3-27-04
Why do people need to be saved and how does repentance work? Repentance involves
turning, we always say, turning from sin and turning to Jesus. When we turn from sin does that
mean facing up to all the various activities we have engaged in that the Bible labels as sins and
deciding to stop engaging in such behaviors in the future? Surely, that is part of it but I think
there may be a deeper level that is sometimes missed. Repentance requires a deep look at our
very selves; that part from which all those bad behaviors flowed through the years. Why did we
tell those lies? Why did we covet? Was it not because we were liars and covetous liars to
boot? It was, but the flesh rebels strongly against such an idea.
People (all of us, of course) need to be saved not only because we sinned at certain times and in
certain places but even more because we were sinners at heart. We must turn from ourselves
as we are -rank sinners - and to Jesus. We turn to Jesus for forgiveness of each sin to be sure,
but even more we turn to Jesus because we are the kind of people who do those things and
because there is nothing we can do about being those kind of people. We are going to Hell
because we are the kind of people who do the kinds of things that deserve Hell. We have been
warned and still we commit such acts. Our only hope is a gracious God who will forgive our
sins AND transform us from the kind of person we are. There is no self-help. There is no help
at all unless Jesus will help. And He is willing.
Salvation is no self-reformation project it is a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit who applies
the work of Christ to us. He is indeed willing and able.
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