Forgiveness and Repentance

One thing I agree with on those who disagree with my Christian writings is that we tell the truth no matter who it offends, the gospel of Jesus comes first. It's always what the Holy Scripture teaches.

My personal experiences in this life is that we are not a forgiving people and certain people are not allowed to repent. There's no question, as God enables us we need to strive to be like Jesus, there's no question that Jesus was perfect in all his ways and without sin. He was like us, yet without sin.

But do you need to be perfect to come to Jesus? Do you need to already have your sins washed away before you can accept Christ as your Saviour. No, you don't. It is Christ who does that for us and we strive to live without sin once we have accepted him as our Saviour. Perfection is the goal, not the accomplishment, at least not until, like the old song says "We all get to heaven"

According to the Austin American Statesman a woman recently killed a little girl by letting her and other children ride in the back of her pickup. Both prosecutors and defense lawyers told there story, but it is clear that the woman did not intend to kill the child. She was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered with activities for children. According to another Austin American Statesman story she got 8 years for this death.

She has been punished and she will serve her time. It is pretty clear she has already repented of her actions. But when she gets out it will be Christians that are the first to say things like "she will never change" and call her a murder. Christians who think we can live a perfect life in this life, that we always obey God even when we don't. Christians who think their salvation makes them righteous and they have nothing to repent of. It is Christ who makes us righteous, and while we are on this earth perfection is a goal not an accomplishment.

If this lady goes to church and leaders find out what she did (if she doesn't tell them) she will be called liar. The word of God says that Jesus calls the sinner, not righteous to repentance (Luke 5:32) . In my opinion it's a sin to pass up hitchhikers because you are refusing to help the needy when you do that? In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells the parable of the publican and the Pharisee. The Pharisee clearly thinks his righteousness makes him better than the publican who said "God, be merciful to me a sinner" And the passage clearly indicates that is was the publican not the Pharisee who went to his home justified.

King David murdered Uriah's wife so he could be an adulterer and have her for his own (II Sam. 11:1-27). According to the passage Uriah himself carried the letter from King David God sends the prophet Nathan to tell David a little story (II Sam. 12:1-6), Then Nathan tells King David what God's punishment for him is (II Sam. 12:7-23), but then King David is rewarded with another child, one by the very woman he literally killed for (II Sam. 12:24-25). Saul of Tarsus became the apostle Paul, when God called him he was "...yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,..." went to the high priest to bring them to Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2). He was literally on his way to have Christians murdered when he was saved (Acts 9:1-22), and then later he was the one they sought to kill (Acts 9:23-25).

Today most Christians would not forgive either the Apostle Paul or King David. We have an attitude of "He'll never change" or "Even God can't change him". Nobody denies the need for repentance. It's not about living in sin. It's about forgiving people and allowing people to repent.

I happen to think there are two unforgivable sins. The first, every one seems to know about, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Rejecting Christ) but the other is unforgiveness. (Matt 6:14-15) If we want to be forgiven we need to forgive (Luke 6:37 b) "But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them tat are entering to go in." Matt. 23:13

A serious crime could have been committed by someone who got off parole or probation 30 or more years ago and we dig up dirt on them to justify something we don't like about them now. We forbid these sinners to repent.

I am convinced that if Jesus were walking the earth in literal body form today 1) We would not recognize him. 2) That he would spend some time in church but that most of his time outside of prayer and worship would be spent in 3) The bars, the prisons and the street corners (with the prostitutes).

The old invitation hymn does not say "Come as I think you should be" it's title is "Just as I am" the first verse continues "without one plea, Lord I come to thee"

No one is saying that there is no responsibility once you are saved to strive to be like Jesus, but you have no need to worry. It is God who gives you guidance and power through the Holy Spirit. It is by Grace alone through Faith Alone in Jesus Christ alone that you are saved. Jesus says "Except you repent you shall likewise perish" in response to those who told him about an incident involving Galilaeans (Luke 13:1-5)

The scripture says "Whosoever will" may come. It does not matter what your past is, it matters where your heart is. So, will you please accept Jesus the Christ as your Lord and Saviour today. Right now, accept Him into your heart and your life. Without Him, you can do nothing. With Him, all things are possible. If you think you are the worst person on the face of the earth, Jesus still loves you and wants to save you, but the apostle Paul said "Christ came to save sinners of whom I am chief" (I Tim. 1:15).