All little kids, no matter how cute or wonderful they are, are naughty at some point. Most of us learned as children that when we are naughty, we are supposed to say, “I’m sorry.” We probably learned that about the time that we were taught to say “please” and “thank you.” But did we really learn what it meant?
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The basic definition of ‘sorry’ is to feel regret for an action. The problem is that there are a lot of reasons why we may feel regret for something. Consider a little boy who puts his gum in the hair of a little girl at school. There are a lot of reasons why he may be sorry that he did it. He may be sorry that the teacher yelled at him. He may be sorry that the little girl doesn’t like him anymore or that his friends thought it was a dumb thing to do. He may be sorry that his parents were disappointed in him and will not buy him anymore gum. There are a lot of reasons for him to be sorry and to wish he had never put his gum in her hair, but the little boy is not truly repentant unless he is sorry because he realizes it was wrong.
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Most people are like the little boy. We are sorry because our sinful actions hurt us rather than benefit us. In other words, unless there are consequences for our sins, we really are not worried about offending God. Someone who has really surrendered to God is not as worried about the consequences of the sin as the sin itself. Even if the teacher did not catch him and his friends thought it was cool, he still would not pull the gum stunt because it was wrong.
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Merrill F. Unger in The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary tells us that repentance includes humble self surrender to the will and service of God. There is a real difference between Biblical repentance and worldly sorrow. The apostle Paul actually dealt with this subject in II Corinthians 7:9-10 when he tells us, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
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When it comes to salvation, the difference between real repentance and worldly sorry over results or consequences of our actions is a difference between heaven and hell. Jesus Christ made it clear that repentance was a life or death issue when He clearly warned, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
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Romans 3:23 makes it clear, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. Are we simply sorry that God knows we are sinners? Are we just sorry that the rest of the world knows we have sinned? Are we only sorry that things haven’t worked out so well because of our sins? Or are we truly repentant that we have offended a holy God, and are so sorry that we are committed to Him in such a way that we want Him to change our lives for His Glory?
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That is what real repentance is about. Being so sorry for sin that we are committed to God in such a way that we want Him to change our lives for His Glory. That is essentially what it means to be ‘born again’. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). Things become new as we recognize that our old way of excusing sin must be put aside as we surrender our wills to the service of God. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Does It Really Matter?
My little brother was about 11 years younger then me, so I was able to watch him get into all kinds of trouble growing up. Much of the trouble he got himself into was due to his exploring spirit and his wild imagination. When he was just a toddler, he came running into the house crying “I spilled the beans”. His excitement mixed with terror told us that he had done more than let out a secret. We followed him outside as he led us to a silo filled with corn. The silo had a sliding gate on one of the doors that we would open to let the corn out when grinding feed. Dusty had watched me do it, and wanted to try it himself. Since he was still too young to know the difference between corn and beans, he was also too young to figure out how to shut it once it was opened and he had run a huge pile of corn onto the ground. Fortunately he ran away instead of being buried.
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Not long after that, he decided to put a cape over his back and jump off of a chair as if he could fly. After he broke his arm, he discovered that he could not defy gravity. Dustin learned a very important lesson that day. You cannot change reality by wishing it so, or by denying the facts. It comes down to an issue of truth. Truth does exist. Often a denial of truth is a denial of the consequences of that truth. But denying that gravity exists does not allow one to fly.
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This issue is no less critical in the spiritual realm than it is in the physical. If we deny that God exists, it does not change the truth. Though most people do not deny God’s existence, they often ignore important truths from the Scripture. One of the key truths is that Christ Himself represents the truth and the way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
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That truth may sound quite narrow, but so is the truth of gravity here on earth. Absolute truth does not leave wiggle room, 2+2=4. That is truth, and that is reality, no matter if folks are offended by it or not. There was a time when Christians were much more dogmatic about what they believed. There was a time when truth was much more valued as well. You see, truth is not about our feelings or what we wish something to be, it is about what it actually is. According to John 14:6, that means that Jesus Christ is the only way to a relationship with God. 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.
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Some may wonder why I am so concerned about truth. The answer is because truth matters. That is why we must constantly go back to the Scripture in order to find out what the truth is. This is not just the issue of a broken arm. These are matters of eternal consequence, life and death, and heaven and hell. The truth clearly relates to issues of sanctification . Notice what Christ prayed about God’s Word, truth, and sanctification. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17).
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What it comes down to is the fact that doctrine matters. Doctrine is just a big word that means teaching. It matters what is taught because the truth matters. The Apostle Paul complemented those at Berea for not just believing what he was teaching, but actually looking it up for themselves. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Tim 2:15).
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Timothy was a young preacher, and Paul warned him not to back down from the truth. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Timothy 4:3). Paul’s warning to Timothy applies to our age as well. Sadly, instead of wanting to hear the teaching of truth, many want to have their ears tickled. Some pastors have given into that pressure. By God’s grace, I want to preach the truth and not compromise it, because the truth is not mine to give up. Yes, truth does matter.
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Not long after that, he decided to put a cape over his back and jump off of a chair as if he could fly. After he broke his arm, he discovered that he could not defy gravity. Dustin learned a very important lesson that day. You cannot change reality by wishing it so, or by denying the facts. It comes down to an issue of truth. Truth does exist. Often a denial of truth is a denial of the consequences of that truth. But denying that gravity exists does not allow one to fly.
