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Commentary on "The Power of Choice"

MARTIN L. CAREY

 

Day 3: Monday, April 5, 2010

 

Review

Accepting responsibility for our sins, instead of succumbing to guilt and fear, is the topic of today’s lesson. The men of the Watergate coverup scandal are given as an example of guilty people attempting to shift blame from themselves and hide from justice. It is easy to fool ourselves, the lesson points out, but we cannot fool God, who knows all our secrets. Instead of shifting blame or trying to hide our guilt, we should accept responsibility for our sins. This will allow us to overcome these sins.

In the section, “Learning Cycle,” the lesson states that fear leads people to attempt control of their environments and other people. Then this statement is made about limits to our freedom:

“Humans are enslaved by sin. We are not born free. We have tendencies toward evil that cannot be overcome by inherent human power. We need a Rescuer. God offers the only true freedom.”

 

Observations

The Bible asks for more than our accepting responsibility for our sins: we are called to “repentance.” In the New Testament, the word means to change one’s mind as well as one’s life. In Acts 2:38, Peter tells the gathered crowd,

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

Peter had just presented Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah, who was executed for their sins, buried, and rose again to life, and exalted to the right hand of God. This was all according to “the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.” Upon hearing the preaching of Christ and Him crucified, the crowd became convicted of their crime in killing Him, and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” This was a cry from their hearts, showing genuine repentance, and a desperate desire for relief from their guilt.

How was this accomplished? Genuine repentance, with real changes of mind, heart, and life, comes only by hearing the message of the crucified Christ, by the power of the Spirit on the heart. We cannot conjure up repentance ourselves, for it is a divine gift. Jesus told his disciples that after He was gone, He would send the Counselor to convict the world of sin (John 17:7). Repentance is not about strong will, firm resolutions, or dogged determination. It is a miracle, accompanied by the hearing of the word, brought into our hearts by His Spirit.

The human heart can repent when Jesus is exalted. At Pentecost, His death for their sins was presented publically, and His Lordship proclaimed:

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Acts 2:36

When they heard these words from Peter, they were given the gift of repentance and faith. They saw Jesus lifted up on the cross for their sins and proclaimed the resurrected Lord of all; they were “cut to the heart,” desiring the forgiveness of sins. Only then could they receive the Holy Spirit and turn from sin.

 

Summary

  1. What we need is repentance, not merely accepting responsibility for our actions.
  2. Repentance includes a change of mind, heart, and life direction.
  3. On the day of Pentecost, the good news of Christ’s death, resurrection, and Lordship were proclaimed. The listeners were convicted of sin, and repented.
  4. Genuine repentance is a miraculous gift, and not something we can produce in ourselves.
  5. When Jesus is exalted as Lord, the Spirit can change hearts.

 

GO TO DAY 4

 

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