Repentance - How Do I Know I Am Forgiven?

REPENTANCE?...

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM FORGIVEN? By Mary Banks The Mary Banks Global Training Center

REPENTANCE?... HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM FORGIVEN?

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The scripture encourages us to repent when we sin. It lets us know that God will forgive us if we ask Him. He is not a God who carries grudges. If we are sincere in our hearts He will forgive us.

Nevertheless, our repentance must be coupled with a heart never to return to sin. However, you must also believe that He will forgive you. He declares His forgiveness to be faithful and just, therefore you must believe these are the qualities and character of God.

Ezekiel 33:12

12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: This means all the righteousness you have done before the day you commit a sin, will not be taken into account. as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; The same is parallel with the wicked. In the day the wicked turn to God, all their wickedness is forgiven and forgotten. neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. In the day that we sin we surrender to the powers of darkness and death. The only escape from this is true repentance.

Moving from the Flesh to the Spirit

When is repentance and discipleship real and profitable? To answer this question, Paul wrote of a situation that took place in the Corinthian church regarding the sin of one of the elders. The sin was gross and hideous, however, the council of elders did nothing to cause the sin to cease. Instead they continued to rejoice in the fact that they were a functioning church. When the Holy Ghost informed Paul of the situation and their response, he wrote an epistle rebuking them sharply. The rebuke also gendered a response from them that caused them to move out of the flesh and back into the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 7:9-12

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

The Sons of God have not truly repented for their actions until they produce the same fruit as that of the Corinthians.

Carefulness – Speedy earnestness.

Sincere consideration as to how their actions have affected others. There is no controversy in emotions regarding the spiritual effect of his or her sin on those within the sphere of influence. There is no pride or excuses, just a sincere earnest desire to manifest Christ.

Clearing of themselves – to give an account of oneself.

To answer righteously any accusation.

To accept total responsibility for the navigation of the situation into sin and death. This also means that the individual is willing to deal with all aspects of his or her sin. Retaining the sin: nullifying forgiveness:

Many times saints will render a defensive explanation as to why they were in a posture to do a particular thing, without ever really admitting to actually doing the thing itself. They want others to focus as they do, more on the things that motivated the wrong rather than the wrong itself.

If the spiritual authorities in the Body of Christ allow this, they will never bring the individual to a place of facing the ugliness or the cruelty of sin. He or she will never really come face to face with their true character.

But the most devastating aspect of this operation is that the individuals who walk in this mindset, are unable to clear themselves with God. Thus they are not forgiven. Indignation – to be totally displeased with one's actions or spiritual disposition. The abuse to righteous indignation is manifested when one is able to talk about the ugliness of their sin or spiritual disposition as a horrible thing, but in the same breath is able to condemn others for their involvement or to just generally judge others. Oftentimes, it is the unforgiveness of how others have affected them that comes to the surface. Especially if others who might have been involved begin to seek out righteousness and forgiveness. They are often seen as traitors or disloyal. If such is the case, the individual is not yet broken to a place of contriteness that will satisfy the Father or change the course of his or her life for that matter. When a Son of God is truly indignant of his sin, then he only regards the disposition of others as a pitiful state, considering himself and the devastating effect it has on him and others; he can only look upon those he has labeled as offenders with love and compassion.

The Sons of God must be brought to this place of righteous indignation concerning their own sin in any attempt to disciple. Otherwise, the "I'm sorry," and "I repent," without righteous indignation will remain the standard in their lives. Fear: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Without it you are left to your own understanding and are blind to the heart and mind of the Father.

There is no repentance without the fear of the Lord. However, many times, the fear of the Lord is replaced with the fear of loss; the loss of status, position, or image. The deception here is that the fight to retain those things, has caused the loss of the forgiveness of God.

Vehement desire: an earnest desire to walk in the righteousness of God. It is to despise evil and the hurt it imposes on others. It is a strong desire to walk holy before God and man.

Zeal: to have a fervent mind to serve God in holiness.

When you repent, stir up a zeal against the sin you committed so you will never be found there again. Godly sorrow worketh repentance. However, despair, depression and self-condemnation worketh death. This therefore means that God is not an advocate of stalling repentance for pity sake. This is called worldly sorrow, and it worketh death. Therefore, when you sin, repent quickly and move on in righteousness. Revenge: Vindication through true repentance.

Godly sorrow worketh repentance. It is through the washing of the word, the cleansing of the blood, and the justification of the Spirit that we are vindicated and given the right to continue in God and His service.

Jude 1:24-25

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

As long as we believe in Jesus and allow Him to live through us, we will never sin. It does not matter how recently we repented, His Word remains true. We can repent, stand up, and continue in perfection from that point forward.