10. Nobody’s perfect or I am only human: These are two expressions that say sin is inevitable. They are simply excuses.
11. I’m going to do it again so why confess: If I say, “Lord, just forgive me for everything,” I will not be forgiven if I don’t have any intention of quitting it. There are some people who quit confessing because they don’t intend to quit sinning. “I will do it again, so why confess?” In other words, there is no renouncing. There is no intention to quit. “Of course I’m going to do it again.” But if you renounce it, it is amazing how things disappear out of your life.
12. I’m too proud to make restitution: “The LORD said to Moses: "If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do- when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering. And as a penalty he must bring to the priest, that is, to the LORD, his guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him guilty." (Leviticus 6:1-7) This quotation from the Old Testament simply says that there are two conditions for forgiveness.
1. Sacrifice for sins
2. Take the money back plus 20%
Jesus is the one sacrifice for sins forever. That is God’s part. What is our part? Restitution! If we have stolen it, it is not our money. We take it back. See Zacheous in Luke 19. Restitution is not works. It is an essential part of repentance.
“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.” (Exodus 22:1) Notice that the restitution is not 20%; it is an additional 400% for the ox and 300% for a sheep.
“The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him.” (Numbers 5:5-8) If the person or relative cannot be found, restitution goes to the Lord.
13. Bitterness, (Eph. 4:31, 32; Heb. 12:15; James 3:14-16) “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32) “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15) “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:14-16).
Bitterness is simply prolonged resentment. It is difficult to repent of because we are focused on the other person’s sin. Bitterness is our own sin regardless how wrong the other person is. It makes no sense to stay miserable because someone else is in sin. See the booklet How To Be Free From Bitterness. (It can be obtained from Community Christian Ministries without charge.)
14. Introspection: an article on Introspection is in the booklet How to be Free from Bitterness.
But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joys will overtake them and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10 (NW)
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. I Peter 1:8 (MV)
Introspection is not the same as God’s inspection. It has two characteristics. It is accusatory and it is a downer. It does not aid in confession. It is a hindrance to it. Introspection needs to be confessed as sin in itself.
11. I’m going to do it again so why confess: If I say, “Lord, just forgive me for everything,” I will not be forgiven if I don’t have any intention of quitting it. There are some people who quit confessing because they don’t intend to quit sinning. “I will do it again, so why confess?” In other words, there is no renouncing. There is no intention to quit. “Of course I’m going to do it again.” But if you renounce it, it is amazing how things disappear out of your life.
12. I’m too proud to make restitution: “The LORD said to Moses: "If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do- when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering. And as a penalty he must bring to the priest, that is, to the LORD, his guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him guilty." (Leviticus 6:1-7) This quotation from the Old Testament simply says that there are two conditions for forgiveness.
1. Sacrifice for sins
2. Take the money back plus 20%
Jesus is the one sacrifice for sins forever. That is God’s part. What is our part? Restitution! If we have stolen it, it is not our money. We take it back. See Zacheous in Luke 19. Restitution is not works. It is an essential part of repentance.
“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.” (Exodus 22:1) Notice that the restitution is not 20%; it is an additional 400% for the ox and 300% for a sheep.
“The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him.” (Numbers 5:5-8) If the person or relative cannot be found, restitution goes to the Lord.
13. Bitterness, (Eph. 4:31, 32; Heb. 12:15; James 3:14-16) “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32) “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15) “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:14-16).
Bitterness is simply prolonged resentment. It is difficult to repent of because we are focused on the other person’s sin. Bitterness is our own sin regardless how wrong the other person is. It makes no sense to stay miserable because someone else is in sin. See the booklet How To Be Free From Bitterness. (It can be obtained from Community Christian Ministries without charge.)
14. Introspection: an article on Introspection is in the booklet How to be Free from Bitterness.
But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joys will overtake them and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10 (NW)
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. I Peter 1:8 (MV)
Introspection is not the same as God’s inspection. It has two characteristics. It is accusatory and it is a downer. It does not aid in confession. It is a hindrance to it. Introspection needs to be confessed as sin in itself.
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