Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
As a parent how many times have you had a child approach you crying and weeping because they had done something wrong? When you recognized their sorrow, did you proceed to punish them for what they had done? Did you banish them to their bedroom? Did you escoriate them for their misdeeds? As a loving parent we extend to them mercy and grace, giving them a hug and comforting them. Like the prodigal son, we cast their sins behind us, and completely forget that the events ever took place.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
If there is one thing in this world that is lacking, it is true contrition. Many people want to find forgiveness with God or others, but they don’t truly possess this quality in their heart. Like the child in the story, God wants all men to become His penitent children, being sorry enough for our sins, that they quickly and humbly apologize to those whom we have wronged. When people possess this penitent frame of mind, we must restore them meekly, with the understanding that we too have made mistakes along the way.
Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
When someone is overtaken in a fault, they will be absolutely consumed with grief. This is because they are sorry inwardly for the sinful actions they have committed. They did something wrong, but now they are filled with heartfelt regret. Nowadays, many people sin, but they refuse to feel bad about what they have done. The love of many truly has waxed cold. They are completely impenitent and unremorseful. King David on the other hand, was grief stricken in his heart, because of the sin that he had committed.
Psalms 51:1-19 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Even though Jesus had chosen Peter as one of His Apostles, Peter later sinned against the Lord, by denying Him three times. He also was grief stricken by what he had done.
Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
But Peter was eventually was completely restored by the Lord.
John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
The humble publican is another example of contrition, visibly and emotionally shaken with his own grief.
Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
In today’s modern form of Christianity, genuine contrition is not a word within their own vocabulary. It’s quickly turning into the days of Noah, a society filled with people who refuse to soften their hearts and apologize. Many people profess Christianity, but the truth is that deep down inside of their hearts, you will only find disguised bitterness, cruelty and hatred. It is a form of Christianity without sorrow, because their love has turned cold. To find forgiveness with God and others, you must first possess contrition, because He will resist the proud. James warned about this very thing.
James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
This impenitent and heathen form of Christianity continues to grow each day, and will only get worse and worse until the return of Jesus. They are transforming themselves into the church of Babylon, congregations that are filled with religious pride, that are no different than the city of Capernaum. They want to believe that they will be in heaven, but their hearts are far away from God. Godly sorrow is a quality that one must possess, in order to get to heaven. The Apostle talked about it as sorrowing unto repentance. This is a sorrow and grief that overcomes you to the point that you display a strong willingness to repent. It’s more than just saying I’m sorry, but it is feeling sorrow with your heart.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Some people’s hearts are so hardened by their own sin that they refuse to be truly sorry. Certainly many of them claim to be sorry with their lips, but that kind of sorrow only leads to eternal death. Godly sorrow leads to repentance and reconciliation with God and others. If there is no evidence of this, their faith is void.
So, Like the soft-hearted child in our story, when a confessor is completely heartbroken because of the weight of their sin, we must meekly restore them, receive them and forgive them. On the other hand if they don’t have those qualities, they need to be rebuked sharply, because if they abide in that state, it will eventually lead to them being cast away from God’s presence forever.
True biblical contrition will cause people to approach God and others with humility and Godly sorrow, just like the qualities contained in…..
……. The Little Boy
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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