26/06/11

Repent and be Converted to be Truly Forgiven

Acts 3:19 - "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,


Everyone dreams of going to a great restaurant and order all the best dishes and not pay for them.

Yes, our Merciful God has not made us pay for all the sins we committed and even made it possible to receive forgiveness but yet this forgiveness is not free.

People have this wrong notion that Jesus died on the crucifix and by His sacrifice forgave us all of all our sins. Yes, Jesus did by His sacrifice forgive us of all our sins but not all of us. The Bible clearly says it is only those who repent and believe in short are baptize in Him are forgiven of their sins and the first step to baptism is repentance and second is conversion.

Repentance does not mean just being sorry for the sins we committed. Repentance requires us not to look just at the consequences of the act but at the act itself. For example if I have robbed someone I do not have to be sorry only for causing a loss to the person but be sorry for the act of robbing. That will require me to discard the garments of a person who robs.

The Lord is telling us by just discarding the clothing of the sinner is not sufficient. We are called to be converted. To be converted means that we need to wear new and different clothing. We always repent and find ourselves again doing the same sin again and again all because we are not converted.

Small children have the habit to getting into the shoes and clothes of their parents. They do this because they admire their parents and have set them as a standard to look at.

In this world we did not have any person who could be a standard to us. It was only when God came as man and became the Corner Stone for all mankind, did we have a standard to imitate. So, to be converted we need to not just discard our sinful clothing but need to put on Jesus Christ. We need to live our lives like Him and copy His Nature on to us.

True forgiveness does not mean only being washed of the dirt on us but meaning also being dressed with fresh clothing, clothing which does let us be dirty again in the area which we worked on. Slowly by slowly as we get converted fully we will find ourselves true Christians, which means - little Christs.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are merciful and forgiving Father. You do not want us to perish therefore desire to forgive us. Even when things were impossible You make a way. Lord Jesus through our baptism in You we are forgiven and by your Spirit we are converted and make new. Holy Spirit, dress us up as Jesus Christ our Corner Stone. Make us less of us and more of Him so as to be blessed in Him forever...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripturesr ]
Acts 5:30-31
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 26:15-18 [Italics removed]
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1 John 1:8-10; 2:1-6
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

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