History does not need to keep repeating itself…

And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” 
And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” 
And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. (Judges 10:9–16)

For months I’ve been thinking that the Lord is saying to this world the same thing He said to His OT people. They turned from His care and did their own thing, then ran into trouble and cried out to Him. He said they thought they had ways and means to live well without Him so He refused to bail them out.

Many in this era have ignored God, even insist that He does not exist. And as we watch things fall apart, it seems God is saying a similar thing: “You want to run your own lives? Let’s see how that works for you.”

The Israelites were distressed, but at least they recognized why they were having problems. They confessed their sin and begged God to deliver them. Were they sincere? Or were they trying to manipulate God? Only God knows motivations and the heart, but He took pity on them and sent a deliverer. However, the narrative of Judges revealed how this scenario kept repeating itself as the people “did what was right in their own eyes.”

And this history keeps repeating itself. The only way to have a genuine change of this cycle is true repentance which involves a change of mind and heart regarding sin. It is not merely saying I’m sorry because I got caught or was facing the consequences. However, it is also a gift from God, not something I can do apart from His mercy.

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

While God tells us to repent, I know from personal experience that I might feel sorry for sinning, but any change of life is not a “work” that I can do to earn favor with God. If I could turn from sin, I would not need Jesus. He said, "Repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), indicating that recognizing my need for a Savior is the first step toward receiving God's mercy. This requires faith in what Jesus has done to secure my redemption.

Repentance is also a lifestyle and the key to spiritual growth. The NT makes clear that Christians are delivered from the penalty of sin, yet all our lives God is at work to deliver us from the power of sin — and repentance is part of that process.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 1:7–2:1)

When first saved, my mentor had me do a Bible study on sin. God revealed so much of it, and keeps revealing it. I am not fully like Jesus, yet that is His goal. If I sin and merely make excuses, or ignore it, or try to explain it away, then I am throwing a monkey wrench into the transformation process.

Jesus, You died to save me from the biggest sin of trying to live my own life without You. You live to transform me into Your image (Romans 8:28-29) and repentance is so vital to make that transformation possible. Help me to always be honest with You regarding sin and thankful to You for the gift of repentance.

God knows me — He just wants me to agree with Him

While God tells us not to have personal bias toward others, it happens. My particular bias is toward those who are transparent, honest about their situation, emotions, desires, and opinions. They never leave me guessing about anything concerning them.

While God does not have to guess, it seems to me that He wants me to be transparent as well. As the psalmist declared, He knows anyway…

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. (Psalm 139:1–4)

However, the essence of confessing sin is being honest with God, telling Him what I have done and how my attitudes and thinking have been sinful. Since sin resists this and my old nature wants to look good regardless of what I am really like, sin’s tendency is to excuse it, or fake it, to try and portray to others what I think will impress them rather than being honest.

Honesty can be blunt and even unkind. This is why the NT clearly says,

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:15–16)

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

Today’s reading points to this desire of God and how He used painful circumstances in the life of Job to accomplish it. First, it was God who was in control even though Satan did the work:

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord…. And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” (Job 1:12 & 2:6)

Job lost everything, including his children. He was struck with sores and in pain. He complained yet at times revealed his faith in God. Finally, God spoke and showed this man how much he did not know, and Job said:

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1–6)

Then the Lord spoke to those who had accused Job that he was in this situation because of sin: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7)

What did God mean? That all Job’s complaints were right? Or that his confession was right? Or was it that Job continually expressed what his heart was telling him, and finally he realized that he didn’t know everything about God?

The reading makes the point that when life is horrid, like Job’s life, God has purpose in it, and that purpose might be to show me what my heart is really like and how much I need the grace of God. Otherwise, my top priority is me — when I need to “despise myself and repent” of being entirely self-centered before God.

PRAY: Jesus, a recent temptation in which I didn’t do that well is still bugging me, and this reading makes me realize that confessing my attitude is not enough. Like Job, I need to despise that old dead selfishness and turn from it with all my heart. You want my love for You to be total, covering all areas of life, not just those that others can see. You want total transparency from me I can hide some things but “O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.” (Psalm 69:5)

 

Genuine repentance

Today’s devotional is about Peter’s denial of Jesus and how he was restored by grace. Reference is also made to David’s confession of his sin with Bathsheba. Reading both passages is another reminder that I am a sinful creature and God is a forgiving God. Salvation is always by grace yet my confession of sin is an important element in restoration.

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:69-75)

Peter denied Jesus three times. This seems awful, yet I remember repeating the same sin(s) many times. I can also remember weeping bitterly. But that is only the beginning of genuine repentance.

