLT).
[Note that repentance is progressive and we are never too good to repent of some sin since there is no perfectionism state in the believer.]
"I have seen the consummation of all perfection..." (Psalm 119:96, NKJV).
"... There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent" (Luke 24:47, NLT).
"... [T]hat they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance" (Acts 26:20, HCSB). [The whole point is a changed and transformed new life in Christ.]
Repentance is a mandate and God demands that "everyone" repent (cf. Acts 17:30); it's a clear mandate, not fire insurance. And no one can say he is good to go apart from obeying this recurring motif of Scripture. God grants repentance as a gift of grace and a privilege (cf. Acts 5:31; 11:18) and is good to us and patient in order to lead us toward it (cf. Rom. 2:4). Some mistakenly believe that repentance is merely changing your opinions about sin: au contraire, it's a change of heart, mind, and will--and a change of behavior is the proof (cf. Acts. 26:20).
"Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free form sin?" (Prov. 20:9, NLT).
[Note that repentance is progressive and we are never too good to repent of some sin since there is no perfectionism state in the believer.]
"I have seen the consummation of all perfection..." (Psalm 119:96, NKJV).
"... There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent" (Luke 24:47, NLT).
"... [T]hat they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance" (Acts 26:20, HCSB). [The whole point is a changed and transformed new life in Christ.]
Repentance is a mandate and God demands that "everyone" repent (cf. Acts 17:30); it's a clear mandate, not fire insurance. And no one can say he is good to go apart from obeying this recurring motif of Scripture. God grants repentance as a gift of grace and a privilege (cf. Acts 5:31; 11:18) and is good to us and patient in order to lead us toward it (cf. Rom. 2:4). Some mistakenly believe that repentance is merely changing your opinions about sin: au contraire, it's a change of heart, mind, and will--and a change of behavior is the proof (cf. Acts. 26:20).
Yes, repentance is a prerequisite, but it is the imperative and result of God's special grace in the heart (grace doesn't just facilitate it, but is necessary and sufficient)--so that we change from the inside out. We must all come clean and own up to our sin or wrongdoing and make our U-turn or about-face from sin toward Christ.
In short, we must repudiate sin, and renounce it to show our change of heart. The true sacrifices of God are a contrite heart and David illustrated this with his penitential Psalm 51 and in verse 17 (NKJV) he says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."
Prophets of old had the thankless job of preaching repentance (actually they called them to turn from their wicked ways and return to the Lord), and they did it as part of their job description to bring about true revival, which only results from total repentance, no matter the source (inspired preaching or prophetic utterance). The mere mention of the word sin is taboo to some preachers because it's such a "killjoy" word! God levels the playing ground and calls everyone a sinner, and it makes no difference to what degree, we all fall short, since it's not okay to fudge a little, one cannot say his sins aren't very serious, for example saying, "I only pilfered a few bucks from petty cash." This is theft, period, no exceptions.
Prophets have a way of making you feel uncomfortable and ill at ease in your sin. Sermons are meant to meet people where they are, and the good preacher knows his flock and is able to do this. People get the message that sin repels God's nature like matter and antimatter cannot coexist. Why doesn't God do something about all the sin and evil in the world? He has, He made you! Prophets also make the comfortable and complacent feel uncomfortable and convicted, while the troubled conscience is given hope.
The same message has dual effects, subject to the condition of the soul. John the Baptist began his ministry with this prerequisite: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!" Jesus, likewise, began: "Repent and believe the gospel!" Repentance is not some additional work we must accomplish to make ourselves qualified to believe or be saved, but a work of grace in our hearts, bringing us to a knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 2:25). You cannot have true repentance without the accompanying saving or genuine and sincere faith--they go hand in hand and cannot be separated, but only distinguished--like two flip sides of a coin. True repentance bears fruit to show its reality according to Acts 26:20 (quoted above), and if there's no change in one's life, his repentance is suspect. Works are no substitute for repentance or faith, but only it's proof and evidence.
