Bernadette Asks:
"if someone messed up badly (after accepting Christ),
can that person still do God's work?"
Jim's Reply:
I am not sure what you mean. You may be asking about
whether a person can be a witness by telling people about Christ and His gift of
salvation. Or you might be asking about a pastor/preacher who has made big
mistakes in his/her life. Then again, you may have something totally different
in mind. I'll try and give a general answer.
Christ's forgiveness is not conditional beyond our repentance.
That is our only condition: repentance.
After proper repentance comes "blotting out" (removal of) the sin.
Repentance means that:
1. We see the error as sin.
2. We sincerely change our intent (change our mind) from repeating this sin to
complying with God's demand for obedience.
3. Having done steps 1 and 2, we ask for God's foregiveness in Jesus' name.
That's it! It's a done deal. The sin is removed (blotted out) from us and God
says that:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
KJV
Here are two definitions of this Greek word # 3340 (repent):
Repent NT:3340 metanoeo (met-an-o-eh'-o); from NT:3326 and NT:3539; to think
differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction): KJV -
repent.
E. W. Bullinger in his "Companion Bible" offers what I see as a clearer
explanation of this command of "Repent". Look at his Appendix 111:
============================================================
111. THE SYNONYMOUS WORDS FOR "REPENT", "REPENTANCE".
I. The Verb.
1. metanoeo = to change one's mind, always for the better, and morally. Because
of this it is often used in the Imperative (Matt. 3:2; 4:17. Acts 2:38; 3:19).
Not merely to forsake sin, but to change one's apprehension regarding it. It
occurs thirty-four times. It answers to the Latin resipisco = to recover one's
senses, to come to one's self.
============================================================
So, you see, to "repent" means more than just saying that we are sorry we
sinned. True "repent" requires us to change our point of view into avoiding
future occurrence of that sin. If we do not intend to quit repeating that sin,
we have not repented of it, and we are not forgiven of it. We cannot lie to God
about our intentions. He knows our thoughts.
Okay .......... Let's say that we properly repent for this particular sin. What
happens to it. Does it still remain on our "record"? NO! Look at this same verse
of Acts 3:19 where it says:
"... that your sins may be blotted out"
This "blotted out" is interesting:
NT:1813 exaleipho (ex-al-i'-fo); from NT:1537 and NT:218; to smear out, i.e.
obliterate (erase tears, figuratively, pardon sin): KJV - blot out, wipe away.
............................................................
Clearly then, when our sins are "blotted out", as far as God is concerned, that
sin does not exist. Look at this verse where the same word (Greek # 1813) is
used for a different purpose:
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his
name before my Father, and before his angels.
KJV
The purpose for that "blotting out" was to illustrate the sentence of the
"second death" (death of our soul).
BUT .... here is the reward given by our TRULY repenting of our sins:
Revelation 21:7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall
be my son.
KJV
Judgment Day is our day of reward for our "deeds", be they good or evil. If we
have, through Christ, conquered living our lives to satisfy desires of our flesh
(things carnal: lust, greed, envy, etc.), we shall live.
Romans 8:13
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do
mortify [conquer] the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
KJV
Live ............. eternally with Him!
j_b@holyscriptures.com