The Bible does not say David wept, but it would not surprise me. He did pray this most remarkable confession, one that has helped me understand that confession is far more than a simple ‘I’m sorry’ and going on from there. David began his prayer this way:

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

David knew that the only reason God forgives is His abundant mercy and enduring love. Mercy is receiving a blessing I don’t deserve. Love withholds the punishment which I do deserve. David also knew that his sin was against God and agreed with God that it was evil. He acknowledged that God was correct in evaluating what he had done.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”

David also acknowledged that he was born a sinful creature. He made no excuses; he sinned because he was a sinner. He also knew that God was more concerned that he was truthful about himself than he was perfect. In our minds, God wants good behavior so we try harder, but David knew God is more interested in truth.

The next part of his confession is his plea that God cleanses his sin and fills him again with His spirit:

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

David knew where his goodness came from. If he did anything right, it was because of God and not his own doing. Only sin stopped him from being joyful and willing to serve God, and that joy and that willing heart came from God also. David was helpless and he knew it.  

“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:1-17)

David also knew what happens after repentance. God’s people are eager to share their faith, free from guilt and filled with praise, yet with a contrite attitude that gives pleasure to the Lord.

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I’m so thankful that You gave these two stories of sinners who repented and were forgiven and restored. I’m also thankful that they expressed what it means to be truly sorrowful for sin, giving me assurance that when I do the same, I know how You want me to feel and what You want me to say and do. Thank you also for Your great mercy on me, a sinner who loves You.

A carefully considered confession of sin

Leviticus 14

John 8:31–59

Song of Solomon 7:1–4

Anyone who continually beats themselves up for doing the wrong thing needs to know that when we confess our sins, God forgives our sins. Whenever I’ve repeated words like, “Why did I do that?” or “Am I ever stupid,” people might tell me that I need to forgive myself, but that isn’t what God says. I’ve learned that such talk happens because I am hung up on me. I’m proud. I could have/should have done better. I’m not as sinful as God’s Word says I am. I have the ability to not make any mistakes. This is pride. God says to humble ourselves and if I don’t, falling into sin usually does it for me!

However, the opposite problem can occur (after all, we are creatures of extremes). I can be flippant about sin too. That is, I do the wrong thing and flip off an “I’m sorry, God” and go on as if that is all there is to being a forgiven and cleansed person. Like a seminary professor once said, “There is a balance here someplace . . .  I see it every time I swing past it!”

The Bible helps with the balance, particularly for my flippant extreme. Today’s Old Testament reading is about offerings for those coming to the Lord with their sacrifices for sin: “The priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. And afterward he shall kill the burnt offering. And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.” (Leviticus 14:19–20)

In this passage of thirty-two verses, the phrase “him who is to be cleansed” is repeated twelve times, whereas the words that say that person “shall be clean” are repeated only two times. This tells me something about the process of dealing with sin. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I know that He is my sacrifice and when I confess my sin, I am forgiven and cleansed, BUT if my heart is not in it, that cleanness doesn’t happen as quick as the confession.

There is something about these verses in Leviticus that speak to me about taking time with confession, thinking about what I have done and about what God has done. I am the person to be cleansed. This is not God touching me with a magic wand so I can merely go on as I was going before. Maybe I need to think about what I was doing and why. Maybe I need to pay attention to the attitude that I have about the sin, the temptation, the God who died for me. Whatever it is, the ‘who is to be cleansed’ seems to warrant much more attention than I give it. This is not about beating myself up with, “Why did I do that?” and “What is wrong with me?” but considering the process much more intently than merely feeling sorry for myself because I need the process.

The NT reading fits in several ways. Jesus is talking to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Notice that word ‘abide’ – it means to stay put, to read it and consider it, give it full attention.

However, all they heard was the word ‘free.’ They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31–36)

“Practicing sin” might mean continuing in the same sin that was just confessed. Or it might mean exchanging that sin for another one – being flippant toward God and taking His forgiveness for granted. Or it might mean doing that ‘poor me, I blew it again’ thing, which is not confession but self-pity and just another kind of sin – that enslaves me also.

Does all this mean that God is being picky about how I confess my sin? Yes, I think so. But He does it to set me free, not partly free but free indeed. He wants to look at me like the lover Solomon looked at his bride, and to enjoy an intimacy that is free from my pride and selfishness.

Jesus, my Lover, may not say these words: “How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O noble daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a master hand” (Song of Solomon 7:1), but He does bless me with a transparent and trusting relationship through an honest confession of sin. As that happens, not only am I forgiven and cleanses, but He is free to adorn me with His purity and make me feel like His lovely companion.

Responding to conviction

The police said that this outcome was unheard of; a child abductor returning a boy to his home, safe and unharmed, but it happened this week. Speculation abounds concerning why. This morning’s news says this person has now been arrested so he may give his reasons. However, I suspect he brought the child home because he could not bear the pressure in his own heart.

