Sin and Repentance

People outside of the Church are supposed to sin. Their apathy toward sin and their failure to connect sin with the health of their soul are expected.

People inside the Church are supposed to sin too. However, their apathy toward sin and their failure to connect sin with the health of their soul as well as the health of the Church and the veracity of the Church’s testimony about a crucified and resurrected Christ whose Spirit resides inside of each of us is worthy of expulsion.

To flippantly proclaim that you know you are sinning and will continue to sin and that it is ok because Jesus will forgive you is an impotent proclamation because repentance is a necessary element. Repentance is not necessary in order to earn forgiveness, but is necessary in order to show that one appreciates the gravity of sin and that a change is desired. Forgiveness is in essence a change. If someone sins but does not desire to change, then forgiveness was never really desired. In reality, the person just wants God to overlook the rebellious act as a cashier might overlook the fact that you put a pack of gum in your pocket.

There is a big difference between a person who goes to God and says, “I need to change and want to change and agree with you that what I have done is wrong,” and a person who goes to God and says, “I know I messed up.” When a lender overlooks a debt it remains on the books. When a lender forgives a debt the books are changed to reflect a new debt. In the age of Christian Entitlement many in our churches are speaking with their mouths, “forgive me,” but are really saying, “overlook me.”

The book of Romans is mostly a theological treatise on sin. I would encourage everyone to read the book all the way through in one setting at least once in your life. It might be good to do before you minimize your next rebellious act.