Encouragement
Repentance is Not Punishment 1,184 words
© 07-28-2016 By Robert Schaetzle
Romans 8:1-2 shares, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death.” NASB
Abiding in prayer, daily reading His word, we can recognizing the value that ‘Repentance is not Punishment.’ It’s not about being filled with guilt or shame.
Satan attempts to strike out, wanting us to believe our Lord is not God of 2nd, 3rd, or 4th chances. Satan does not want us continue seeking God and sharing our burdens and hope, asking forgiveness for our short comings.
I’ve come to recognize the truth and value of forgiveness from Mathew 18: 21-22, Jesus spoke to Peter, ‘Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”’
Understanding this, our Lord would not ask this from us if he too, will not forgive unlimited times our offences. When we come to Him with surrendered heart, asking forgiveness, He knows our heart is not hardened against the power of His Holy Spirit. He is there with outstretched arms waiting and longing for our return. God is in the business of forgiveness!
How I have felt His loving arms about me when I return to Him, seeking His grace, His forgiveness, after the thought of “I blew it again”! You see, walking daily in the abiding presence and power of a loving and forgiving God, is more than mere religion. It’s ‘faith in action’ as we begin to understand ‘biblical Christianity.’
But true biblical Christianity is recognizing what God the Father, did for us when He sent His only begotten Son to die for all our sin on the cross; regarding past, present, and even future transgressions.
True Biblical Christianity is not manmade religion, but knowing and accepting the power and promises waiting for us, from knowing His word. I continue replying when people ask me, “How’s it going, or, how are you doing today Bob?” My answer is, “I’m still growing and learning.” Our Lord is never finished with us when we purpose our lives for Him, and continue to seek Him.
Forgiving others can be our pardon
Psalm 79:9 shares, ‘Help us O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; And deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.”
For the glory of His name! Receiving forgiveness and forgiving others is not about self, but ‘For the glory of His name.’ What we’re to receive is ‘Victory through Surrender.’ His peace that surpasses all resentment, bitterness, and anything else that would be a stumbling block to ourselves, or others we love, by drawing closer to His throne of grace. Faith with action!
Romans 8:9-10, ‘However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. If Christ is in you, though your body is dead because of sin, yet the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.’
That righteousness can only be ‘His Righteousness,’ not of ourselves, what He gives to us without charge.
We cannot pay enough out of pocket love offerings to receive it, or do immeasurable amount of good deeds to receive what God gives us as part of the free gift of being born again in His Son Christ Jesus.
Where we are in our individual walk of faith comes through our desire to want and let Jesus be 100 percent Lord of lives. Still it will only happen as He recognizes total surrender of our heart.
Proverbs 24:12, ‘If you say, “See we did not know this, Does he not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does not He know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?’
For sure, if the heart is not to please the Lord, where then, will we secure the peace and presence of His grace and manifold witness to others? Forgiving others will lift tons of despair and depression from us, as a pardon to our own soul.
Living the New Life
‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight.‘In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.’[Ephesians 1:7, 13]A beautiful expression of hope through grace for us to hang on to. Sealed ‘in Him’ with the Holy Spirit of promise
The world wants us to believe our lives here on this earth are all about seeking after self, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Look at what the media pushes onto one’s emotional perspective, it’s a very short lived satisfaction at best, and is ever changing not for our good.
But those who choose to follow God’s path for life, this is not one that’s temporal, but rather lasting joy, peace, confidence in our daily walk. Hope for our tomorrows with promise of His excelling power to bring us through those burdens or concerns of our heart.
As we grow in Him we are bearing witness, reflecting ‘His Light’ to others, living in Jesus is not about punishment and restriction. It’s not about thinking I can’t have this or do that, but consider this truth, if when one becomes a new person in Christ; old things will begin pass away. That is, life style changes will occur, because the greater freedom living in Christ is far greater than that of looking to the emptiness of self, the world of unforgiveness, or hate.
We live in a society where ‘feelings’ or our emotional sensitivities are more the rule, rather than receive and abide in the strength, wisdom, and self-control, to be what we ought to be, and can be in Christ.
Finding true hope for living with lasting purpose is far greater than being conformed to this world around us; that’s out to destroy, because of unwarranted fear. We’re witness to this more and more unrest and crime, along with terrorism; that begins to cripple our emotional strength into greater distrust within the establishment.
We each are given a mind, will, and emotion from our Creator to decide how we’re to live; and by whose standards. No…repentance is not punishment but rather, only to recognize and identify God’s plan and resources are much higher than mans’ reasoning and limited abilities.
I’ve been blessed to be free from hate, resentment, and other human frailties that have caused mankind to stumble or become a stumbling block to those I love, because my repentance is not looked upon as punishment.
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