Joey Chive
27 December 2008 at 5:55pm
Posts: 180 (0 today)
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The rebellious are fully aware of God?s decree of condemnation. They know that those who live this sort of way, who are practiced and accomplished at sinning, will one day be the subjects of God?s righteous decision against them. They realize that they are deserving of punishment. Yet they continue to do such things. They even take pleasure in those who practice missing the mark, as they do. They think well of sinful people and evil employments. This is because they have something in common with them. Other people are also committing sins, inventing evil, and denying God habitually, and this gratifies them. This verse refers to a practicing of sin, not a single act that has been confessed. A single act implies repentance, for a solitary deed cannot continue by its very nature.
Instead of approving of sin, Christians hate the thing responsible for their Savior?s death. In lieu of the relishing of wickedness, Christians abhor their own sin, and the permeating qualities of human iniquity. They first confess their sin in sorrow and shame. They then call on Jesus, the only Savior in this lost world. Jesus immediately saves them, and He will save everyone who will hate what they are, admit their utter futility in self-salvation, and trust only Christ to heal with His wounds. The wounds of Jesus will remove the offense deep inside us, and cleanse and cure right to the core. All this is given as a free gift when we simply believe the good story, which is the plain, uncombined news of Jesus Christ, and His loving efforts for us, two thousand years ago!