Blogging BCM: What Happens When a Christian Sins?

Last night Tim talked about what happens when a Christian sins in the final part of his three part series on sin. One of the statements Tim made that stood out to me the most was when he said that it is so easy to play Christian. How true is this? Too often we put on our facade and march in to church like we're holier than thou, but really we're just faking to the world. When we do this we not only hurt ourselves, but more importantly those around us who are sincerely living out their lives for Christ and trying to advance the gospel. The thing we must realize is that every one of us, whether we're putting on a mask or not, sins. It is imperative though that when we do sin we do not dwell on that sin or continue in it. We must repent. The following are verses that speak on the need for us a Christians to repent:

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. [Revelation 3:19]

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out. [Acts 3:19]

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless your repent. [Revelations 2:5]

So we see in God's word the need to repent, but what does this repentance actually mean. This morning I happened to stumble across a great definition of repentance on Joshua Harris' blog. The definition is by J.I. Packer from page 87 in his book Keep in Step with the Spirit and it reads:

Repentance means turning from as much as you know of your sin to give as much as you know of yourself to as much as you know of your God, and as our knowledge grows at these three points so our practice of repentance has to be enlarged.

WOW. How powerful is the definition in the believer's walk. You may like me at first be thinking, "I have no idea what any of it means." Let's walk through the definition piece by piece to fully understand what repentance is and how it applies to our Christian walk. We're going to look at each point in the context of our knowledge growing in that area.

First, Packer says it "means turning from as much of you know of your sin." What Packer is saying here is that the more of your sin you recognize, the more your realize you are sinful, the more you understand the weight of your transgression, the more you will see the need to repent. This is why when a believer comes to Christ, they repent because for the first time they recognize and feel the weight of their own sin. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of realizing and recognizing one's own sin is that of the psalmist David. He writes throughout the Psalms:

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. [Psalm 38:3]

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. [Psalm 51:3]

Second, Packer says we do turn from as much of we know of our sins to give as much as we know of ourselves. The more we realize the weight of our sins, the more we will want to give ourselves over to God. As we continue to grow in recognizing and learning of our sin, we will realize more and more that we must give ourselves to the Living God. The more we see our sinful nature and the wickedness of which we were brought into this world [Psalm 51:5]

Finally, Packer says we give ourselves to as much as we know of our God. The greater knowledge we have of God, the greater we will recognize the need to repent. Last week I talked about how the study of God and the more we gain a knowledge of who God is, the more we will grow in godliness. This rings true here as well. As we study God and read His Word, we will be so appalled by the sin that is in our lives that we will move towards repentance. In doing so, we will continue to be strengthened in godliness.

The more we realize the sins we have committed against God, the more we will recognize the need to give ourselves over to the knowledge we have of the One True God. Ultimately all three of these points lead us to the cross. It is at the cross where we truly see the weight and cost of our sin. It is at the cross we fully see the need to give ourselves as a living sacrifice and it is at the cross where we see a full picture of who God is.

CJ Mahaney talked this past weekend of a quote by Charles H. Spurgeon. Spurgeon said:

The more we dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard the more noble our lives will become.

Mahaney asked a great question upon reciting this quote. "How often do you dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard?" Ponder this question. We must recognize that the more we dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard, the more we will recognize our need for repentance, grow towards godliness and away from this world.

Questions to focus on this week throughout your personal devotions:

1. Read Psalm 51. How does this apply/relate to what Tim talked about Tuesday night and what we've just discussed?

2. "How often do you dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard?"

3. For further focus on the cross and realizing the weight of what was accomplished, read the parts of the gospels that give an account of Christ's death and resurrection.

As always, if you have any questions regarding the subjects that are discussed or anything you need, please talk to Tim or myself.