{"id":29456,"date":"2020-12-31T03:30:19","date_gmt":"2020-12-31T11:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=29456"},"modified":"2020-12-30T21:34:13","modified_gmt":"2020-12-31T05:34:13","slug":"december-31-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2020\/12\/31\/december-31-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"December 31, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”\u00a0 2\u00a0<\/em>Corinthians 7:10<\/p>\n

The Gift of Repentance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The above Scripture indicates there is a difference between true repentance that leads to salvation and worldly sorrow that produces death.<\/p>\n

*Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary\u00a0<\/em>has this to say about repentance: “a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turn back to God. True repentance is a ‘godly sorrow’ for sin, an act of turning around and going in the opposite direction. This type of repentance leads to a fundamental change in a person’s relationship to God.”<\/p>\n

I’ve never before thought about repentance being a gift\u00a0<\/strong>of God until I read in Oswald Chambers’ devotional, **My Utmost for His Highest,\u00a0<\/em>wherein he states, “The bedrock of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a man cannot repent when he chooses; repentance is a gift of God.”<\/p>\n

Romans 2:4 says it is “the goodness of God that leads you to repentance.” <\/em>2 Peter 3:9 states that God is, “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

We’re just moving out of the season of gift-giving, and although I am thankful for and appreciate every one of them, some gifts are not all that useful to me. But since every\u00a0<\/em>gift of God is perfect\u00a0<\/em>(James 1:17), I need to embrace and be thankful for each one, especially for His gift of repentance. This repentance (godly sorrow) resulted in the salvation of our souls.<\/p>\n

Now this act of repentance is not just a one-time thing, but an ongoing lifestyle as we pursue a more intimate relationship with the Lord. Therefore we need not defend, be ashamed, or regret the Holy Spirit’s conviction when it comes, because as 1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. <\/span>If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. <\/span>If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.<\/span>“<\/em><\/p>\n

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”\u00a0<\/em>(Romans 8:1). Hallelujah!<\/p>\n

In my flesh there is no good thing (Romans 7:18). Therefore I no longer want to defend it or rationalize and justify its thoughts and deeds.<\/p>\n

Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness in leading us to repentance. Keep us steadfast, immovable, and quick to hear and repent when Your conviction of sin comes. Amen!<\/em><\/p>\n

*Youngblood, Ronald, Bruce, F.F., Harrison, R.K. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary<\/em>. Thomas Nelson. 2014<\/h6>\n
**Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest<\/em>. New York, Dodd, Mead. 1935.<\/h6>\n<\/div>
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