Forgiveness …

This weekend we talked about Forgiveness. We talked about what it was and how we are forgiven. The question always comes up, “what is the right response- how do we show true repentance”. I mentioned this verse:
2 Corinthians 7:10
10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
Jesus had appointed 12 disciples and two of them failed Him in a huge way.
Judas brought a crowd of men “armed with swords and clubs” and kissed Jesus on the cheek- so they could take the right man. Later as Judas realizes what he has done the Bible says he was “filled with remorse” and then he went out and hung himself (committing suicide). Was that repentance?
We also have Peter who denies he even knows Jesus and curses out the people around him. Later we find Jesus in a post resurrection conversation with Peter. Three times Peter affirms his love for Jesus (because of 3 denials?) and Jesus gives him a task. Peter’s repentance leads him back to Jesus and God’s plan for his life.
These two men had huge failure yet only one really repented in the way described in the verse above. Does that mean Judas went to Hell? I don’t know Judas’ heart – only God does. I do believe it is wrong to commit suicide but I do not believe the sin is unforgivable.
When you repent of sin… How does it work? Remember repentance is the change of your mind- the change of direction is the fruit of repentance.

Since today is a day we celebrate Martin Luther King’s legacy- here are some of my favorite King quotes:

• A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.
• Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.
• I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
• The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
• Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love

Okay we could fill the page with his quotes- what is your favorite?
Finally- we had a problem with video this weekend it should be up later in the week- but if you want to hear it- here is the audio.

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