Covering Our Sins Is Rebellion

01/08/2013

Thought for Meditation

If we refuse or neglect to confess our sinful behavior with a heart of repentance,
but deny, excuse, blameshift, or downplay the unrighteousness and guiltiness of our sin,
we are by definition hardening our heart in rebellion against the Lord our God.

Proverbs 28:13-14
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Happy is the man that feareth alway:
but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Jeremiah 18:11-12
Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you:
return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices,
and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,
shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Posted in Thought for Meditation, Rebellion against God, Repentance of Sin

Please share this post with others:

Comments

Jon Gleason

01/08/2013 10:34am

Isn't it amazing that people who profess to believe in the Lord would use "There is no hope" as their excuse? But that is effectively what we do if our excuse ever is some version of "it was too hard for me to do right." It is never too hard.

Pastor Scott Markle link

01/08/2013 11:10am

Brother Gleason,

First, I thank you for your comment since it encourages me that someone is following my blog posts.

Second, I did not actually consider the response, "There is no hope," from the perspective that you appear to have. I did not consider the phrase as an excuse for their sinful behavior, is if they had not hope to do right because they just could not help doing wrong.

I considered the phrase as a rebellious response to the Lord's call for repentance, as if they were telling the Lord -- "Lord, do not bother to harbor any hope that we will obey your call to repent; for we are determined to continue in our own sinful ways."

Any further thoughts here?

For the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord,
Abiding in Christ, and Christ in us,
Pastor Scott Markle

Jon Gleason

01/09/2013 4:37pm

Interesting.

I see different commentators suggesting both interpretations.

The parallel in Jer. 2:25 seems to fit better with the way you are reading this passage. So I suspect that your take on it is the correct one, and that I misread it.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.