-
This issue is no less critical in the spiritual realm than it is in the physical. If we deny that God exists, it does not change the truth. Though most people do not deny God’s existence, they often ignore important truths from the Scripture. One of the key truths is that Christ Himself represents the truth and the way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
-
That truth may sound quite narrow, but so is the truth of gravity here on earth. Absolute truth does not leave wiggle room, 2+2=4. That is truth, and that is reality, no matter if folks are offended by it or not. There was a time when Christians were much more dogmatic about what they believed. There was a time when truth was much more valued as well. You see, truth is not about our feelings or what we wish something to be, it is about what it actually is. According to John 14:6, that means that Jesus Christ is the only way to a relationship with God. 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.
-
Some may wonder why I am so concerned about truth. The answer is because truth matters. That is why we must constantly go back to the Scripture in order to find out what the truth is. This is not just the issue of a broken arm. These are matters of eternal consequence, life and death, and heaven and hell. The truth clearly relates to issues of sanctification . Notice what Christ prayed about God’s Word, truth, and sanctification. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17).
-
What it comes down to is the fact that doctrine matters. Doctrine is just a big word that means teaching. It matters what is taught because the truth matters. The Apostle Paul complemented those at Berea for not just believing what he was teaching, but actually looking it up for themselves. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Tim 2:15).
-
Timothy was a young preacher, and Paul warned him not to back down from the truth. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Timothy 4:3). Paul’s warning to Timothy applies to our age as well. Sadly, instead of wanting to hear the teaching of truth, many want to have their ears tickled. Some pastors have given into that pressure. By God’s grace, I want to preach the truth and not compromise it, because the truth is not mine to give up. Yes, truth does matter.
Solomon and Communism
As we come upon this political season, I often wonder why communistic/socialistic ideals seem so attractive. If communism is such a huge benefit, then why are so many citizens from Marxist countries seeking to come to the United States. For example even certain politicians seem to suggest that perhaps we should be more like Cuba, yet so many citizens of Cuba risk their lives to come to our country. Part of the mystery can be explained by the fact that the grass often seems greener on the other side of the fence. That may explain why some Americans think that communism has much to offer. This, however, does not explain why those from Cuba who have made it to the United States do not want to go back and, in fact, want their families to come here too. They truly have found a better place.
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For years I have been puzzled why anyone would even consider pushing communism when it so obviously is not in the best interest of the citizens it claims to benefit. I actually started to understand it a bit better as began to read about the wisdom of Solomon in I Kings 3.
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Two harlots were living in the same house. They each had a baby. It seems that one of the babies died during the night, and come morning there was a huge dispute over whose baby was living and whose had died. Each claimed that the live baby was hers. The dispute was brought before King Solomon who, in his wisdom asked that a sword be brought and ordered the baby cut in half.
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The mother of the baby asked that the child be given to the other woman, because she would rather lose her offspring to another than to have him killed. The other harlot was ready to let the baby be killed. In this manner, Solomon was able to deduce who the real mother was.
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One thing puzzled me for years as I read this story. Why would the other harlot be willing to have the baby killed? I could not understand such a desire until I began to read and listen to those with a Marxist/communist/socialist/entitlement mindset. You see, it was not as much about improving her own situation as it was about making sure that her rival did not have more than she had.
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It is a whole new variant on keeping up with the Joneses. Instead of working hard in order to get as much as the neighbor, the communist mindset says to take everything away from the neighbor so they do not have more than you do. Never mind the fact that you are BOTH worse off, at least they didn’t outdo you. You are both equally poor.
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We live amongst surprising wealth. Even the poorest amongst us seldom go without food. Only when we compare ourselves with those who have a larger house, nicer car, bigger TV, etc. do many of us seem poor. Such comparisons are not wise. May we as Christians, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5. This should serve to guard us against communistic covetousness.
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At the same time, we should also guard against greed and pride, and we should never compromise Christian values just to get ahead. There is no reason why you have to keep up with the Joneses. It is okay to have a smaller house or older car, especially if it is because you are giving to those who truly have needs instead of spending it on yourself. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
To read past articles by Pastor Miller, please visit bancroftbaptist.blogspot.com
-
For years I have been puzzled why anyone would even consider pushing communism when it so obviously is not in the best interest of the citizens it claims to benefit. I actually started to understand it a bit better as began to read about the wisdom of Solomon in I Kings 3.
-
Two harlots were living in the same house. They each had a baby. It seems that one of the babies died during the night, and come morning there was a huge dispute over whose baby was living and whose had died. Each claimed that the live baby was hers. The dispute was brought before King Solomon who, in his wisdom asked that a sword be brought and ordered the baby cut in half.
-
The mother of the baby asked that the child be given to the other woman, because she would rather lose her offspring to another than to have him killed. The other harlot was ready to let the baby be killed. In this manner, Solomon was able to deduce who the real mother was.
-
One thing puzzled me for years as I read this story. Why would the other harlot be willing to have the baby killed? I could not understand such a desire until I began to read and listen to those with a Marxist/communist/socialist/entitlement mindset. You see, it was not as much about improving her own situation as it was about making sure that her rival did not have more than she had.
-
It is a whole new variant on keeping up with the Joneses. Instead of working hard in order to get as much as the neighbor, the communist mindset says to take everything away from the neighbor so they do not have more than you do. Never mind the fact that you are BOTH worse off, at least they didn’t outdo you. You are both equally poor.
-
We live amongst surprising wealth. Even the poorest amongst us seldom go without food. Only when we compare ourselves with those who have a larger house, nicer car, bigger TV, etc. do many of us seem poor. Such comparisons are not wise. May we as Christians, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5. This should serve to guard us against communistic covetousness.
-
At the same time, we should also guard against greed and pride, and we should never compromise Christian values just to get ahead. There is no reason why you have to keep up with the Joneses. It is okay to have a smaller house or older car, especially if it is because you are giving to those who truly have needs instead of spending it on yourself. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
To read past articles by Pastor Miller, please visit bancroftbaptist.blogspot.com
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