提要
我想大部分人都經驗過下面的情形。我們犯了罪、良心受責備、認罪,然後又犯相同的罪。對一些人而言,他們一生都在這樣的循環裡──犯罪、認罪、犯罪,但也不是機械性的。當我們認罪時,我們是很認真的,有時甚至還痛哭流涕,但似乎都不能將我們從上述的循環裡救出來。所以我們的良心受到極大的打擊,屬靈的健康也受損。我們該如何勝過這種循環呢﹖
這不是件容易的事,但的確有答案,答案是:「悔改」。悔改的意思是掉轉頭,朝相反的方向──面對上帝的方向──走去。
保羅在亞基帕王面前的陳述就說明了這個重點:我們要「悔改歸向神」(第一步),並且要「行事與悔改的心相稱」(第二步)。為罪難過還不夠,還要有新的行為,因為悔改在本質上是有建設性的。
例如,唯一有效對付偷竊罪的方法就是認罪、賠償、重新決志作一個好鄰舍。告訴鄰舍你所做的事;賠償你向他們偷來的東西(加上利息);並懇求饒恕。重新立誓(有聲或無聲)作他們的好鄰居。然後,在往後的日子,不再偷竊。讓你生命的記錄從那時起清白沒有污點。
記住,不論認罪認得多麼感人,如果你只是認罪然後靜止不動,那麼醫治也不會來到。認罪是情感上的表現,悔改則與意志有關──你要用意志來決定。你的決定會反映在你悔改的行動上,而你的悔改將會使你的生命煥然一新。
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Overview
I think most of us have done it. Maybe several times. We sin, are stricken in our conscience, confess, and sin the same sin again. For some it’s a lifelong cycle – sin, confess, sin. And it’s not mechanical, either. When we confess, we really mean it. In fact, we often confess with tears, but seem unable to extricate ourselves from the cycle. So our conscience takes a beating – being a victim of one’s selfishness to being a victor over one’s selfishness?
Well, it’s not easy, but there is an answer. It’s called “repentance”. Repentance means turning around and walking in the opposite direction. And that opposite direction points to God.
As Paul speaks to King Agrippa, he makes the point: we “repent and turn to God” (step 1) and “prove repentance by deeds” (step 2). It’s not enough to be sorry, we’ve also got to do something new, because repentance is essentially recreative and restorative.
For example, the only was to effectively deal with the sin of stealing from your neighbor is to confess, repay, and renew your commitment to good neighborliness. Tell him what you did. Pay him back what you’ve stolen (with interest). Ask him for forgiveness. Renew your pledge (spoken or unspoken) to be a good neighbor. And then, for the rest of your life, don’t ever steal again. Let your track record from that moment on be clean.
And remember, as moving as confession may be, if you just do hat and stop, there’ll be no healing. Confession is emotional. Repentance is volitional – it involves your will. Your choices will reflect your repentance. And your repentance will make your life new again.
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Prayer
O God, we know that John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles all began their ministry with a call to repent. Help us to remember, today and every day, the supreme importance of genuine repentance. Thank You, Jesus that you came to save us from our sins as well as forgiving us for our sins. Your blood cleanses us from all sin as we walk in Your light. Amen. |