We know we’re all sinners. Our sins are taken care of at the cross. Jesus died once for all, & cried “it is finished” to show all that needed to be done had been done. We only need to call on Him to save us once, but we need to repent when we sin.
What does repentance mean? Here’s a picture of repenting. Say you get a snack from the refrigerator. You’re in a hurry and leave it open while you carry it into the other room. Someone sees from a distance & calmly says, “You left the door open.” You say “sorry,” “oh, thanks,” or something like that and go shut it.
See, repentance is simply turning away from sin. It we follow Jesus closely, we easily sense Him working in us to make us better – His still, small voice calmly reminds us to do right in God’s eyes. For instance, in my class years ago, someone said her biggest temptation was fighting. She heard the Spirit’s still, small voice and fought much less as she grew in Him. As we are tempted, The Spirit keeps us from sinning. If we mess up, Jesus kindly helps us repent and change, so it’s not a burden to repent.
Imagine rescuing a scruffy dog or cat. You don’t want it to keep smelling bad, chewing stuff, etc.; you want it to be a sweet pet. You clean it up & train it lovingly, not cruelly.
Jesus cleans up our sin the same way - always loving, slow to anger, etc.. He always tenderly welcomes us back if we stray, giving more chances. Some fear being hammered for each sin. They can’t see Jesus’ coming or His grace as free gifts.
Jesus doesn’t want to pounce on each little thing. He wants to be gentle. He’s louder the more we stray, though. He may speak in situations. He may know trouble is ahead and lead a person to offer help/discipleship. A friend stopped drinking & cleaned up more of his life, too, after he drove drunk & hit a guardrail. He knows he’s lucky he didn’t hurt anyone. Some get in big trouble as bad thoughts become actions before they listen to Jesus.
Read Col. 1:20-22. These & many other verses say not to be scared. Use them to assure others Jesus is kind and forgiving. We can go to Jesus anytime for His forgiveness. We have been reconciled to God through Christ; no longer enemies of God. We are brought into God’s family (rescued like that scruffy stray) by trusting His shed blood, His death and resurrection, took the punishment for our sins.
That means: 1. Our own works can’t save us; 2. We don’t get better and then come to Him. We come to Him so we can get better. 3.We must be full of mercy & slow to anger, too, to show others who Jesus is.
He loves us enough to get tough if we keep wandering. But if we’re set on defying Him, He may let us wander from Him like the Prodigal Son. If we do and we’re saved, our situation can get really bad. Yet, a saved person has a part that says they’re doing wrong, even if they aren’t listening to it and/or it’s hidden by lust, anger, etc..
If a person is far from God, ask if they’ve trusted Jesus to save them (not just forgive.) If they haven’t, or aren’t sure, lead them in a prayer of salvation & repentance. If they have, remind them of that fridge illustration. Repenting is agreeing you fell short of God’s perfection and turning from sin. You can call on Jesus to help you stop any sin: Gossip; lying; disobeying; being mean; whatever. Find believer(s) to be an accountability partner, to help you stay away from that sin. Jesus doesn’t want to hammer. He wants to gently guide. He lives in each believer to make them more like Him in His love, mercy, goodness, etc.
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