Some people, especially the young, are still confused on why people had to confess their sins and repent when the Bible speaks of a loving God who always forgives them when they do wrong.
Writing for Charisma News, Pastor F. Dean Hackett of the Living Faith Church in Hermiston, Oregon, explains the true essence of repentance and forgiveness.
He tells the story of a young man and woman who once asked their pastor why they had to confess and repent their sins. The two were active church members but had been cohabiting outside of marriage.
"Pastor, you spend too much time focusing on repentance and people confessing their sin. When people come to the altar, we should just be speaking blessing into their life and declaring over them the good things God has for them and not focus on sin and repentance," the couple said.
"Since God is love and a God of mercy and grace, why not make that the emphasis and not focus on sin and calling people to repentance?" they asked.
Hackett says this was the same question that the apostle Paul raised when he wrote to the Church in Rome. "What shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound"? (Rom. 6:1).
"Since God is a God of grace, it does not matter if we continue doing wrong. He will forgive. In fact, He has already forgiven, right? That is why Jesus died on the cross," some people may say.
To this, the apostle Paul has a curt answer: "God forbid!" The New American Standard translation of this is, "May it never be."
Indeed, "the unimaginable sufferings of Christ make it possible for even the worst kind of sinner to live a transformed life, free from sin," Hackett says.
"The torturous whipping of Jesus' back, the excruciating crown of thrones, and the grotesque nails in His hands and feet paid the priceless ransom for the sin of every human being," he says.
However, what people should understand is that the "redeeming power of the whip, the thorns, and the nails is only made effective" when they repent their sins and never again revert to their sinful ways, "when an individual makes the choice to believe and to receive the regenerating power of the blood of Jesus Christ and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit."
Hackett says this is the only way to receive grace and mercy. "Away with easy believe-ism! Jesus Christ paid an awful price for lost humanity. Shall we make light of it by excusing our love for sin by continuing in the very behavior for which He died; then arrogantly proclaim, 'God loves me. He has forgiven me?'" he says.
To people who would say this, Hackett says his reply would be the same as that uttered by the apostle Paul: "May it never be!!"
