There many types of conversion such as some dramatic where you would remember great detail how life was transformed For example where Saul of Tarcus encounter Jesus on Damascus roa d. Where some was gradual where they can not pin a down period when they accepted Jesus as Lord and Savour. While others were taught by their parents that Jesus crucified on the cross and atoned humanity for their sins they away believe it. While others were given a Bible and discovered Jesus in the Bible for example Professor Rosaria Butterfield, and Ravi Zacharia. While others accepted Christ at Billy crusades. While other accepted Christ through friendship evangelism. While other where weir for instance the late Dr. RC Sproul in Ecclesiastes 11:3, if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. While had vision of Jesus. They all came to the same conclusion that they are sinner and they needed a Saviour Jesus Christ
The Westminister Confession ask serous of questions ? Q. 24. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature.
Q. 25. Wherein consisteth the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consisteth in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually; which is commonly called Original Sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressions.
Rom. 5:12, 19; Rom. 3:10-19; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 5:6; Rom. 8:7-8; Gen. 6:5; Jas. 1:14-15; Matt. 15:19.
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Q. 26. How is original sin conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity?
A. Original sin is conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity by natural generation, so as all that proceed from them in that way are conceived and born in sin.
Ps. 51:5; Job 14:4; Job 15:14; John 3:6.
Q. 27. What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?
A. The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with God, his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature children of wrath, bond slaves to Satan, and justly liable to all punishments in this world and that which is to come.
Gen. 3:8, 10, 24; Eph. 2:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:26; Gen. 2:17; Lam. 3:39; Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:41, 46; Jude 1:7.
Q. 28. What are the punishments of sin in this world?
A. The punishments of sin in this world, are either inward, as blindness of mind, a reprobate sense, strong delusions, hardness of heart, horror of conscience, and vile affections: or outward, as the curse of God upon the creatures for our sake; and all other evils that befall us in our bodies, names, estates, relations, and employments; together with death itself.
Eph. 4:18; Rom. 1:28; 2 Thess. 2:11; Rom. 2:5; Isa. 33:14; Gen. 4:13; Matt. 27: 4; Rom. 1:26; Gen. 3:17; Deut. 28:15-68; Rom. 6:21, 23.
The Greek word for sin is hamartia meaning failure or missing the mark for example in
When Adam transgressed in the garden, he sold humanity into slavery lock, stock and barrel. Since that time, humanity was held hostage by the kingdom of darkness. It was a hopeless situation because the only way to undo what had been done was for mankind to redeem or ransom what was lost
Give them them rest or peace until rest in Christ Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee. St Augustine, When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Psalm 32:3-4. Calvin wrote, How much soever believers may feel that they are oppressed by a heavy load of iniquity, and are not only devoid of every thing which can procure the favour of God for them, but justly burdened with many sins which make him an object of dread, yet they cease not to present themselves, this feeling not deterring them from appearing in his presence, because there is no other access to him
O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name., Daniel distinctly declares that he was confessing his own sin, and the sin of his people Israel.
David also sets us an example of this humility: “Enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified,” (Psalm 143:2)
In like manner, Isaiah prays, “Behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: Behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.” (Isa. 64:5–9)
Jeremiah says, “O Lord, though our iniquities testify against usdo thou it for thy name’s sake,” (Jer. 14:7).
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to thy mercy remember me, for thy goodness sake, O Lord,” (Psalm 25:7). Again, “Look upon my affliction and my pain, and forgive my sins,”
I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me,” (Psalm 51:5). Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. The Voice,For I was guilty from the day I was born, a sinner from the time my mother became pregnant with me.
Calvin wrote,When believers long for deliverance from punishment, they at the same time pray that their sins may be pardoned by God . Furthermore he Of this we are even reminded by our Savior’s reply. Having determined to cure the paralytic, he says, “Thy sins are forgiven. Mark 2;5
To this we may refer the words of John, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9) source of healing (James 5:16).
Those who confess sins are reassured that God will forgive, and remove that sin’s impact on fellowship. Note that even though this passage is written to believers, John states that those who confess sins are both forgiven and cleansed. Though believers are forgiven at the point of salvation, there is also an ongoing sense in which believers need to confess sin and experience forgiveness and cleansing. Cleansing was an important part of the Mosaic Law, mentioned some 14 times in the book of Leviticus alone. It was the goal of those who brought a sacrifice to the Lord in the tabernacle and temple.
The psalms celebrate God’s forgiveness that comes through confession and repentance. Some interpreters link this psalm to David’s sin with Bathsheba after Nathan had exposed his transgression, but the king certainly had other failings. Even if we do not associate this psalm with any personal transgression by David, it serves well as a model confession for those who are painfully aware of their sin. How happy is the one whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sin is hidden from sight. How happy is the person whose sin the Eternal will not take into account. How happy are those who no longer lie, to themselves or others. When The Voice I finally saw my own lies, I owned up to my sins before You, and I did not try to hide my evil deeds from You. I said to myself, “I’ll admit all my sins to the Eternal,” and You lifted and carried away the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:1-2,5 ;
it serves well as a model confession for those who are painfully aware of their sin. How happy is the one whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sin is hidden from sight.
If we confess our sins – If, from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, his holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for his sake who has died for us; he is faithful, because to such he has promised mercy, Psalms 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement to the Divine justice; so that God can now be just, and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus.
And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness – Not only to forgive the sin, but to purify the heart.
As scripture declares, But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.1 John 1:7, Also Romans 6:18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. The Voice The beauty of your new situation is this: now that you are free from sin, you are free to serve a different master, God’s redeeming justice.
