Posts Tagged ‘sin’

Trampled and Insulted

Posted: November 11, 2010 in Bible, Christ, Christianity
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“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left…” Hebrews 10:26 (NIV)

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Hosea (part 3: Repentance)

Posted: July 27, 2010 in Christianity, prophecy, Theology
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“It happens in the world that if a man shoots an arrow, it may travel one field’s length or more. But great is the power of repentance for it reaches unto the Throne of Glory, as it is written: ‘Turn, O Israel, unto the Lord your God’ (Hosea 14:1).” -Pesikta de Rab Kahana (Jewish homily fom the 1st or 2nd century A.D.)

About Hosea:

The rabbis regarded the prophet Hosea as the great exponent of repentance in the Old Testament. Particularly the opening verses of Ch. 14 attracted their attention; it was this section (Hos 14:2ff.) which provided the reading from the prophets for the Sabbath of repentance between Rosh Ha-Shanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Here the rabbis found their full doctrine of repentance. Here, too, they found a Scriptural base for their view that prayer, confession, and repentance are God’s chosen substitutes for sacrifice and burnt-offering, a view that became central after the destruction of the Temple made sacrifice impossible.

Source: Lane, William L. The Gospel according to Mark. New International Commentary on the New Testament, v.2. Edited by F.F. Bruce (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1974), pg.593.

The Doctrine of Repentance:

  • Repentance only makes sense in light of the fact that God’s nature is to extend grace and mercy, even in situations where one would expect sheer judgment.
  • The necessary components of repentance are: (1) the confession of the sin; (2) an imploring of pardon with regret and remorse; and (3) the abandonment of sin.
  • When one of the above elements is lacking, the repentance is not true, but deceitful; if the person continues in this manner, eventually the possibility of a genuine repentance will be withdrawn.
  • The man who sins with the thought that he can always repent later, inevitably loses out.
  • A pattern of repeated sin, repentance and restoration is inadequate. (Note: The preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus belongs to the prophetic tradition in which there is a radical demand for a once-for-all commitment to God, a “turning” of one’s whole self to the fulfillment of His will.)

Amos (part 3: Judgment)

Posted: July 15, 2010 in Christianity, culture, prophecy
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It’s not easy to make God angry. I mean, really, you have to work pretty hard at it. Yet Israel managed to tick God off.

In a series of five visions of divine judgment, Amos shows us the slow progression of God’s anger as Israel refused time and again to return to the Lord.

In the first two visions, Amos saw natural disasters destroy Israel (7:1-6). Amos prayed and asked God to spare them from these judgments and “the Lord relented from this plan.”

In the third vision, God used a plumb line to show Amos how far off course Israel had gotten (7:7-9). Before Amos could even pray for their forgiveness, the Lord declared “I will no longer ignore all their sins.” Israel was put on trial and God, the Sovereign Judge of the universe, found them guilty.

The fourth vision is downright scary (8:1-14). God says, “Israel is ripe for punishment! I will not delay their punishment again…I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” Israel was convicted and judgment was now inevitable. Their sentence included the announcement that “dead bodies will be scattered everywhere” and the people would be carried into exile. God repeated the charges against Israel and concluded by saying, “they will fall down, never to rise again.”

In the final vision there is no dialog or debate (9:1-10). God speaks directly and forcefully: “I, the Sovereign Lord, am watching this sinful nation of Israel. I will destroy it from the face of the earth.”

Israel was given ample opportunity to repent. God tried to win them back into His covenant blessing, but they would not listen.

When people reach the point where they simply refuse to turn from their wickedness, God allows them to suffer the consequences of their rebellion.

Are there things in your life that you know don’t belong? Have you felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of prophecy) calling you to repentance and obedience to Jesus Christ?

How have you responded to the Lord’s voice in your heart? Have you repented or have you learned to resist, or even ignore, His call?

When people reach the point where they simply refuse to turn from their wickedness, God allows them to suffer the consequences of their rebellion.

Trust me. You don’t want to go there.

“For we know the one who said, ‘I will take revenge. I will pay them back.’ He also said, ‘The Lord will judge his own people.’ It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:30-31, NLT)

Jonah: Bigger Than a Whale

Posted: July 12, 2010 in Christianity, culture, prophecy
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You’re probably familiar with the story of Jonah and the whale, but are you familiar with the prophetic significance of this tiny book? It’s only 4 chapters and occupies less than 2 pages in my Bible. Have you ever read it?

Jonah lived in northern Israel and was called by God to proclaim judgment in Nineveh, the largest city in Assyria.

(Alarm bells should be going off in your head right now. If not, read this and this.)

Had the Israelites known Jonah was called to proclaim judgment over Nineveh, he would’ve been a national hero.

But the purpose of prophecy is to bring people to repentance, thus saving them from judgment. Knowing this, Jonah feared the Ninevites might be forgiven rather than destroyed. You’d think a prophet would rejoice in God’s grace, but instead “Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord” (1:2).

Imagine God telling you to go to the mountains and caves between Pakistan and Afghanistan to tell the Taliban about Jesus Christ.

Would you be thrilled about that assignment?

What would it take to get you there?

What if the terrorists believed you and repented?

What if God sent the Taliban blessings instead of destruction?

Impossible?

That’s what Jonah thought, too.

Jonah believed that since God had chosen Israel from among the wicked nations, he had to show mercy to Israel, even though they were rebellious. He also thought God had to destroy the Ninevites, mainly because they weren’t Israelites.

Does God HAVE to bless America? Why?

Is God FORBIDDEN from blessing America’s enemies? Why?

God is free, sovereign, and powerful; He can’t be held captive to the expectations placed on Him by rebellious nations or self-righteous saints. The Lord’s love and compassion extends to all of creation; He loves the unlovable, forgives the unforgivable, and pardons the unpardonable … IF they’ll turn to Him in faith.

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