question on their mind that they would like to study. We now have two
French concordances, so the people who come are learning how to use
those. Thursday evening somebody asked for Bible responses to three
questions:
1) Can I find eternal life after I have sinned and asked for forgiveness?
2) If I kill somebody accidentally (as in a moto accident), is that
something God can forgive?
3) If I kill somebody intentionally, is that something God can forgive?
So we looked up verses like:
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his
thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And
to our God, For He will abundantly pardon."
God cleanses us from _all_ unrighteousness. He will _abundantly_ pardon.
And so on. The Bible is clear that God forgives sins - all sins that we
ask forgiveness for.
"But what about big sins? Can God forgive those?" somebody asked.
Sometimes we tend to judge the badness of a sin by it's immediate
consequence. When a person commits murder, he is thrown in jail and
fined. "Big sin." When a person tells a lie, it is not likely that he
will face any immediate consequence. "Little sin." But God defines sin
as the transgression of His law (1 John 3:4). That means in God's eyes,
sin is sin, "big" or "little."
We continued with our discussion. "Can God forgive intentional murder?"
I asked in an effort to test their understanding. "Yes." "No." "Yes."
There was a bit of disagreement. Jesus prayed for those who were killing
Him, "Forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." David prayed
for and found forgiveness even after intentional murder and adultery
combined.
Everybody agreed that yes, God can forgive all sins. So I give another
question to test their understanding: "Is there any sin that God can not
forgive?"
"Well, in our culture, it is a terrible thing to sleep with one of your
parents. That is so horrible that God cannot forgive you if you do that.
Also, if I plan to kill somebody and go out and kill him, that is
something too horrible for God to forgive."
I can hardly believe my ears. But here is somebody who knows clearly
what the Bible says, but chooses to believe his culture instead. For
many, even among churched people and pastors, culture is a higher
priority than God and His Word. I am continuing to better understand an
important key to the work here. Brain knowledge does a person zero good
without heart acceptance. People can know the truth and yet its power is
ineffective for change in their lives. "Yes, that's what the Bible says.
I agree with you. 100% BUT... my culture says..." It is no wonder with
this attitude why the majority of "Christians" here are only half committed.
How can I lead a person from brain knowledge to a deep-seated love of
the truth? Only through the work of the Holy Spirit is this possible.
Please pray for wisdom for me to know how to lead people to a true, deep
level of commitment. Pray for this work to take place in your heart and
in my heart. Are you committed to truth as it is in God's Word above
anything else, even above your culture?
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