Most of us New Covenant chosens struggle at the beginning of our life
and sometimes even decades later, because unexpected obstacles can
come before us. In the picture, first one runner fell and two other runners also
tripped over him. The preacher of heresy especially misleads those who do
not know the teachings of the Bible and takes them with him into darkness.
How do regret and repentance differ from each other?
At least in such a way that a regret person does not always have the strength of spirit to repent of a sin that he has been driven to commit from an early age, due to his family background or the circle of friends in which he has grown crooked before coming to faith. Such growth environments include children of alcoholic and drug addict families and young people who have become members of criminal street gangs.
I carefully researched which word in Luke 17:3-4 is used in the Greek Novum (Textus Receptus). In it, the Greek word "metanoeõ" translates as: 'to think differently', 'repent' or 'regret', and 'to change one's mind'. That's why I choose the word 'regret' from the options in Luke 17:3-4. I noticed that the word 'repent' is used in all the English translations. Why? All Nordic translations use the word 'regret' instead.
However, it is obvious that a person who transgresses against his brother seven times a day is not able to repent, because repenting requires willpower, which he does not yet have enough of. Instead, he is able to say that he regrets his transgression and that is sufficient as a condition for forgiveness. In this case, we have mercy on those who are still weak in their faith.
The goal, of course, is that someone who often commits the same sin is guided to break away from such of evil. He should be nurtured as a spiritual baby who needs a lot of prayer, love and teaching to completely get rid of such sin. First after that he can begin to grow in the life of sanctification and finally develop into an acceptable 'worker' in the vineyard of Adonai Yeshua.
What's the harm in failures in general?
We can fail in many different ways. Some fail in their human relationships, in their studies, and others in their work. However, the worst thing is if we fail in our race for faith, because it can depress and paralyze us so that we withdraw like a turtle into its shell, blame ourselves, and no longer wholeheartedly love the work of spreading the message of salvation.
Without love, all our good deeds are dead, even if they help those in need. Without agape love, I would be only as a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Therefore, if we have failed in our faith journey, we should regret and reflect on the reasons that have led to it and repent. Some have aspired too soon to too demanding spiritual or secular work and, despite great efforts and many prayers, have failed completely.
In order to prevent such a spiritual loss, the congregations should pay enough attention to the teaching of the Apostle Paul regarding the selection of the congregation's pastor: 1 Tim. 3:6
>>He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.<<
The apostle James warned those who would be set for the position of teachers: James 3:1
>>Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely.<<
We also need patience and endurance so that we don't wallow in self-pity and lie on the ground, but we should get up right away and continue our fight for faith and run the racetrack of life, like the Finnish Olympic champion Lasse Virén did in 1972:
>>Lasse Virén was born in Eastern Uusimaa in 1949. He is still one of Finland's most famous athletes in the world. He won the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at consecutive Olympics in 1972 and 1976. In 1972, the victory came by 10,000 meters, although he crashed on the way.<<
What is the use of failures?
Often the reason for failures is that they and adversity are given by our Creator, so that we remember to rely on him alone in everything and ask him for guidance in everything. That is, even to the smallest things. This request for guidance and prayer concerns human relationships, studies, choosing a job, doing work and especially our activities among his chosen ones!
A believing brother who trusted only in his own abilities and completely failed in his work in the end was surprised that when he finally understood to pray before starting even the smallest task, he was surprised how a wonderful blessing began to rest on his work and life! I have already learned the same as a young believer, when Adonai Yeshua led me to several almost impossible professions!
After all, I worked in several such workplaces, for which my education was not enough to begin with, and neither was my language skills. That's why I always learned to pray every morning before going to work for protection and help, so that I would be able to cope with work tasks with honor. Some unbelieving colleagues and especially superiors, who often did not value my work experience, brought their own burden to my working life.
I have learned that no one should aim for too high a position or too demanding tasks in working life, and also that if you 'unwillingly' end up in such a position and such jobs, then the only way to survive with honor is devout and constant prayer, even in situations where no longer there doesn't even seem to be any hope of success. I know from experience that even then prayer helps!
Did our Creator learn anything from the fall of man?
Humorously, I can imagine that he might have thought immediately after the fall of man: "Oh, what a mess this turned out to be! If only I had foreseen it, I would never have created man!" (I will explore this topic in more detail in my sabbatical bible study to be published next week)
Perhaps he learned to love us more than before, us his creatures completely corrupted by sin(?) The culmination of his love was that he gave his Son as a sin offering for us. He first asked his Son in heaven if he would agree to be our substitute sacrifice? Ps. 2:8 >>Ask me, and I will give you the heathen (all nations) as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property.<<
His Son agreed to it and answered His Father in heaven, before he was born as a man on earth: Ps. 40:6-8 >>6 Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me! You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings. 7 Then I say, "Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me. 8 I want to do what pleases you, my Elohim. Your law dominates my thoughts."<<
Let us turn our eyes to our substitute and sin offering, Yeshua HaMashiach, who loves us with perfect love, who took all our sin debts on his shoulders and took them with him to the grave and cast them into the depths of the seas, as far as the east is from the west. He will wipe them out once and for all, and remember them no more if we accept him as our Savior and Redeemer.
The love of our Heavenly Father, Yehowah Elohim, was revealed to us in that he gave his dearest Son as our Redeemer. That is what Yeshua HaMashiach himself taught: John 3:16
>>For Elohim so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.<<
Songs suitable for the topic
Please note: Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri
Into Your Hands
Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me
Rock of Ages
How Great Thou Art
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
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