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The Apostle Paul wrote: "...yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
Here are some keys from these verses:
Repentance is a changing of one's heart and mind that leads to a change of direction in their behavior. Behavior is a key word. If we understand the error of our ways and that causes us to sorrow, we will want to change our behavior. We will want to stop committing the sin. We will strive to change our ways.
We get an interesting insight to Christian repentance from Paul's second letter to Timothy:
"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."2 Timothy 2:23-26
The devil can "trap" Christians and take them captive "to do his will." The devil can never take a Christian away from God's salvation, but Satan can trap our minds and control our actions. Paul tells pastors and teachers no to quarrel with them, but to be kind to them. God wants ministers to gently instruct Christians who oppose them in the hope God will grant them repentance that leads to a knowledge of the truth. God wants Christians to come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil.
How will God do that? How? He causes them to sorrow about their attitude and actions. Once they are sorry for the way they've behaved and they want to change, they will. God and His servants (ministers) will help Christians come to their senses and escape Satan's trap.
Notice that Christians who oppose God have "lost their senses." That's true. Christians who oppose God's work on earth are out of touch with reality. I've known a lot of them in my time and it's an amazing thing to see. Good Christian people can behave worse than lost sinners sometimes. They need to "come to their senses" and sorrow and repent and change their ways. They need to stop doing what is wrong and do what is right.
"Lip service" is not repentance. It takes more than mere words to demonstrate one's sorrow and repentance. We know godly sorrow that leads to repentance by longterm behavioral change. If I tell you I'm sorry about sin today, but sin again tomorrow with no sorrow about it, have I repented? No, I haven't. Sorrow doesn't always come quickly, but when it hits you it lasts.
This doesn't mean you won't be "tempted" again to sin. You will. Satan will continue to tempt us in the areas of our physcial and emotional weakness. Remember that we belonged to Satan first. He knew us from our birth. Satan guided us and taught us from our earliest days. Paul wrote: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." (Ephesians 2:1-2) We followed Satan during our childhood. Many of us followed Satan into adulthood. The devil knows where we're vulnerable. He will visit and revisit those areas of our lives for years and years. Some things may be a constant battle for the rest of our lives. But God always loves us and cares for us. He's always there to lead us to godly sorrow and repentance. Trust His Love and Grace. Listen to His Voice. Obey Him. Turn when He says turn. Change when He says change. Do what's right. Stop doing what's wrong. Sin will become distasteful to you as you grow in Christ because you will want what He wants. You will hate what He hates.
Remember what Paul wrote: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:4) We ARE holy and blameless in God's sight. That's how He sees us because of Christ. He will help us live out that high calling.
I am a Christian ... I fell away from the Lord for 10 yrs, living as though I didn't need Him. However, I was so wrong! I recently dedicated my life back to the Lord, and want so much to serve Him. However, I am having so much trouble with doubt. I feel so much like doubting Thomas must have felt. Things I doubt are the miracles Jesus performed. Like for example the feeding of the 5,000, in my mind I try to figure out how that could possible be, and did it really happen, also how God healed people back then... If God is able to heal, then why doesn't he heal people today. I sometimes get frustrated when people tell me that God sometimes performs gradually healings. I am not sure if there were gradually healings in the Bible most of the people were healed miraclously .Weren't they?? If God is the same yesterday, today and forever, then why doesn't he heal people today. I might add that I have a daughter who is scheduled for surgery ... I sometimes wonder how come God doesn't just heal her, and get it over with. It sounds as if I don't believe the Bible at all, but I do, there are just some things I have trouble in honestly believing. Please any insight you can share would be appreciated.
Your doubts and concerns seem to be divided between Christ's ability to perform miracles 2,000 years ago and why God doesn't perform the miracle of healing today.
Jesus performed miracles to prove He was the promised Messiah from God. The fact that God can perform miracles is certainly no mystery or surprise. Jesus Christ, Who is God, created the universe. He can do anything. Taking a fish and a few loaves of bread and feeding 5,000 people is little in light of His creating trillions of stars and planets from nothing but the dream in His Mind.
The more difficult issue to deal with may be why God doesn't heal people today. He can if He wants to. God will one day translate every Christian from earth to heaven in the blink of an eye. In less than 1/20th of a second, every Christian who has ever lived will get a new body. That body will be perfect in every detail. Christians will never again suffer pain, illness or injury. They will never die. They (we) will have supernatural powers beyond imagination. God can raise the dead and heal when that's the right thing to do. So, why doesn't He do it now? Why doesn't He heal your daughter? Why doesn't He heal every Christian alive? Why does He allow Christians to suffer and die? Why wait for the rapture? Why not make everyone perfect now?
