The Ewasyshyn Update

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So what should my response to sin be?

A few illustrative passages that show two apostles commit pretty similar sins and then how each of them responds.

Mark 14: 66-72
66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. 68But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway. 69When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." 71He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." 72Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept.

Peter sinned, he wept.

Matthew 27: 3-5
3When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." 5So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Judas sinned, was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins.

Peter wept, Judas was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins. Both felt sorry for what they did. Judas even went back and tried to right his wrong. I can just imagine what he was thinking, "man i messed up, i need to go make this right". How many of us can identify with this feeling. I know that this is how i respond to sin a lot of times, but it is inherently flawed.

2 Cor 7:10
10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Judas felt worldly sorrow, of this we can be sure. He saw that he messed up- he even tried to make amends- but in the end, it led to death... literally. the difference between the two responses is repentance. Judas missed Jesus, he missed the cross, he chose death, but Peter came back to Jesus.

John 21: 15-17
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

My response, as well as your response, must be to seek Jesus. That means to turn away from the sin, and come back to the cross. Yes I need to feel sorry for it, yes I need to confess it to others, but if I end there, I'm standing next to Judas, not Jesus.

I need to realize that God died for my sin. that sin. that one i just committed a minute ago for the upteenth time. The cross is not too small, and when I start to see just how big it is, there is only one response.

Luke 4:44-48
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

I have been forgiven much, you have been forgiven much. Whether you realize it or not, you were once God's enemy, you were hostile to Him. You HATED Him. But God, in his infinite goodness, while we were still sinners, reconciled us to Himself. (romans 8:5)

When I sin, I need to go the cross. I need to sit at Jesus' feet. He is good. He forgives and gives grace- and this grace actually teaches how to be conformed more into His image...

Titus 2:11&12
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Grace actually teaches us to how to not do that sin again. So what should my response to sin be?

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. when I sin, I will feel bad for it. That is called conviction, and it is actually a good thing. But I shouldn't sit in this, shame is never an appropriate response to sin for a christian. Instead, I need to turn away from the sin while turning to Jesus. Fight the urge to go and fix it right away, get your peace of mind from the Gospel of Grace, not your flithy rags of 'righteousness'. Jesus will teach you to walk with him more and more humbly.