(1 John 1:9 NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If I am faithful and just, and really, really mean it cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye, and really repent I mean not lip-service repent, but the real thing, really changing my mind and the direction of my life, and promise to never do this again, God will forgive me (I hope!), but I still have to remember the cleansing part clean up my act, work on my pride, because God is going to get tired of this over and over again asking for forgiveness.
I mean. . .What do I expect him to do if I keep coming to him, confess, sin, confess, sin? Its not like hes going to keep forgiving and cleansing.
Even though. . .that is what the text says, I think I probably just need someone to explain this to me. Hmm…
But now wait a minute here. Im thinking that I should have at least 490 times before God cuts off forgiveness from me. Isnt that kind of the quota that Jesus taught Peter? It might be hard to keep track of but at least I would have something in black and white.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22 ESV).
Peter maybe thought he was really being generous throwing a seven out there but Jesus slapped a seventy times seven on him. If you think that is raising the bar, some people get really carried away and say that Jesus didnt even mean a specific figure but that he meant as long as they keep sinning, we keep forgiving; that even if they dont ask for forgiveness we should still be ready and willing to forgive and to have an attitude of kindness and forgiveness toward them.
This is getting really confusing; almost like God sets a higher standard for me than for himself.
And then there is that time when Jesus was teaching the disciples how to pray.
(Matthew 6:14-15 NCV) Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. (15) But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.
I think the next time someone wants my forgiveness I am going to have to make sure they are really serious about this for their own good, no cheap grace here. I might have them do the cross my heart, needle in the eye thing for emphasis. Then I could tell if they are really sincere. I mean I dont want to promote some milk-toast theology; people gotta pay, baby. Thats how our world works. Do the crime; do the time.
Whew! Now only one more hurdle. I am told to forgive others as God in Christ forgave me.
(Ephesians 4:32 ESV) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
I might have to work on this one for a while. Maybe read a few books; attend a seminar; listen to some messages on being really, really serious and meaning it and getting right before God kind of stuff. And being committed and sold out too. Walk the aisle, baby, thats where its at!
Yeah! That might do it.
If that all doesnt work, possibly I can get someone to challenge me. You know double-dog dare me to never sin again.
God would be proud of me then.
