Yesterday, we talked about the importance of self-censure when we are in sin. Today, we will talk about the importance of being “careful not to censure yourself too much, for the purpose of censure is not to lead you to despair but to work true repentance in your heart” (#19). The following are some wise instructions: “a. Do not conclude that you have fallen from the state of justification and the grace of adoption. ‘The love of God in Christ is an endless and unchangeable love (John 13:1), and its perpetuity is founded not upon anything in us, but upon the firm rock of his will and counsel.’ A fall into gross sin will breach your justification and adoption by withholding their comforts and privileges, but your right to those comforts and privileges by repentance is in no way extinguished [as long as you come back to God in humble acknowledgment of your guilt and with sincere desire to repent of your sins. Remember, the grace of repentance is for those who are in sin. If you are in sin, you are eligible for this grace and you can receive it by faith.]
Read MoreToday, let’s talk about God’s promise to restore us should wefall into temptation and sin. The clearest example of this is, of course,Jesus’ promise to Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faithmay not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke22:31-32). This is in stark contrast to what happened earlier in the chapter:“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of thetwelve” (Luke 22:3). From what Jesus said to Peter, we know that Satan couldnot have entered into Judas if Jesus prayed for him as He prayed for Peter.Looking at this, we can imagine Jesus saying, “Peter I loved, but Judas Ihated,” just as God said, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Mal. 1:2).
Read MoreToday, let’s reflect on God’s promise of strength in temptation. Consider James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” “If we submit to God, He promises without question that He will give us the strength to resist the devil until he flees from us, not because of who we are but because we are part of the Lord’s army, and He enables us to stand firm in His power in the evil day (Eph. 6:10-11, 13)” (p. 100). A crucial part of submitting ourselves to the Lord is to trust in His promise and start resisting the devil instead of saying, “But….”
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