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It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” 2 Peter 2:21-22. (NIV).
Does God forgive every sin? Will He forgive us even when we repudiate Him, when we say “I don’t believe in you?” Simple answer: yes, but God can’t be fooled. He understands if we are honest. God sees inside our hearts. He knows when we mean something and when we don’t. A lie is a sin and saying “I believe in you” when we don’t truly believe is a lie. God understands that. Would He welcome back my friend who converted to Islam? Answer: yes, when she genuinely confesses her need for Him. Just like me or you.
And that’s the thing. That’s why Peter spent so much of chapter 2 talking about this concept. Salvation is God’s free gift for us. He didn’t do it for Himself: He doesn’t need to be saved because He’s holy and perfect already. He doesn’t need to be made righteous because He’s already righteous. God saved us because He loved us. He knows we can’t save ourselves.
And yet, we each know of people who want nothing to do with this. They have their own reasons; some say they once were Christian, or were brought up as Christian. Now they want nothing to do with Christianity. God respects their choice. Or you know of people who only ask for prayers when they are in need. When they don’t think they need faith, they scorn it. Don’t spend too much time looking down your nose at them lest you see them in the mirror.
Same for me, you know. I’m judgy; I’m cocky; I’m confident enough in my own faith to walk a razor’s edge of it where, on one side there is Jesus, and the other are my judgments. I’ve walked in both worlds and the better one by far is the one where Jesus is, where His leadership guides my life. Yet there’s also that pleasing comfort of those pet sins. Like sweet sounding sirens, they try to sing me back.
Giving in to them would be so much more costly, though. It becomes almost impossible to break free of sin’s grip if we give in to it again and again. Yes, it’s that powerful. Yet know this: even more powerful is the searching love of our righteous Savior. Jesus forgave all our original sins. He forgives EVERY new one when we come to Him with genuine hearts.
For further reading: Proverbs 26:11, Ezekiel 18:24, Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Peter 3:1
Lord Jesus, let my heart genuinely confess my sins to You, and let me rest peacefully in Your forgiveness.
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Practical Proverbs 