“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

Luke 17:3-4

 

Jesus sacrificed his life by suffering through one of the most extreme forms of torture possible—being nailed to a cross to die a slow death. Crucified as evil, though he had loved and given so much. Abandoned by those he loved. All so that we would be freed from the burden and guilt of sins we all carry.

Some believe that when they accepted Jesus, his sacrifice on the cross would automatically mean forgiveness for all their sins. Yesterday’s, today’s, tomorrows’. No more need to worry. No further repentance required.

In the Scripture above, Jesus tells us that Christians who sin against each other must repent if they are to be forgiven. Repentance means to show that they regret what they’ve done and that they will try to change their ways. Repentance is necessary for God’s forgiveness. There can be no forgiveness without repentance.

If this weren’t so, what would prevent sinners from living as they had before? What would prevent them from repeating the same mistakes and not worrying about it? Think how Christ’s great sacrifice would be cheapened if we were to think his forgiveness was always available, repentance not necessary. Easy. Cheap.

We must live a repentant life, having learned about the hurts our sins can cause others. Feeling remorse and guilt. Each time pleading for Christ’s forgiveness. Each time recognizing how painfully he who never sinned suffered for our sins. Weeping over how he suffered for our sakes. Wanting to turn our life around. Walking closer to Jesus. Trying to be more like him.

This is why Jesus died. He died to help us become people who could reflect his nature, people who could work alongside him.

We must always be grateful, never taking for granted what Jesus did for us. The gift he gave did not come cheaply. It cost him much. Think of how much love it must have taken.

When we accepted Jesus’ great gift of grace and decided to follow him, we learned to live in relationship with him. Through repentance we have tried to change from our sinful ways. But we will always be fallen creatures, we’ll never be perfect. Never without sin.

When we do something wrong and know it, we must bow down before God’s throne, once more repenting, once more asking to be forgiven. Each time starting with a clean slate. Each time receiving a new breath of freedom.

God will always forgive when we ask him with a sincere and repentant heart.

marja