God Saves Sinners
For almost a year now, the Coram Deo community has been sinking our collective teeth into the theologically rich and ethically challenging book of Romans. This Sunday, as we linger on the cusp of chapter 12, we will pause to meditatively reflect on the teaching of the first eleven chapters and especially on the theme of the book: "God Saves Sinners." Our worship gathering this Sunday will be different - in a good and meaningful way. Don't miss it.
posted by Bob | 10:42 AM
4 Comments:
Question based on M.C. discussion of false/true repentance (in light of the theme of Romans): how can I repent truly instead of falsely? I rarely do things out of less than conviction - but the things I do out of conviction often contradict themselves from one day (hour) to the next.
-Ivan, male, 23, partially responsible for the success of Creed
dear creedman,
welcome to humanity's dilemma!
i'm learning that the response to your question is partly acknowledging the tendency toward contradiction, as you call it.
BOB FORGIVE ME FOR COPYING AND PASTING OUT OF MY EMAIL TO YOU FROM THIS WEEK>
It seems that the idea of true repentance (old AND new testament) is a denial or confession of self-indulgence (giving in to fleshly desires) and returning to God. this is what he truly desires more above all things, for our
return to him.
true repentance brings about two responses: 1.) an acknowledgement that we are not good enough to not sin (duh), our sin reaches and touches all things beyond our imaginations and 2.) returning to God in contrition and sorrow for our inability to not sin and embracing Jesus as the means by which our blameless reputation is
obtained.
i don't know if this helps at all, creedman.
-Brianna
It seems to me that true repentance would be one that is continued beyond the initial "I'm sorry" moment. There are many times when I have identified a sin in my life and "repented" out of what seems like a sincere and heartfelt conviction, and I am usually able to continue this repentance for literally minutes, sometimes hours. I would submit that true repentance is one that we continue long after we are done "feeling sorry" or "convicted". And yes this does mean that me must lean on Christ and acknowledge that we are incapable of this by ourselves. So, all digression aside, maybe true repentance is one that "sticks".
Last week, our MC struggled to put down a good workable definition of what true repentance really is.
I still don't know if I can define it, but I get a good sense of what true repentance is when I read Psalm 51. In the passage David experiences heartbreak, keeps the focus on God, looks forward to doing good things with his life, and ultimately determines that God is focused on his heart and not his outward attempts to behave correctly or make suitable sacrifices.
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