"Cause Or Consequence", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

The exact polar opposite of what comes natural. That's what God asks us to perform when we deal with this necessity called "repentance".

Sin is what comes natural. We are born into it and eventually will commit it. It has remained true for every person who ever lived. Except Jesus.

Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:10 - "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one."

God asks us to step into the realm of the supernatural. There is nothing natural about it. It goes against our sin nature.

He asks us to takes a step toward forgiveness.

Frequently a Greek verb for sin occurs in the NT. It is "metanoeo" and it means simply "to change one's mind". It always means to do so for the better.

An example would be from Acts 3:19 - "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out."

However, then there is the noun of the same word. Spelled slightly different it is "metanoia".

Here's the kicker, and where people get turned around if not properly directed.

"Metanoia" means a "real" change of mind and a complete attitude change toward sin itself...(here it comes)...

...AND the CAUSE of it and not merely the CONSEQUENCES of it.

CAUSE or CONSEQUENCE...which one have you reasoned with?

A real change of mind against sin constitutes a person going to the root cause and dealing with it, and not because of what the penalty is. We do it because God requires it of us to become adopted into His Family.

If you have played around with this thing called sin and have not gotten to the root cause of it, you will be trapped into a cycle of sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting...etc. Sin will still rule as the dominant lifestyle when God has required that a life of conformity to Him is what pleases Him.

It is no fun living before God sinning, fearing consequences, repenting, and doing it all over again.

It is "natural" to sin because it is our human, carnal nature to do so from birth.

It is supernatural to opt for Jesus when given the choice between serving Him or sin. That ability comes only through the born again and Holy Spirit experience. It comes to the TRULY penitent believer.

This is what is meant by true "repentance toward God".

So what about it? Cause or Consequence? How does God feel about it?

Well, how would you feel about someone using you just for what they could get out of you and then dropping you like a hot potato until they needed something from you again? Not good, right?

That's how God feels when someone commits a sin, gets scared they will pay a penalty, and then whines to Him to please forgive them and they won't do it again. It indicates that there has been no "metanoia", no actual change of mind because of who God is to them.

Think about it in context of your experience.

It might just change your relationship with God in a dynamic way!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><