Subject: Are these essentials for Salvation? |
Bible Note: atdcross, But there can be a diffrence regarding repentance unbeliever and beliver.Paul talks about Godly sorrow versus worldly sorrow in 2 Cor 7:9-11. One leads to salvation (life)) the other to death. Are we sorry because we got caught or do we have a godly sorrow,a broken heart for having hurt God and those I have hurt. Only then will one truly repent,Worldly sorrow is temporary at best. This is something we as beleivers need to be particularly cognisant of. We may be saved,but unless we keep a godly focus every day we can fall prey to things just as well as anyone else. I'm an alcholic,addict with 16 years clean and sober.I didnt get the sober part till I became a disciple of Jesus Christ almost eleven years ago. I'll share this with you- As a user I got drunk,I got high because I wanted too. Yes there were alot of things that influenced what I did,but the bottom line is I did this stuff because I wanted too. There was no deliverence,no salvation till I got broken about my sin (Godly sorrow.). When I had that godly sorrow thats when God could take my life to do what he has always wanted to do with it.I have not lived one milisecond to regret that descission eleven years ago. I can tell you there are more times than I can remember wher I fealt really bad about what I was doing,I would tell people that I was sorry,I would even tell God I was sorry.Those were about as low a time for me as I can think of.But it was always back to bussiness as usual. None of that ever changed till Jesus Christ became Lord and Savior of my life. So you see my brother there is a difference where the world and the believer are concerned. The believer is broken about there sin where as the unbelieving world is only sorry. No change with any permancey can take place until one comes to God with a godly sorrow. As believers this is doublely important,there is nothing in Gods Word that says we cant be in denial about our sin. When one is in denial can be as enslaved as the next person. Where we have the unsurpassing advantage that as disciples of Jesus Christ we dont have to stay in denial,we are no longer lonerangers,we have someone that empowers us to live the lives he's called us to. The unbeliever will never do that till they come to Jesus Christ with a saving faith, which goes way beyond worldly sorrow. In Christ, lionheart |