The family of this little boy attends a Christian church. No doubt they were praying. Besides that, hundreds of people have been praying for them and their child, even for the person who went into their home and took him from his bed. And God answers prayer.

When an unsaved person is the subject in a bombardment of prayer, God’s answer can be to deeply convict them of sin. This is done by the Holy Spirit. While some people might shake off a mild version, deep conviction usually produces drastic results. A few may even commit suicide. Some will try to make amends for what they have done. The desired result is that the person falls on their knees before God, confessing their sin, repenting and crying out to God for forgiveness.

David was one of the latter. While God called him a “man after my own heart” this did not mean he was perfect. However, when he sinned, he hated it, which is like God. Here is what David says about forgiveness and the effects of deep conviction.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:1–5)

I don’t know if the man who took that little boy felt the heaviness of God’s hand on him, but I would not be surprised. Why else would make a convicted child molester turn from his plans and instead do what thousands of praying people were asking God for? What would make such a person change their mind?

I know the power of conviction. It can be an almost oppressive sense of being wrong, of doing wrong. Because I also know the blessedness of forgiveness and having my sin covered, I know what to do with conviction. It requires confession and abandoning the sin, going a different direction. Because I am in Christ, I know that God forgives me.

God has shown me His power to redeem and turn me around. Because of that, conviction is one of His guides for my life. When I err, I usually know what I did and what I need to do about it, but sometimes the conviction is there and I am not sure. For this I can also go to God and ask Him to clarify. Is this some sort of false guilt (one of Satan’s tricks) or is it real? And if it is real, what did I do?

Verse 6 from this psalm says, “Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found.” This tells me that going to God is a good idea, but also hints to quickly do it. If ignored, conviction can deepen, but that sense of guilt can also be pushed to the back burner. Instead of the forgiveness and freedom that come with confession, it becomes a dull ache in the heart, like a lump that should not be there. This lump of unconfessed sin has damaging effects on the whole person. Health can fail. Energy wanes and lifelessness takes over. The weight of it produces relationship problems and even confusion. As David learned, it is far better to talk to God about sin than let it drain my vitality.

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Lord, I don’t know about that child abductor’s motivations, but I do know that he needs You. Everyone does. We all sin, perhaps not as he did, but the degree of sin is not the issue. With You, sin is sin. We all do it and we all need forgiveness and cleansing. I pray that for him and for others caught in the web of sin, but also under the power of conviction. Show them the way of confession and the power of Your forgiveness. Release them by Your mercy and grace.

I also thank you for teaching me the blessing of forgiveness and justification. This happens to all who call upon You, regardless of what they have done. Your goodness astounds me each day. I am so thankful that You have lifted the weight of sin from me, putting it on Christ who was able to take and conquer its punishment on my behalf. Because of Him, those who come to You with sin are incredibly blessed with forgiveness and the promise of spending eternity with You.

The Bottom Line

This morning I’m thinking about besetting sins. These are those habitual acts of disobedience that seemingly are impossible to stop. Sometimes I do something, confess it as sin, then find myself committing the same sin again and again.

The Bible promises that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Why then do I keep repeating the thing when God says my confession results in cleansing?

For a long time I’ve thought the reason is that I haven’t got to the bottom of it. I will confess an action, but didn’t recognize the attitude behind the action. I will confess an attitude, but not go deeply enough to confess my motivation for it, and it is in the area of motivation where I make the most excuses.

My Logos Bible study software has many books and in searching for besetting sins, I found one called Love to Eat, Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick. It is about eating disorders and has a great section on the usual excuses made for sin. Here is the list:

My Mama Made Me Do It. This is blaming childhood experiences and how they shaped me. It is often used by criminals who go for softer sentences by claiming they were raised in a dysfunctional home. Christians use this excuse when we feel trapped by our past.

My Computer Has a Virus. This worldly idea says we are mere machines that work on a GIGO principle. Fitzpatrick’s book calls it the carrot-and-stick theory. A donkey will always pull the wagon if the carrot (reward) is big enough (positive reinforcement) or if the stick (punishment) is substantial enough (negative reinforcement). Mixed that with spiritual truth and I think I could conquer sin if I just put my focus on the reward. It does not work.

Help Me, Doctor, I Think I’m Sick. With eating disorders, some say their problems are genetic, or food allergies, or certain chemicals in the brain. While this might be so, the Bible never allows such excuses for disobeying God.

Feel the Force Within You. The book says, “Even some Christians believe that they need to discover their ‘resident inner power’ and then clear the obstructions to this power through visualization, positive declarations, and energy direction.” If I am struggling with some unwanted behavior, it is because I’m “not listening to my inner guidance, and must change my energy through positive declarations.” This is not dependance on God, but idolatry.

