Understanding Ongoing Repentance in Light of Christ's Sacrifice

Devotional

Day 1: Redemption: A Completed Work and Ongoing Process

Redemption is both a completed work and an ongoing process in the life of a believer. Christ's sacrifice on the cross was a once-for-all event that secured our salvation, but its benefits are applied to us throughout our lives as we grow in faith and holiness. This ongoing application of redemption involves our calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and eventual glorification. As believers, we are called to live in the reality of this redemption, experiencing the fullness of what Christ has accomplished for us. This means that while our salvation is secure, we are continually being transformed and renewed by the Holy Spirit. [02:23]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in the ongoing process of redemption in your daily life? Consider one specific area where you can seek growth and transformation this week.

Day 2: Confession: Aligning Our Hearts with God's Perspective

Confession is not about earning forgiveness but aligning our hearts with God's perspective on sin. It is an acknowledgment of our wrongdoing and a reaffirmation of our reliance on Christ's finished work. Through confession, we agree with God about the nature of our sin, feel genuine remorse, and turn back to the finished work of Christ. This process keeps us humble and dependent on God's grace, preventing us from becoming complacent about sin or feeling the need to add to Christ's perfect sacrifice. [11:41]

1 John 1:8-9 (ESV): "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin you need to confess to God today? How can you align your heart with His perspective and rely on His grace for forgiveness and cleansing?

Day 3: Avoiding Complacency: Staying Aware of Our Need for Grace

True believers cannot be indifferent to sin. While our sins are covered by Christ's blood, we must not take this grace for granted. Confession keeps us aware of our need for God's mercy and grace. It is a reminder that we are continually dependent on Him and that we must remain vigilant against the temptation to become complacent. By regularly confessing our sins and seeking God's forgiveness, we maintain a right relationship with Him and grow in our understanding of His grace. [10:33]

Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV): "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Reflection: How can you guard against complacency in your spiritual life? Identify one practical step you can take to remain vigilant and aware of your need for God's grace.

Day 4: Rejecting Penance: Resting in Christ's Finished Work

There is no need for additional sacrifices or penance. Christ's sacrifice was perfect and complete. Our role is to confess and rest in His finished work, not to add to it. This means that we do not need to perform acts of penance to earn God's forgiveness or favor. Instead, we are called to trust in the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and to live in the freedom that it brings. By resting in His finished work, we can experience the peace and assurance that comes from knowing that our sins are fully forgiven. [11:14]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you feel the need to earn God's favor through your actions? How can you rest in the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and experience the freedom He offers?

Day 5: Living in Grace: Experiencing the Fullness of Forgiveness

The ongoing application of redemption in our lives is a testament to God's grace. As we confess and repent, we experience the fullness of the forgiveness Christ purchased for us, leading to a deeper relationship with Him. Living in grace means embracing the reality of our forgiven status and allowing it to transform our lives. It involves recognizing that we are loved and accepted by God, not because of our own efforts, but because of what Christ has done for us. This understanding should inspire us to live lives that reflect His love and grace to others. [12:11]

Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV): "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight."

Reflection: How can you live more fully in the grace that God has given you? Consider one way you can extend His love and grace to someone else this week.

Sermon Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the profound question of why ongoing repentance is necessary for believers if Christ's sacrifice on the cross has already forgiven all our sins—past, present, and future. This inquiry, inspired by Colossians 2:13-14, was brought to us by Judy from Rockford, Illinois. Judy's struggle is rooted in understanding the distinction between redemption accomplished and redemption applied. Redemption accomplished refers to the once-for-all, never-to-be-repeated work of Christ on the cross, where He offered a perfect sacrifice, satisfied God's justice, reconciled us to God, and purchased our freedom from sin and death. This was done outside of ourselves, a historical event that secured our salvation.

However, redemption applied is the ongoing process where the benefits of Christ's sacrifice are made real in our lives. This includes our calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and eventual glorification. Forgiveness of sins fits into this framework as both accomplished and applied. While Christ's sacrifice secured forgiveness, we experience it through faith and ongoing confession.

The necessity of ongoing repentance is not about re-earning forgiveness but about maintaining a right relationship with God. Confession is not a payment or penance but an agreement with God about the nature of our sin. It is a way to acknowledge our sins, feel genuine remorse, and turn back to the finished work of Christ. This process keeps us humble and dependent on God's grace, preventing us from becoming complacent about sin or feeling the need to add to Christ's perfect sacrifice.

Key Takeaways

1. for-all event that secured our salvation, but its benefits are applied to us throughout our lives as we grow in faith and holiness. [02:23]
2. The Role of Confession: Confession is not about earning forgiveness but aligning our hearts with God's perspective on sin. It is an acknowledgment of our wrongdoing and a reaffirmation of our reliance on Christ's finished work.

3. Avoiding Complacency: True believers cannot be indifferent to sin. While our sins are covered by Christ's blood, we must not take this grace for granted. Confession keeps us aware of our need for God's mercy and grace.

4. Rejecting Penance: There is no need for additional sacrifices or penance. Christ's sacrifice was perfect and complete. Our role is to confess and rest in His finished work, not to add to it.

5. Living in Grace: The ongoing application of redemption in our lives is a testament to God's grace. As we confess and repent, we experience the fullness of the forgiveness Christ purchased for us, leading to a deeper relationship with Him.