You, your daughter, me, our families and friends are part of something much bigger and greater than ourselves. Something much larger is going on here. We are part of the greatest battle of the ages. God is at war with Satan and the hosts of evil. You and I are a part of that because we belong to God. We once belonged to Satan (before our salvation - Eph. 2:1-3), but now we are God's (Eph. 2:4-5). Paul wrote: "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph. 2:6-9) Every Christian has a place with Christ in the heavenly realm. God has demonstrated His Righteousness and Justice through the Grace He extended to each of us in Christ. We are that demonstration.
So, if we're that special to God, why doesn't He just heal us all right now? That's a very human way of looking at things. We want what we want and we want it now. No disrespect. That's just how we are. God is doing many things through His children (us). One of them is showing the power of His Love and Grace. For example: the Apostle Paul had a terrible physcial affliction. Paul had experienced God's power by raising the dead and healing the afflicted. Why wouldn't God do the same for him? Paul asked God three times to heal him. Why wouldn't God do it? God certainly had the power. Paul knew that God loved Him. Paul was a very special person in God's plan. Why leave Paul in pain?
Paul explained it well in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Paul was one of the greatest people who ever lived. He was one of God's greatest servants. What God allowed Paul to experience was for Paul's own good and it furthered the cause of Righteousness and Justice in the world. Paul came to understand and accept it. In fact, he "boasted" in it!
I don't know how your daughter's illness and suffering and your own pain fit into God's plan. That's beyond my knowledge and wisdom. But I do know that it is an opportunity to glorify God and receive His blessing. Use your experience for the sake of Righteousness and Justice. Know that God loves you and your daughter and is doing everything from His giant heart of Love and Grace. You may or may not know "why" in this lifetime, but be assured it is for something very special. God has seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms, "in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."
Nothing happens to a Christian without purpose and God's foreknowledge. Nothing "sneaks" by God. He knew everything that would happen to us before we were born. Paul wrote: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) Notice that a "glory" will be revealed "in us." You have some very special things waiting for you. You are suffering. God knows that and understands. He also knows that a glory greater than all your suffering "will be revealed" in you and in your daughter.
We are part of something far bigger than ourselves. We are in a special place with God. We are His children. We are members of the Body of Christ. We are co-heirs with Christ. He is going to give us everything He is going to give to Christ, His Son. We have redemption through His blood. We have forgiveness of sins. God has lavished the riches of His Grace on us. No one could be more special than that. God is our Great Heavenly Father. He cares for you and your daughter more deeply than you can ever imagine. He will give you the best of everything. Be patient and watch what the Lord will do!
I hope this helps answer your questions in some small way. Please let me know if I can help you in any other way. I will be praying for you and your daughter.
I was very involved in church as a child, made a profession of faith at 10. Loved my youth group. Loved my youth minister. He did something that upset members of the church. He was kicked out. People said mean things about him during a church business meeting. That began my anger towards the church. It started years of rebellion that resulted in my leaving the church at 17, turning my back on my church friends, claiming God was dead and eventually believing God never existed. How could He exist if His people could be so evil?
I rebelled for many years. It tore at my parents' hearts. They prayed for me for years. Then the day came that God began to show Himself to me. Nobody could force me to believe in Him again. No preacher could do it. No words could do it. The Holy Spirit began a quiet and patient work on my heart that led to my receiving Christ as my Savior and changing my life forever. I studied for the ministry and pastored for two decades. Now I minister through the Internet and World Wide Web.
I believe in the power of a mother's prayers. Love your son. Pray for him. Don't give up on him. It may take years, but I believe God will move on your son's heart and he will be stronger for it. The years I spent on "the other side" have given me special opportunities to share Christ with agnostics and atheists. It gave me a tendernesss for those who rebel and turn against God. God used my rebellion and anger to His glory. Trust God. He knows your son. He loves your son. Your son will be His some day. Pray and watch for the Power of God in your son's life. I can't tell you how God will do it. He is so creative. Whatever He does for your son will be perfect and amazing.
I will join you in prayer. Please let me know what God does for you and your son.
God created marriage for one man and woman to enjoy each other for eternity. Sin changed that in many ways. People die. What's a man or woman to do if their spouse dies before they do? Remain unmarried for the rest of their lives? People sin against each other. What if a man or woman commits adultery? Does their spouse have to continue in the marriage? What if a Christian is married to a non-Christian? Should they continue in the marriage? What if a Christian is divorced? Should they remain single for the rest of their lives? What if an unbeliever is married and divorced, then becomes a Christian? Can they never remarry?
It's important to remember God's ideal. He wants a husband and wife to be faithful to each other for life. God deals with reality, too. He knows the hearts of men and women and what they will do. He discouraged divorce but allowed for it in certain circumstances. Malachi 2:16 gives us insight to what God thinks about divorce: "I hate divorce,' says the Lord God of Israel." This was said in the context of Judah's unfaithfulness. "Judah as broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god." (Malachi 2:11) Remember that human marriage is a symbol of the love relationship God has with Israel.