“By the giving up of His sinless life sacrificially, Christ annuls the power of sin to separate between God and the believer” (Vines Dictionary of New Testament Words).
The Apostle Paul writes,But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:6-10 –
John Calvin wrote But since no man is worthy to come forward in his name,and appear in the presence of God, our heavenly Father, to relieve us at once from fear and shame, with which all must feel oppressed, has given us his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be our Advocate and Mediator, that under his guidance we may approach securely, confiding that with him for our Intercessor nothing which we ask in his name will be denied to us, as there is nothing which the Father can deny to him (1 But since no man is worthy to come forward in his name, and appear in the presence of God, our heavenly Father, to relieve us at once from fear and shame, with which all must feel oppressed, has given us his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be our Advocate and Mediator, that under his guidance we may approach securely, confiding that with him for our Intercessor nothing which we ask in his name will be denied to us, as there is nothing which the Father can deny to him (1 Tim. 2:5
Redeemed, restored, forgiven Through Jesus’ precious blood,John Calvin, that repentance and faith go hand in hand, being united by an indissoluble tie, the one causing terror, the other joy, Scripture also declares there is no distinction
In Romans 10:11-13 Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. In Romans 3:22 God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.
Finally in Galatians 3:28-29 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise. As Scriptures declares, Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
Tex Watson testimony When he went back to his cell , he looked into the mirror, and he saw a smile on his face that brightened up his cell. According to Tex, he never experience this while on drugs or alcohol. The only experience he felt was unending sadness, no rest, and no pleasure in his life only misery. Although it costs him arm and leg, When committed the seven murders he was high on hallucinogenic drug known as belladonna a powerful drug? That cause you wholly lose touch with reality. He lost his know-how to chose between right and wrong, Yet in his own words he was ultimately responsible for taking the drugs and committing the horrifying murders. When he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into life. the heaviness he felt was gone, and a smile was on his face. The sorrow and restlessness were gone, and it was replaced with endless happiness and it was all for free. He spent all kinds of money on drugs and alcohol and in which brought him no joy. Yet, the free gift from God Jesus brought him endless delight. Remember, he admitted and took responsibility for murdering seven people. Below is his quote
“In the world when something is broken, it is set aside. But in the Kingdom of God, He sets aside the unbroken thing. It is the precious, broken thing that He uses to confound the wise and show the world His glory through vessels of clay. Who was worst king in Judea, Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king and reigned 55 years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, imitating the detestable practices of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites. He built altars in the Lord’s temple, where Yahweh had said, “Jerusalem is where My name will remain forever.”2 Chronicles 33:1-2,4 So He brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. When he was in distress, he sought the favor of Yahweh his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. He prayed to Him, so He heard his petition and granted his request, and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that Yahweh is God. He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the Lord’s temple, along with all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the Lord ’s temple and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city. He built the altar of the Lord and offered fellowship and thank offerings on it. Then he told Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel.2 Chronicles 33:11-13,15-16
John Calvin wrote Moreover since he himself is the only way and the only access by which we can draw near to God, those who deviate from this way, and decline this access.
Scripture declares that we have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us” (Heb. 10:19,
Furthermore in part of scripture states, In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.Ephesians 3:12 Yet another states,I called to the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and put me in a spacious place. The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? – Psalm 118:5-6
John Calvin wrote Nay, we must be specially careful to show our gratitude on this very account, that God pardoning our unworthiness, not only allows each individual to pray for himself, but allows all to intercede mutually for each other.In I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel. Psalm 32:8 As The Voice started,I will teach you and tell you the way to go and how to get there; I will give you good counsel, and I will watch over you. Yet another states,If You do, I promise to teach rebels Your ways and help sinners find their way back to You.Psalm 51:13 or Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. The Apostle Paul wrote,
The Voice wrote,Christianity is not merely a set of ideas and propositions. One can agree with all the truths in the Bible and still miss the power of God. Paul knows the brothers and sisters in Corinth might attempt to reduce Christianity to a new philosophy based on human understanding, but the power of God cannot be fully grasped by our eight-pound brains. We must approach God humbly as creations, not as those aspiring to fully explain the Creator of the universe. However, in the presence of mature believers, we do impart true wisdom—not the phony wisdom typical of this rebellious age or of the hostile powers who rule this age. Despite what you may think, these ruling spirits are losing their grip on this world. but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.1 Corinthians 1:23,2:2 or the voice states, But we tell a different story. We proclaim a crucified Jesus, God’s Anointed. For Jews this is scandalous, for outsiders[a] this is moronic, I claimed to know nothing with certainty other than the reality that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Liberating King, who was crucified on our behalf.
John Calvin wrote, Now, indeed, when we have the Lord Jesus, in whose hand the eternal covenant of mercy was not only made but confirmed, what better name can we bear before us in our prayers?
In short seeking forgiveness and confessing your sins to Jesus simply works, if nothing occur why bring your petition before him again. It like going to a medical doctor with a bad cold. They prescribe a medication and does not work, and call them up, and tell you to continue medication.Would you follow their advice. As scriptures declares, Free me from prison so that I can praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because You deal generously with me. Or This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
Martin Luther once penned the quote above, “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” And change the world Martin did. But how? By first picking up a pen and writing …
We left Martin with a decision, a decision to remain quiet or to speak out. What do you think he did? In the words of Martin himself: “If he have faith, the believer cannot be restrained. He betrays himself. He breaks out. He confesses and teaches this gospel to the people at the risk of life itself.” And that’s exactly what Martin did.
https://thewestminsterstandard.org/westminster-larger-catechism/
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