×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Remission of sins; Apostle Paul case study

Opinion & Analysis
Christianity functions on a higher level, that of spiritual reality. God the Father is Spirit and we worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

By Erasmus Makarimayi

FOR naive Christians, it sounds and feels very religious and full of piety to confess sins. Religion sweetens the mind, dealing with senses.

Christianity functions on a higher level, that of spiritual reality. God the Father is Spirit and we worship Him in Spirit and Truth. At my level, I don’t waste precious time with religious people because I know 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The Gospel presents the truth, evil and falsehood can’t stand that.

I have painstakingly on this platform shown the Grace of God our Father how He relishes in confession by believers in the finished work of Christ. Exegetically I have went through text of Scripture to establish that confession of sins doesn’t take you to heaven but confession of Jesus Christ does. We’re beneficiaries and partakers of the New Covenant between God and Himself in Christ Jesus. Sins are remembered no more. Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Jesus died for sins past, present and future. Yes I said so; past, present and future. He died before you were born, future sins.

Repentance which is change of mind is preaching the Gospel. It’s not a sinner’s prayer going through a list of past sins of omission and commission, knowingly and unknowingly, intentionally and unintentionally, etc. A misrepresentation of the Gospel, keeps comers bound. Jesus laid the foundation to the disciples, Luke 24:46-47, “[46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Proper preaching fills hearts of hearers with the love of God and leads to confession of Christ.

The writer of Hebrews is very blunt. Hebrews 10:18, establishes, “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” Jesus is our sin offering. 2 Corinthians 5:21, states, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” We’re righteous in Christ not in confession of sins and good acts/deeds of human or self effort. Apostle Paul also known previously as Saul knew this. You remember that he persecuted the church and was so full of religious zeal without knowledge to the extent of seeing to it that he was witness to the martyrdom of Stephen.

He was brutal. Acts 8:1, records, “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” After his confession, hear his testimony in 2 Corinthians 7:2, “Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.” He wronged no one. That’s righteousness consciousness. It’s knowledge of the grace of God and the finished or accomplished work of Christ Jesus.

Ananias who preached to him didn’t go through a list of his past sins and showed him how hellfire was waiting for him. He didn’t accuse but showed Him the heart of the Father. Acts 9:17, reads, “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.” Wrong presentation of the Gospel results in wrong believing. Be warned and watch out.

There are believers who stay years in the church with no interest in witnessing to the world because their own salvation was a result of threats. They’re living in fear and fear is not of faith but of the devil. If you’re a minister, please for Christ’s sake, free His flock which He purchased by His own blood. When the Grace of God, the Good News of Jesus Christ or His Glad Tidings is presented to you and you receive and believe, immediately you’re on fire to share the same. Here’s Paul’s response in Acts 9:19-20, “[19] And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. [20] And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” That’s the Grace of God.

When we experience the love of God, we stop the Pharisaic threats and lies of having gone to heaven and seeing many Christians in hell. Jesus admonished in Matthew 23:13, New King James, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” That’s enough for the wise. 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, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.