Every week I saw them, kneeling, head down, often times weeping but always asking for forgiveness. Problem, it was the same people and the same sin they asked God for forgiveness last week, the week before that, and the week before that one. I’ve noticed the ministry staff and alter workers grow weary of praying for them despite the fact the individual showed sorrow and confessed their sin. I know God forgave them each time because He promises If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins (1Jn 1:9). Yet an essential component was missing. Jesus said, repent and believe in the gospel (Mk 1:15). Although they confessed their sin with strong emotions, they failed to repent.
The New Testament writers use two words we translate repent. One word used five times means to regret, to feel remorse, or to care afterwards. It is associated with feelings or a moment of emotional sorrow. One example, Then Judas . . . repented himself (Mat 27:3 KJV). Only KJV translates it ‘repent’. Most other versions say ‘remorse’. Writers use the second word including the verbs and nouns 58 times in connection with repentance from sin and it means to change one’s mind or purpose. The sinner is more than just sorry for his/her sin but changes their mind about sin, turns from it, and turns to God. I came to understand that those who came week after week to the altar for the same sin were sorry and wanted forgiveness. However, nothing changed in their lives. They went back home and to work still the same person with the same thoughts and same habits with no change in their hearts for God. Judas felt remorse for what he did to Jesus, but no change had taken place in his heart or mind. He demonstrates this by the fact he then went and committed suicide.
People often miss the significances of the latter part of verse in 1 John. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1Jn 1:9). Not only will God forgive, He will cleanse us. Sin brings guilt for which we need forgiveness. It also defiles and pollutes the sinner. Imagine a child coming in for supper and saying, “Mommy, I disobeyed you and played in the mud. I’m sorry.” She replies, “Ok, I forgive you. Sit down and eat your food before it gets cold.” You are probably shaking your head saying “No! No!” not what a mom would do. Instead, she knows the mud has covered her child with dirt, filth, germs, disease, and things she doesn’t even want to imagine. After “I forgive you”, she would make her son or daughter wash, bathe, or take a shower and scrub off all the filth. My mom once did the scrubbing and almost removed my skin with it, but I was clean.
Paul adds a human element to cleansing. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2Co 7:1). Paul knew God would forgive and cleanse, but he also knew believers must guard against the defilement of the world. He was writing to the church at Corinth. The city became so immoral and sexually promiscuous that around the world ‘to corinthisize’ became a verb of derision used to describe the behavior of someone filled with immoral, impure, and degrading thoughts. We might even call it a mud hole in the pigpen. One example today would be believers who repent, changed their mind, and receive forgiveness and cleansing but do not adhere to Paul’s admonition to cleanse themselves. Instead, they go back to the mud hole and hang out with the same people, go to the same places, and keep a little stash of alcohol, drugs, or pornography—just in case. Satan insures that ‘just in case’ happens.
The wording perfecting holiness shows the continuing aspect of staying clean. The verb tense of let us cleanse indicates a once for all action as it does in 1 John. Paul wrote perfecting holiness in a tense that indicates a continuous every day process. We all live in a defiled world, filled with temptations, so perfecting or maturing is an ongoing process as long as we live. When children mature into adulthood, they are less likely to play in a mud hole. Yet, when it is rainy and wet, we still can get splashed with mud or slip and fall into mud. John continued, My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (1John 2:1). But if we do get dirty in the world, Jesus will still forgives and cleanse us. Confess your sin and be aware He also will cleanse you. Do your part by cleansing yourself from all defilement of flesh and spirit.
Sustaining Word for the Week: No need to be at the altar week after week for the same sin. Repent and allow Him to also cleanse you and then guide you away from the mud holes of this world.