Calvin Coolidge, a church-going president, came home from church service and his wife asked him what the sermon was about: "He preached on sin!" What did he say about it, his wife inquired: "He was against it!" This is the gist of the gospel, God will not countenance sin, and we must not only measure the strength and sincerity of our faith but the thoroughness and completeness of our repentance. The fault of churches today is that they make and allow sinners to feel comfortable in their sin, with no urgent call to change their ways. The church shouldn't be a place where sinners feel comfortable but become convicted of their sin, otherwise, they will get false assurance, not based on the truth of the gospel message. They are welcome as seekers, but must realize that God is not soft of sin, but is holy--and without holiness, no one will see the Lord. (Cf. Heb. 12:14).
Now, all believers are still sinners in a technical sense (cf. Gal. 2:17), but believers are called saints and brethren and are justified sinners, members of God's family in Scripture, not sinners. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, and in reality, one never ceases to repent (it's not just a one-time event, but a progressive one with daily renewal), just like he never ceases to believe or grow in his faith, but believers are never to become callous or indifferent to sin and sinners but to have their conscience kept sensitive, not immune and insensitive to its presence and voice. It's not always how big your faith is, but how complete your repentance--they go hand in hand!
What is appalling in some Christian churches or circles is that they pick on certain sins that offend them in particular; namely, homosexuality, divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse, etc. Even ex-cons are treated with contempt of unwelcome arms as if they aren't as holy as the others (beware of a holier-than-thou attitude per Isa. 65:5). The worst of sins is the one of pride in the heart (cf. Prov. 6:17), and this is only visible to God because He looks on the heart of man, his motives and spirit, not the outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7; Prov. 16:2; 21:2). "The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart" (Prov. 20:27, NKJV).
Churches tend to be legalistic in the appraisal of man and only see "sins," and not "sin." We need forgiveness from what we've done and deliverance from who we are. It is true that we need to be saved from what we are (sin), as well as what we have done (sins), by justification and sanctification respectively, but then we are not to pick on certain pet sins that offend us, but to mention that the whole problem of man cannot be solved apart from the conviction of sin, accomplished only by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), and man must repent of his inner rebellion against God manifested in manifold "sins."
When we focus on merely one sin, let's say smoking is one, all we do is produce reformed sinners and not born-again ones. Just because some alcoholic has been dry or clean and sober, doesn't mean he's saved. This problem is compounded by many alcoholics who go to AA meetings and take their pledge and substitute this for the benefits of the local church. They reduce Christianity to an AA pledge or the buddy system, and just because this keeps them sober, they think they are walking with the Lord or living a victorious Christian life--they must have higher goals than just sobriety.
In the story of the so-called sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet, the Pharisees were offended by her "sin" because they felt self-righteous. We are all sinners saved by grace in Christ and God doesn't see our sin anymore, but only the imputed righteousness of Christ on our behalf. And Jesus didn't see it this way, but that she only loved Him (love is the fulfillment of the law, cf. Gal. 5:14; Romans 13:8, 10) and all the more, because she had been forgiven more: the point is that all of us have been forgiven "more," but we just don't realize it. William Jay of Bath said that he is a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior! Only when we realize the seriousness, reality, and severity of our sin, do we acknowledge that we have a real, serious, complete Savior who can give us victory over sin. Yes, Paul said that we are more than conquerors in Christ (cf. Rom. 8:37).
When we get saved we are set from the power of sin and are no longer under its dominion, and this means all sin, including our pet ones or the ones that easily beset us (cf. Heb. 12:1). Romans 6:18 (NLT) says, Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living." Verse 14 says, "Sin is no longer your master...." We are to let no sin have dominion over us (cf. Psalm 119:133). Even David prayed not to let any sin have power over him, as he says in Psalm 19:13 (NLT): "... don't let them control me...." David is speaking of presumptuous or great sin and we are to pray for victory as a matter of course.
Church is not a place for people to feel that their sins are overlooked or countenanced. It's true that you can come to Christ as you are, but you cannot stay that way! But they should become convicted and find solace only in repentance and the power of the gospel message to change them from the inside out. We aren't looking for reform or conformity, but the transformation that only God can accomplish. What He's done for others, He can do for anyone! We welcome sinners but not with the approval of sin! Just like they say that we love the sinner but reject the sin.