The Devil Made Me Do It. Some Christians also believe that besetting sins are directly caused by spirits or demons. This is refusing to take responsibility for sin. It also is refusing to acknowledge that Christ conquered Satan’s power and that He saves us from all sin.

I Don’t Love Myself Enough. The idea here is that if I could just learn to love and accept myself then I would not punish or reward myself in sinful ways. It says I can do this by my own power, another form of idolatry.

It’s Not My Fault. “You are not responsible for your behavior,” is a strong manifesto in our society. But the Bible teaches that one day, “each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). I cannot use that excuse either.

The verse that prompted this search was from Spurgeon’s devotional for today. He used it to show that David confessed his sin of murder without making excuses.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. (Psalm 51:14)

He called his sin exactly what it was and when he did that, he had grounds to ask God to forgive and cleanse him. With that, I realize that some of my own sin has not been overcome because I’ve failed to recognize and confess their root motivation, or have made excuses like some of those listed in the book about eating disorders.

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Lord, You have opened my eyes again. You remind me that all sin is about inner desires. I want something (even legitimate things) but those desires get out of control as I try to fulfill them in the wrong way. It is just as James 1:14 says, “Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”

These days, lust is associated with sex, but in the Bible lust refers to any strong desire. It can be for food, which is a good thing until it gets out of control and becomes a lust to overeat. It can be a desire to help another person, another good thing until it gets out of control and becomes meddling where I’m not helping at all. It can also be a desire for a repeat blessing, yet instead of waiting on You for that, I try to “make it happen” and wind up disobeying You.

This gives me a great deal to think about and pray about. Thank You. Keep me on the right track. Help me recognize the bottom line when I sin and confess my sin. I know that confession and the blood of Christ wash sin away.  I also know that obedience keeps it from coming back.

To Live is Christ — knowing the power of biblical confession

A website called “This is True” reports that a woman called the University of Oregon and confessed that she cheated on a final exam 34 years prior. The university decided not to revoke her professional therapist’s degree. Instead, she had to write an essay on the importance of academic integrity and how “corrosive” dishonesty can be.

Yesterday, Tiger Woods publically confessed his sins. His reasons for doing so are debatable, and speculation abounds about his sincerity. In the meantime, he has gone back into therapy for his “addiction” to sex.

An adage claims that “confession is good for the soul” and at least one dictionary says that confession makes you feel better. Perhaps that is what Tiger Woods had in mind, but whatever his reasons, I know that his confession was not the same as the one the Bible talks about.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

These verses give godly confession a place in the healing process, both physical and spiritual. This works several ways.

First, some sicknesses are directly related to guilt over sin. Godly confession deals with the guilt because genuine godly confession secures its removal. Healing can then happen.

Second, God sometimes uses sickness to chasten His people for sin. In that case He still tells us to come clean with what we have done, not only to remove the guilt but to secure spiritual healing. Such godly confession leads to eternal life for the unsaved, and nurtures that life once it is obtained. The sorrow of the world has no such power.

Beyond that, Christian confession is also about restoring relationships. God hates sin and whenever I sin, there is a rift in our relationship. It is not that He cuts me off totally because Jesus died for my sins (all of them) and I have redemption in His name. This rift happens because sin messes me up. I don’t want to pray and my focus has turned away from Him. When I sin, God does not move away, but I do.

It is similar to when I do wrong to anyone else. They stop trusting me, are not comfortable in my presence, and feel offended. While God is not the same as we are over hurt feelings, He cares when we sin. After all, the reason Christ died is so we can have victory over sin. Why keep sinning? This is a rejection of the wonderful gift He offers.

The biggest difference with Christian confession is that we are “saying the same thing” or agreeing with God about our sin. We want His forgiveness and cleansing, and we want no cloud over our relationship, but we also know that sin is totally beyond our control. Confession includes the admission that I cannot conquer this and that I need God’s solution for sin. I need Jesus. Experience teaches Christians that “trying harder” does not work.

The adage says that confession is “good for the soul” but the Bible warns about a worldly sorrow for sin, a sorrow that “I got caught” and confessing just to feel better and get off the hook. On the other hand, godly sorrow produces repentance (turning from sin to God) and after that, life-changing results.

Godly sorrow means God is involved. As I confess, He gives me whatever is needed to overcome the sin. Writing an essay or going into therapy might have some value and my own efforts might even clear the air between me and those I have sinned against, but they have no value toward true victory over sin. Instead, godly sorrow and biblical confession secure and restore my relationship with God — and He does the saving.

Jesus died to save me from the penalty and power of sin. Trying harder does not work and never will. My only claim for forgiveness and cleansing is never how sorry I am or how much I want to change. It is always and only the amazing grace of God and the power of His blood.