Justification of sin?

Question:

Are there any examples in the Bible of sinners being forgiven without evidence of repentance?

My Reply:

No, there is no evidence of such...there can't be, for such is a contradiction against God's plan for salvation.

I think that it needs to really be understood that being of God requires repentance, denial of self, and total submission (or surrender) to the Lord.  Unfortunately, many seem to enjoy the idea of being saved without their part of the deal.

Repentance is needed before we can turn, for we need to realize that we are sinners.  So we need to repent of our sins.  But after the repentance, we need to also stop committing these sins.  Granted, we do tend to slip on occasion, but that's where the Lord's grace steps in, for when we get hit with the guilt, realize our sin, and repent again, He again forgives us for it and helps us to become strong against it.

The problem with not repenting is that to do so is to say that we don't have sin, but just want to go to Heaven.  That doesn't work.  Those who think this also often figure that when they accept Christ, not only are they forgiven, but that their sin is then justified.  But God doesn't justify sin, He justifies the sinner.  Sin is poison.  By justifying sin is to say that it's alright to continue to do it...but it's not!  And one of the great many problems among many who claim the name of Christ today is unrepentant sin.

Keep in mind that Jesus' ministry was "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!"  If one is to even SEE the Kingdom of God, they must first repent and be born from above, which comes with baptism.

But to answer your question, if one recognizes the need for forgiveness, the hopes is that they'll repent of them.  If they don't, then, according to James, they are saying that they have no sin, and thus calling God a liar.

---Pastor Andy

1- What Is True Repentance?

The other day, "Keith" asked, "What is true repentance? Does Jesus have to be Lord of your life in order to be a Christian? Can a true genuine Christian doubt his or her salvation? Can a true Christian deny Christ before men? What does Jesus say about all of these things? Can church history help us out as well?"

Because answering these all in one post would result in a really long answer, I've decided to answer them all individually.  Today, we begin with Keith's 1st question:

Question:

What is true repentance?

My Reply:

True repentance is a means of reconciling with the one who you sinned against, and it requires that you completely and full-heartedly confess your sins to them, realize and acknowledge to them that you were wrong, and ask them for full-forgiveness...wiping the slate clean.  It's taking the step forward to reconcile a broken relationship, as if to say, "I was wrong and I want to make this right."  Actually, from the Greek, the word literally means, "change of mind."  So it's not just a means of asking for forgiveness, but of also asking for help change your mind, your desire, in order to keep from committing the sin ever again.  Because if you really meant it when you repented, then you want to make sure you never sin against them again.  It's like, if you cheat on your spouse, then ask for forgiveness.  You don't ask for forgiveness then figure once you're forgiven, all's good and it's OK to go out and do it again.  True repentance would be apologizing with all your heart and soul, assuring them that you never want to do it again, but also admit that you have a buring desire to sin again that you have difficulty controlling, and that you need her help (and maybe professional help also) to put it out.  It's admitting to the sin, pouring out your heart and soul, asking for forgiveness, and recognizing that you can't change on your own, but need help, and so are asking for help, in the changing of your mind and desires, from a sinful mind to the mind of Christ.  For a good example of repentance, check out Psalm 51:1-17.

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

Question:

Can somebody please give me a better understanding of 2 Corinthians 7:20?

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but worldly sorrow brings death."

My Reply:

Actually, that's verse 10...
First of all, remember that when reading the Epistles, these are letters, and so every chapter is connected with the rest of the chapters in that letter.

In this passage, Paul is talking about their effects by one of his previous letters (probably 1 Corinthians). They were stricken at first with sorrow and sadness because of what he'd written to them (if you read it, you may understand why). At first, he regretted saying such things in it because of how they responded to it, but he soon changed his mind because their sorrow actually made them stronger in their faith, even bringing them to repentance. This is an example of "Godly sorrow", for since it brought them to repentance, it set them right with God...put them back straight on the right path with God. The no regrets part is that if they hadn't been shown their sin, they'd still be messed up. So praise the Lord for showing them (through Paul's letter and by means of conviction by the Holy Spirit) their sin.

Worldly sorrow, on the other hand, doesn't build up...it only tears down, and such eventually leads to death.

---Pastor Andy 

Later comment by asker: That’s true. God will reveal your sins to turn away from, as did JOB, and that certainly leads to repentance.  Thanks!