Just like it says in Jude 22-23 (NLT): And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives." We need to stop confirming sinners in their sin by accepting or overlooking sin. The ideal place for bringing conviction is from the pulpit and the message is to be dependent upon the conviction of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:8); it's not our job to convict of sin, but only God can do this.
A concrete example of a church being soft on sin is when they go out of their way not to condemn homosexuality, though we are not homophobic either, we are not to give the impression that it's not a sin! Leviticus 18:22 clearly condemns this sin, but we are not to go on a witch hunt against this particular offense either, as being known as an anti-gay church; but churches are to be "anti-sin." It's just as bad to boast that your church has no homosexuals attending. Those churches that make it a mission to aim their guns at any particular sin, overlook sin in general, and that all sin offends God--why is, for instance, that you don't hear any anti-gluttony sermons? It's probably because too many churchgoers are guilty of it! When God demands repentance, it's of all our sins, not just the ones that offend others, ourselves, or the church! It's no wonder we all tend to justify our personal sins and condemn those in others! As it is written in Psalm 36:2 (NKJV): "For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates [to hate his own sin]."
We shouldn't need to doubt the gravity of sin (there's really no such thing as a small sin), for Israel was given a graphic reminder of their iniquities every Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and do we need to see the Via Dolorosa of Christ and His passion, from the flogging to the mockery, to the crucifixion, whereby He suffered on our behalf without complaint, completely voluntary for the joy that was set before Him? If sin weren't such serious business, God would've found another way to solve the sin question apart from Christ's death on a cross. Isaiah realized that sin cannot survive in God's presence because of He is thrice holy and said, "Woe is me, I am undone" (cf. Isa. 6:5). Job likewise repented in "dust and ashes" upon seeing the LORD (cf. Job 42:6). At a certain point of time the day of grace is over, and God appraises man with a plumb line of scrutiny, and he is found wanting: He proclaims, "... I will no longer ignore all their sins" (Amos 7:8, NLT). In Gen. 6:3 God says, "... 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever....'" Thank God we have a Savior: "... [And] you are to name him Jesus, for he shall will his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21, NLT).
The conclusion of the matter is that it is no wonder that the closer you grow towards God and see His face in Christ, the more aware of your own sins you become and how repugnant they seem to you? Familiarity normally breeds contempt, but not so with Christ, the apostles grew more aware of their own personal failures and shortcomings, and Peter himself declared bluntly: "Depart from me O Lord, for I am a sinner!" (Cf. Luke 5:8). While Christ alone could declare to the skeptics, "Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin?..." (John 8:46, NLT).
Note that one must realize he is lost before being found, since the locus of the problem is our old sin nature, and one must become convicted of sin, before being set free of it in Christ:
"O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, Do it for Your name's sake; For our backslidings are many, We have sinned against You" (Jeremiah 14:7, NKJV).
"... For you have stumbled because of your iniquity [sin has been your downfall!]" (Hosea 14:1, NKJV).
"For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death" (2 Cor. 7:10, NLT). Soli Deo Gloria!
In short, we must repudiate sin, and renounce it to show our change of heart. The true sacrifices of God are a contrite heart and David illustrated this with his penitential Psalm 51 and in verse 17 (NKJV) he says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."
Prophets of old had the thankless job of preaching repentance (actually they called them to turn from their wicked ways and return to the Lord), and they did it as part of their job description to bring about true revival, which only results from total repentance, no matter the source (inspired preaching or prophetic utterance). The mere mention of the word sin is taboo to some preachers because it's such a "killjoy" word! God levels the playing ground and calls everyone a sinner, and it makes no difference to what degree, we all fall short, since it's not okay to fudge a little, one cannot say his sins aren't very serious, for example saying, "I only pilfered a few bucks from petty cash." This is theft, period, no exceptions.
Prophets have a way of making you feel uncomfortable and ill at ease in your sin. Sermons are meant to meet people where they are, and the good preacher knows his flock and is able to do this. People get the message that sin repels God's nature like matter and antimatter cannot coexist. Why doesn't God do something about all the sin and evil in the world? He has, He made you! Prophets also make the comfortable and complacent feel uncomfortable and convicted, while the troubled conscience is given hope.