Divorce is, unfortunately, a fact of life. God regulated it through His Law (Deut. 22:13-19 & 28-29; Deut. 24:1-4). Jesus allowed divorce only in cases of marital unfaithfulnes (Matt. 5:31-32; Matt. 19:8-9)). His desire was that a husband and wife remain together forever (Matt. 19:3-6).
The Apostle Paul upheld God's belief that marriage is forever and should not be broken while the two live. Paul did allow widows to remarry (1 Cor. 7:8-9, 39-40; 1 Timothy 5:14). However, he did not want married people to divorce (1 Cor. 7:27). If they did, Paul wanted them to stay unmarried (1 Cor. 7:10-11). In the case of mixed marriages (Christian and non-Christian), Paul asked the believing partner not to divorce their unbelieving spouse. However, if the unbeliever leaves the marriage, Paul said the believing partner is not bound because God called us to live in peace (1 Cor. 7:12-16).
Christ and Paul pointed to the unmarried life as a life a Christian could use to dedicate themselves completely to God (Matt. 19:10-12; 1 Cor. 7:8, 25-38).
These are some of the major Bible teachings concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage.
Now, what do you do? You were married and divorced. You want to know if you can remarry and be alright in God's eyes. Did your divorce fall into any of the areas God allows? Would your remarriage fall into an area God allows? What are the chances you and your former spouse could reconcile? Have you tried? Do you want to try? Why do you want to remarry someone else? Could you remain unmarried and give yourself fully to God's service? Or would your passion be too strong for you to control it? Were you divorced before you became a Christian? Did your former spouse remarry? These can affect the rightness or wrongness of your individual decision.
You are free in Christ to do anything you and He agree is right for you. You are under Grace, not Law. God has forgiven you of every sin you have ever or will ever commit. No one else can or should judge you for what you do or don't do. Decisions like this are between you and God. If you have studied God's Word and heard His answer to your questions, obey Him and you'll have done the right thing.
Galatians is a letter Paul wrote to warn Christians about turning from a life of Grace to a life of Law. Grace brings freedom. Law brings slavery. Paul's message of salvation had freed the Galatians from their guilt. False teachers had followed Paul into the region and preached a message that brought guilt back to the Galatians. Paul asked the question brilliantly: "Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" The answer, of course, is that they received the Spirit by faith. We don't receive Christ by human effort. We also cannot attain our spiritual goals by human effort. We attain by Grace through faith. That is the essence of GraceLife.
Prior to the words about reaping and sowing, Paul wrote: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Gal. 5:1) He also wrote: "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Gal. 5:13-14) Paul told the Galatians: "...live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature...if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." Paul enumerated the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit. They are opposites. That is the way it is between unsaved and saved. God will do different things in the lives of His children than will Satan in the lives of his children. We ought to know because we once belonged to Satan.
In the words just preceeding "reaping and sowing," Paul wrote about carrying the burdens of others. He also wrote that "anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor." Then, Paul wrote: "do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." This has nothing to do with whether a Christian will go to heaven or hell. That's been settled in heaven once and for all (Eph. 1:3-14). In Galatians, Paul is dealing with the way a Christian lives their life. They can lead it any way they want since they're free. But ... what Christians should do is live their lives for God and others, not themselves. A life lived selfishly is a life wasted. A life lived for God and the good of others is a life lived well. Pleasing your sinful nature is wasting the time and resources God gives you. None of it will last through eternity. Paul wrote, "Everything is permissible'---but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'---but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." (1 Cor. 10:23-24). The context deals with the way we live our lives in view of other people.
The day will come when every Christian will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, "that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10) You and I have nothing to fear from sin in our lives. Christ paid for all sin. We are holy in God's eyes. What we should concern ourselves with is how we are living to please God. That's the big issue now. Eternal life is ahead of us. We will someday spend eternity with God in heaven. Our time on earth is the only time we'll ever have to live for Christ while still in sinful flesh. We get new bodies in heaven. We leave the sinful flesh behind. It will be easy to obey God in heaven because we won't have a sinful cell in our new bodies. Now is our time to demonstrate to God our deep and abiding love and thankfulness to Him for His Grace toward us. God knows the pull that sinful flesh has on us. He knows how much strength and character it takes to say "no" to sin and "yes" to righteous living.
Paul was telling the Galatian Christians then, and is telling us now to live a life dedicated to God and doing good to others. Sowing and reaping are an intregal part of the physical and spiritual laws God designed into the system of life. Paul tells us how to get the most out of both.
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"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."
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Last Updated: 12/20/1999