Monday, October 31, 2016

The Mayor of Casterbridge a Picture of Life

In the last few days Rodger and I have been watching a mini-series from 1978 depicting life in the 1800's that brought an interesting ending showing that repentance must happen continually. The series in 7 parts an hour each, is on the link below and can be seen for free on the internet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch…

It is about a man who messed up regularly , after which he was grieved about himself every time he did so.

It was a picture of our lives as human beings, continually messing up, confessing and desiring to be different, even though we never really reach perfection as we wish, it is in our hearts as believers.

We cannot always judge a man who messes up a lot, as being unsaved. We may not find ourselves doing "the big sins", but our hearts are continually battling sinfulness within them. Those who do not battle sin, thinking they do not have any, are the ones who may possibly not be born again, or a born again believer who walks in pride elevating self to such a degree that they cannot grow or change, they only learn to hide the real them from others.

Those who think they live holy and righteously are depending on their version of works for salvation, unable to confess and turn from what is going on in their heart, often denying that which God sees as in need of repentance.

Romans 7:14-25 "14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold [m]into bondage to sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin."

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