sin. It is deliverance into the pure air of God’s ways of thinking and feeling. It is a salvation that makes the heart pure with the will and the choice of the heart to be pure. To such a heart, sin is disgusting. ( Unspoken Sermons , George MacDonald)
The new model of holiness that Jesus gives us is one that flows from the inside out—from the heart. Rather than focusing on technical rule-keeping— did I give ten percent this month, stop at yellow lights, return that pencil to work? —we are urged to shepherd our hearts through the day.
A guy at work gets canned; something in you rejoices. You realize that in fact you hate him. Oh, Jesus, forgive me; I renounce this hatred. Give me your holiness here, right here, toward this guy . It’s late at night, it was a horrible day, and the donuts are calling to you. Aware now of the deeper issues of the heart, you can say, Oh, Jesus—rescue me. Forgive me for my false comforters; forgive me for turning here so many times. I reject this idol; give me your holiness here . This is an absolutely wonderful thing. The direction of your heart is not inevitable. You have a say in it.
Repentance in the Moment
Will we do it perfectly? Of course not. Friends, let’s set perfection aside. We are on our way, we are being transformed, but the moment we insist on total perfection we set ourselves up for bitter disappointment. Sin shall not be our master, because we are under grace. Grace. So it might be more helpful for us to talk about what to do when we blow it.
Repent quickly. The sooner the better. For one thing, you do not want to lose your intimacy with God. For another, you know the enemy is going to jump all over you when you blow it, and you don’t want to get hammered by that for days, weeks, months, years. Also, you are after freedom; the longer you wait to repent, the deeper a hold the sin gets in you. Repent quickly; it looks something like this:
First, run to God.
Father, forgive me. I’m sorry. I ask your forgiveness for [fill in the blank: this envy, that comment, the lust, my cowardice]. Oh, forgive me, Father.
Second, renounce it. If you intend to repeat the sin, your repentance is a fraud. By renouncing the sin, you summon your soul to the posture that you do not intend to repeat it. Furthermore, when you sin, you give way to forces that you do not want running pell-mell around your soul. Sin is what gives the evil one a place in our lives:
Do not sin…do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26–27)
You do not want him taking advantage of your fall. Renounce it quickly.
And Father, I renounce this. I renounce [the envy, comment, lust, cowardice]. I renounce choosing this; I renounce giving it a place in my heart and soul. I renounce every claim I’ve given to the enemy through my sin. I reject this, in Jesus’ name. I banish this from me. I am dead to sin, and alive to God.
If you don’t really renounce it, you’re not really breaking with it; which means you’re allowing for the possibility that you’ll repeat it. And what kind of repentance is that? If you ignore the enemy’s role in this—many Christians just want to ask forgiveness but not resist the devil—you are being naive; you are giving him the opportunity to hang around and use this against you, either through further accusation or by urging you to sin again. Did Satan take advantage of Adam and Eve’s sin? You bet he did. Don’t let him take advantage of yours.
Third, practice cleansing and renewal. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9), and “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24).
Father, cleanse me with the blood of Jesus; wash me right here, from all of this. I plead the
The new model of holiness that Jesus gives us is one that flows from the inside out—from the heart. Rather than focusing on technical rule-keeping— did I give ten percent this month, stop at yellow lights, return that pencil to work? —we are urged to shepherd our hearts through the day.
A guy at work gets canned; something in you rejoices. You realize that in fact you hate him. Oh, Jesus, forgive me; I renounce this hatred. Give me your holiness here, right here, toward this guy . It’s late at night, it was a horrible day, and the donuts are calling to you. Aware now of the deeper issues of the heart, you can say, Oh, Jesus—rescue me. Forgive me for my false comforters; forgive me for turning here so many times. I reject this idol; give me your holiness here . This is an absolutely wonderful thing. The direction of your heart is not inevitable. You have a say in it.
Repentance in the Moment
Will we do it perfectly? Of course not. Friends, let’s set perfection aside. We are on our way, we are being transformed, but the moment we insist on total perfection we set ourselves up for bitter disappointment. Sin shall not be our master, because we are under grace. Grace. So it might be more helpful for us to talk about what to do when we blow it.
Repent quickly. The sooner the better. For one thing, you do not want to lose your intimacy with God. For another, you know the enemy is going to jump all over you when you blow it, and you don’t want to get hammered by that for days, weeks, months, years. Also, you are after freedom; the longer you wait to repent, the deeper a hold the sin gets in you. Repent quickly; it looks something like this:
First, run to God.
Father, forgive me. I’m sorry. I ask your forgiveness for [fill in the blank: this envy, that comment, the lust, my cowardice]. Oh, forgive me, Father.
Second, renounce it. If you intend to repeat the sin, your repentance is a fraud. By renouncing the sin, you summon your soul to the posture that you do not intend to repeat it. Furthermore, when you sin, you give way to forces that you do not want running pell-mell around your soul. Sin is what gives the evil one a place in our lives:
Do not sin…do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26–27)
You do not want him taking advantage of your fall. Renounce it quickly.
And Father, I renounce this. I renounce [the envy, comment, lust, cowardice]. I renounce choosing this; I renounce giving it a place in my heart and soul. I renounce every claim I’ve given to the enemy through my sin. I reject this, in Jesus’ name. I banish this from me. I am dead to sin, and alive to God.
If you don’t really renounce it, you’re not really breaking with it; which means you’re allowing for the possibility that you’ll repeat it. And what kind of repentance is that? If you ignore the enemy’s role in this—many Christians just want to ask forgiveness but not resist the devil—you are being naive; you are giving him the opportunity to hang around and use this against you, either through further accusation or by urging you to sin again. Did Satan take advantage of Adam and Eve’s sin? You bet he did. Don’t let him take advantage of yours.
Third, practice cleansing and renewal. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9), and “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24).
Father, cleanse me with the blood of Jesus; wash me right here, from all of this. I plead the
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