This concept relates to the area previously designated as “grows in holiness” (part 10). The disciple of Christ becomes sensitive to sin, sees more sin than ever before in his life, hates the sin more and therefore learns to repent daily (if not momentarily) as a way of life. Confession and repentance are absolutely essential for living a life of victory in the Christian life. Once the believer becomes aware of sin, he must acknowledge it with honest introspection, confess it before the Lord, give thanks that Christ has paid for and covered the sin and then with wholehearted resolve, turn from the sin. Failure in the Christian life is inevitable. Nevertheless, Satan will get the upper hand if the believer doesn’t abhor his sin, grieve over it (as the Holy Spirit grieves over it) and, casting himself upon Christ, turn from it. When a person says he is a Christian but he also exhibits a cavalier attitude toward his personal sin, something is wrong. A repentant spirit is a fruit of the Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life. David expresses this essential Christian attitude in Psalm 32:
1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Confession (honesty about specific sin), repentance (passion to turn away from all sin, especially persistent, nagging sins) and the relief of forgiveness that is found in Christ is a great means of living confidently in the Spirit and overcoming the pull of sin’s downward spiral.