** [02:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to the Question
[00:26] - The Finished Work of Christ
[01:13] - Redemption Accomplished and Applied
[02:23] - Understanding Redemption
[03:06] - The Perfect Sacrifice
[03:53] - Propitiation and Reconciliation
[05:01] - Liberty from Sin and Death
[06:34] - Application of Redemption
[07:33] - Forgiveness of Sins
[09:16] - Receiving Forgiveness
[10:04] - The Reality of Sin in Believers
[11:14] - The Role of Confession
[12:11] - Embracing Christ's Work
[12:44] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Colossians 2:13-14
- Ephesians 1:7
- 1 John 1:9

Observation Questions:

According to Colossians 2:13-14, what did Christ accomplish on the cross regarding our sins? How does this relate to the concept of redemption accomplished? [01:02]
In Ephesians 1:7, what is described as being obtained through Christ's blood? How does this passage contribute to our understanding of redemption applied? [08:15]
What does 1 John 1:9 say about the role of confession in the life of a believer? How is this different from the concept of penance? [11:41]
How does the sermon describe the difference between redemption accomplished and redemption applied? [01:37]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the distinction between redemption accomplished and redemption applied help believers understand the necessity of ongoing repentance? [02:23]
What is the significance of confession being described as an agreement with God about the nature of our sin, rather than a form of penance? [11:41]
Why is it important for believers to avoid complacency about sin, even though their sins are covered by Christ's blood? [10:33]
How does the sermon suggest that ongoing repentance and confession contribute to a deeper relationship with God? [12:11]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt complacent about a sin in your life. How can you use confession to realign your heart with God's perspective on that sin? [10:33]
In what ways can you practice confession as an agreement with God, rather than feeling the need to earn forgiveness through penance? [11:41]
How can you ensure that your understanding of Christ's finished work on the cross prevents you from feeling the need to add to His sacrifice? [11:14]
Identify an area in your life where you struggle with ongoing sin. How can the concept of redemption applied help you seek transformation in that area? [06:34]
How can you cultivate a habit of regular confession to maintain a humble and dependent relationship with God? [12:11]
Think of a specific sin you have confessed recently. How did that confession impact your relationship with God and your understanding of His grace? [12:28]
What steps can you take this week to live more fully in the grace that comes from the ongoing application of redemption in your life? [12:11]

Sermon Clips

"Redemption when Christ died on the cross for His bride, the church, as Paul says in Ephesians 5:25-27, He accomplished at least four decisive once-for-all things. First, Christ offered a perfect sin-covering sacrifice to God, so perfect that unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, it never needs to be repeated, cannot be repeated." [00:02:43]

"This means that the sacrifice of Christ provided a holy and righteous satisfaction of the demands of God's justice in the punishment of sin, and so His condemning wrath is removed forever from His people." [00:04:15]

"By this sacrifice, God decisively purchased, paid the finished price for the liberty of His people from sin and wrath and death and Satan. First Corinthians 6:19, 'You were not your own, you were bought with a price.' That's finished, that's done, the price has been paid." [00:04:56]

"All the decisive things had been done already for me. So God did this for everyone who would be united to Christ: a perfect final sacrifice, an all-satisfying propitiation, a glorious reconciliation from God's side with the removal of all divine condemnation, a full purchase of our liberty from wrath and sin and death and Satan forever." [00:06:01]

"He calls us out of darkness into light, He regenerates us by the Holy Spirit, He unites us to Christ so that everything Christ accomplished has made ours in Him. He gives us the gift of faith, He justifies us, He adopts us, He sanctifies us over a lifetime, He causes us to persevere to the end, He intercedes for us continually in heaven, He glorifies us with life and joy forever in His presence." [00:06:47]

"In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses. In other words, in the shedding of Christ's blood once for all in history, all who are in Christ have forgiveness for all their sins. We have it, he says, we have it, we have them absolutely secure, we have them purchased for us." [00:08:10]

"Everyone who believes in Christ receives forgiveness of sins through His name. When we believe, we receive the forgiveness Christ purchased. That's forgiveness applied. So when we become Christians, we are united to Christ so that the forgiveness He purchased becomes the forgiveness we experience." [00:09:12]

"No genuine Christian who loves Christ can be cavalier about the very thing Christ died to abolish, namely our sin. That would be one mistake we could make. We could be cavalier in our attitude, 'Well, He died to forgive them all, so they don't really matter because they're all covered by blood.' No true Christian talks like that about his own sin." [00:10:09]

"The other mistake would be to panic and feel that with every sin, there needs to be a new redemption, a new sacrifice, a new penance. And I mentioned penance because that might be what Judy feels, perhaps coming out of her former religious tradition that she mentions, 'I have to pay something, right? I see it, I have to pay somebody, I have to make this right.' That would be a great mistake." [00:11:02]

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So confessing is not a payment; it is simply an agreement with God that this was an ugly and unworthy thing for me to do, and I'm ashamed of it, I'm sorry for it, I turn from it." [00:11:41]

"I embraced the finished, complete, perfect, once-for-all work of Christ afresh. I rest in it, I enjoy the fellowship that He secured." [00:12:28]

"Confession is not a payment or penance but an agreement with God about the nature of our sin. It is a way to acknowledge our sins, feel genuine remorse, and turn back to the finished work of Christ. This process keeps us humble and dependent on God's grace, preventing us from becoming complacent about sin or feeling the need to add to Christ's perfect sacrifice." [00:11:41]

Ask a question about this sermon

Desiring God This sermon · AI assistant

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?