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27 July 2017

Negatives become positives through Jesus.




Luke 15:18 - 19   "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee." 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

This is a good example of true repentance. This son did not claim any goodness of his own or try to justify his actions, but he humbled himself and appealed to the mercy of his father. Likewise, we cannot approach God in self-righteousness, but we have to humble ourselves, put all of our faith in a Savior, and turn from our wicked ways (2 Chr. 7:14)  NIV  14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
That is true repentance.

Repentance is a necessary part of salvation. Repentance may include godly sorrow, but sorrow does not always include repentance. Repentance is simply a change of mind accompanied by corresponding actions.

There is a godly type of sorrow and an ungodly type of sorrow. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Ungodly sorrow, or the sorrow of this world, just kills.

Our culture has rejected all "negative" emotions. But God gave us the capacity for these negative emotions and there is a proper use of them.

People should feel bad about sin. There should be sorrow over our failures. However, this sorrow should lead to repentance, then when forgiveness is received, our sorrow should be cast upon the Lord (Isa. 53:4)  4  Surely he took up our pain     and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,  stricken by him, and afflicted.

The sorrow experienced by those who do not turn to God produces only death.
They grieve over their situation because they don't turn to God (that's repentance).
 Christians should only have sorrow until they repent. Once repentance has come, we need to appropriate the forgiveness and cleansing that are already ours through Christ (1 Jn. 1:9)  
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The positive change that our sorrows led us to, changes our attitude towards the things that caused us sorrow.

 Negatives become positives through Jesus.



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