The same message has dual effects, subject to the condition of the soul. John the Baptist began his ministry with this prerequisite: "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!" Jesus, likewise, began: "Repent and believe the gospel!" Repentance is not some additional work we must accomplish to make ourselves qualified to believe or be saved, but a work of grace in our hearts, bringing us to a knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 2:25). You cannot have true repentance without the accompanying saving or genuine and sincere faith--they go hand in hand and cannot be separated, but only distinguished--like two flip sides of a coin. True repentance bears fruit to show its reality according to Acts 26:20 (quoted above), and if there's no change in one's life, his repentance is suspect. Works are no substitute for repentance or faith, but only it's proof and evidence.
Calvin Coolidge, a church-going president, came home from church service and his wife asked him what the sermon was about: "He preached on sin!" What did he say about it, his wife inquired: "He was against it!" This is the gist of the gospel, God will not countenance sin, and we must not only measure the strength and sincerity of our faith but the thoroughness and completeness of our repentance. The fault of churches today is that they make and allow sinners to feel comfortable in their sin, with no urgent call to change their ways. The church shouldn't be a place where sinners feel comfortable but become convicted of their sin, otherwise, they will get false assurance, not based on the truth of the gospel message. They are welcome as seekers, but must realize that God is not soft of sin, but is holy--and without holiness, no one will see the Lord. (Cf. Heb. 12:14).
Now, all believers are still sinners in a technical sense (cf. Gal. 2:17), but believers are called saints and brethren and are justified sinners, members of God's family in Scripture, not sinners. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, and in reality, one never ceases to repent (it's not just a one-time event, but a progressive one with daily renewal), just like he never ceases to believe or grow in his faith, but believers are never to become callous or indifferent to sin and sinners but to have their conscience kept sensitive, not immune and insensitive to its presence and voice. It's not always how big your faith is, but how complete your repentance--they go hand in hand!
What is appalling in some Christian churches or circles is that they pick on certain sins that offend them in particular; namely, homosexuality, divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse, etc. Even ex-cons are treated with contempt of unwelcome arms as if they aren't as holy as the others (beware of a holier-than-thou attitude per Isa. 65:5). The worst of sins is the one of pride in the heart (cf. Prov. 6:17), and this is only visible to God because He looks on the heart of man, his motives and spirit, not the outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7; Prov. 16:2; 21:2). "The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart" (Prov. 20:27, NKJV).
Churches tend to be legalistic in the appraisal of man and only see "sins," and not "sin." We need forgiveness from what we've done and deliverance from who we are. It is true that we need to be saved from what we are (sin), as well as what we have done (sins), by justification and sanctification respectively, but then we are not to pick on certain pet sins that offend us, but to mention that the whole problem of man cannot be solved apart from the conviction of sin, accomplished only by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), and man must repent of his inner rebellion against God manifested in manifold "sins."
When we focus on merely one sin, let's say smoking is one, all we do is produce reformed sinners and not born-again ones. Just because some alcoholic has been dry or clean and sober, doesn't mean he's saved. This problem is compounded by many alcoholics who go to AA meetings and take their pledge and substitute this for the benefits of the local church. They reduce Christianity to an AA pledge or the buddy system, and just because this keeps them sober, they think they are walking with the Lord or living a victorious Christian life--they must have higher goals than just sobriety.
In the story of the so-called sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet, the Pharisees were offended by her "sin" because they felt self-righteous. We are all sinners saved by grace in Christ and God doesn't see our sin anymore, but only the imputed righteousness of Christ on our behalf. And Jesus didn't see it this way, but that she only loved Him (love is the fulfillment of the law, cf. Gal. 5:14; Romans 13:8, 10) and all the more, because she had been forgiven more: the point is that all of us have been forgiven "more," but we just don't realize it. William Jay of Bath said that he is a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior! Only when we realize the seriousness, reality, and severity of our sin, do we acknowledge that we have a real, serious, complete Savior who can give us victory over sin. Yes, Paul said that we are more than conquerors in Christ (cf. Rom. 8:37).
