“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses AND FORSAKES them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Satan has deceived multitudes into believing all one need do to obtain forgiveness for their sins is confess to God that they have sinned. Yet the scriptures declare again and again that there must also be REPENTANCE! Repentance is not mere sorrow for sin, it is the act of turning away from sin.
Millions think themselves to be forgiven of their sins when in reality the accumulation of their sins grows greater and greater with each passing day! The apostle Peter warns of those who, like the dog, return to their vomit, or, like the washed sow returns to wallowing in the mud. (See 2 Peter 2:22). One who confesses their sins but then returns to those same sins soon thereafter have no forgiveness – not yet! Their forgiveness is predicated upon their abandoning those sins – allowing the Holy Spirit to sanctify and separate them from their sinful lifestyle. That’s what sin is in the life of many believers – it is their lifestyle. They commit the very same sins over and over again, day in and day out. Been there. Done that.
Jesus warned that whoever sins is a slave of sin: “Jesus answered them (the self-righteous Pharisees) ‘Most assuredly I say to you, WHOEVER COMMITS SIN IS A SLAVE OF SIN. And a slave does not abide in the house (the household of God’s people) forever, but a (faithful) son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free (from sin), you shall be free indeed'” (See John 8:34-36). (All comments inside parentheses are my own).
And THAT is probably the hardest lesson I ever learned. I came perilously close to being cut off from God, ejected from the household and family of God, due to the fact that I kept returning to my sinful ways. I did not allow our Lord and Savior to free me from my sins!
The Bible has nothing good to say about sin, WARNING that it enslaves, hardens, blinds, condemns, alienates, warrants punishment, and a host of other things – all bad! Show me someone who returns to sin day in and day out and I will show you someone who desperately needs God’s Holy Spirit and God’s forgiveness.
Yes, Jesus will forgive someone of their sins seventy times seven in a single day – that’s 490 times a day! (See Matthew 18:21-22). But notice what Jesus said to Peter immediately after telling him to forgive again, and again, and again. “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But for as much as he had not to pay, his lord (his earthly master) commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, ‘LORD, HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME, AND I WILL PAY THEE ALL.’ Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, AND FORGAVE HIM THE DEBT.” (See Matthew 18:23-27).
Here Jesus describes who can expect forgiveness, yes, even again, and again, and again. It is the one who is trying to overcome their sin – one who fully intends to walk in righteousness and give the Lord their all. It is to such a humble heart and desire to please that the Lord extends His forgiveness.
But keep reading. This one who has been forgiven so great a debt himself has a fellow servant who owes to him a great debt and who implores that he, too, be forgiven, “And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, ‘O thou wicked servant. I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?’ And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. SO LIKEWISE SHALL MY HEAVENLY FATHER DO ALSO UNTO YOU, IF YE FROM YOUR HEARTS FORGIVE NOT EVERY ONE HIS BROTHER THEIR TRESPASSES.” (Matthew 18:30-35).
Friend, the Eternal forgives you a lifetime of countless sins, yet you refuse to forgive from your heart the single sin of your fellowman? God then refuses to forgive your sins. In His eyes you are no longer an obedient child. You are an unforgiven sinner! That’s a terrible price to pay for refusing to forgive someone who has sinned against you. Are you sure you are ready to pay that price???
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley