Building for Eternity
Archive for August, 2007
Repentance vs Remorse
4 years ago
by Lyndall Bailey
in News
Genesis 3 records the low point of human history. Adam and Eve disobey God. When God walks in the garden they feel bad (remorse) but fail to repent, instead choosing to hide. When God confronts them they then try to avoid responsibility (Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the Serpent). This is a fairly natural response as most of us struggle to carry the guilt for the wrong we have done in life.
The bible contrasts these actions with those of Jesus. He came to earth and not only accepted responsibility for His own actions but for all of us as well. He took the punishment for all our accumulated wickedness (as he had none of his own).
Jesus offers salvation. We accept salvation by going further than just feeling sorry. We are called to acknowledge our responsibility for the wrongs we have done. Thank God for Jesus’ sacrifice in our place and commit to living differently in the future. True repentance means changing the way we live.
Stephen Semenchuk
Bulletin 2nd September, 2007
4 years ago
by Lyndall Bailey
in Bulletin
Bulletin 02/09/07 (pdf, 2.6 MB)
I Can’t Remember…
4 years ago
by Lyndall Bailey
in News
This week the potential future Labor Prime Minister has found his past actions under close scrutiny. Since his elevation to leader of his party his opponents have searched for information to tarnish his image. Finally an event from 2003 surfaces and he is asked to explain his actions in a “gentleman’s club”. His reply: “I can’t remember exactly what happened”. It is a typical politicians answer.
The whole incident begs reflection. What standard do we expect from our leaders? Given that even a Prime Minister is human and subject to temptation, mistakes, errors of judgment and sin, how forgiving should his people be? In the end if we have seen the worst they can dredge up against Kevin Rudd has he really lived purely enough to be elected Prime Minister?
The Bible does hold our Christian Leaders to very high standards. It speaks of leaders being “above reproach”. Yet our church leaders are human and likely to make mistakes. “Above Reproach” means that our leaders must repent openly of their sin and live lives consistently orientated towards Love, Obedience and Loyalty. Sometimes our mistakes are too great in consequence to remain in leadership but never too great to receive God’s forgiveness and grace.
God promises us that because of Jesus’ death in our place, He will not remember our sins!
Stephen Semenchuk