When we get saved we are set from the power of sin and are no longer under its dominion, and this means all sin, including our pet ones or the ones that easily beset us (cf. Heb. 12:1). Romans 6:18 (NLT) says, Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living." Verse 14 says, "Sin is no longer your master...." We are to let no sin have dominion over us (cf. Psalm 119:133). Even David prayed not to let any sin have power over him, as he says in Psalm 19:13 (NLT): "... don't let them control me...." David is speaking of presumptuous or great sin and we are to pray for victory as a matter of course.
Church is not a place for people to feel that their sins are overlooked or countenanced. It's true that you can come to Christ as you are, but you cannot stay that way! But they should become convicted and find solace only in repentance and the power of the gospel message to change them from the inside out. We aren't looking for reform or conformity, but the transformation that only God can accomplish. What He's done for others, He can do for anyone! We welcome sinners but not with the approval of sin! Just like they say that we love the sinner but reject the sin.
Just like it says in Jude 22-23 (NLT): And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives." We need to stop confirming sinners in their sin by accepting or overlooking sin. The ideal place for bringing conviction is from the pulpit and the message is to be dependent upon the conviction of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:8); it's not our job to convict of sin, but only God can do this.
A concrete example of a church being soft on sin is when they go out of their way not to condemn homosexuality, though we are not homophobic either, we are not to give the impression that it's not a sin! Leviticus 18:22 clearly condemns this sin, but we are not to go on a witch hunt against this particular offense either, as being known as an anti-gay church; but churches are to be "anti-sin." It's just as bad to boast that your church has no homosexuals attending. Those churches that make it a mission to aim their guns at any particular sin, overlook sin in general, and that all sin offends God--why is, for instance, that you don't hear any anti-gluttony sermons? It's probably because too many churchgoers are guilty of it! When God demands repentance, it's of all our sins, not just the ones that offend others, ourselves, or the church! It's no wonder we all tend to justify our personal sins and condemn those in others! As it is written in Psalm 36:2 (NKJV): "For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates [to hate his own sin]."
We shouldn't need to doubt the gravity of sin (there's really no such thing as a small sin), for Israel was given a graphic reminder of their iniquities every Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and do we need to see the Via Dolorosa of Christ and His passion, from the flogging to the mockery, to the crucifixion, whereby He suffered on our behalf without complaint, completely voluntary for the joy that was set before Him? If sin weren't such serious business, God would've found another way to solve the sin question apart from Christ's death on a cross. Isaiah realized that sin cannot survive in God's presence because of He is thrice holy and said, "Woe is me, I am undone" (cf. Isa. 6:5). Job likewise repented in "dust and ashes" upon seeing the LORD (cf. Job 42:6). At a certain point of time the day of grace is over, and God appraises man with a plumb line of scrutiny, and he is found wanting: He proclaims, "... I will no longer ignore all their sins" (Amos 7:8, NLT). In Gen. 6:3 God says, "... 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever....'" Thank God we have a Savior: "... [And] you are to name him Jesus, for he shall will his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21, NLT).
The conclusion of the matter is that it is no wonder that the closer you grow towards God and see His face in Christ, the more aware of your own sins you become and how repugnant they seem to you? Familiarity normally breeds contempt, but not so with Christ, the apostles grew more aware of their own personal failures and shortcomings, and Peter himself declared bluntly: "Depart from me O Lord, for I am a sinner!" (Cf. Luke 5:8). While Christ alone could declare to the skeptics, "Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin?..." (John 8:46, NLT).
Note that one must realize he is lost before being found, since the locus of the problem is our old sin nature, and one must become convicted of sin, before being set free of it in Christ:
"O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, Do it for Your name's sake; For our backslidings are many, We have sinned against You" (Jeremiah 14:7, NKJV).
"... For you have stumbled because of your iniquity [sin has been your downfall!]" (Hosea 14:1, NKJV).
"For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death" (2 Cor. 7:10, NLT). Soli Deo Gloria!
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