GOD'S WORK IN SINNERS

By Curtis Pugh

The Psalmist wrote about his hatred for things false. In Psalm 119:104 he wrote, “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way,” and again in verse 128 of that same Psalm he wrote: “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.”

The Word of God is believed in the heart by the child of God in such a way as to change his or her life. It causes the child of God to hate things false in himself and in religion. This change comes because God has worked in the sinner. We know this because the Psalmist tells us what caused him to treasure, guard and obey the Word of God. In Psalm 119:67 he explains: “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”

Afflicted? In this day of preachers trying to entice people to make shallow professions and pray the magic prayer few speak of the afflictions that come to the inner man. Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted,” (Matthew 5:4). The mourning spoken of by Jesus is not grief for lost loved ones. It is not sadness because of lost possessions or such things. People often endure those losses and never really get over them – they are never comforted. But God comforts those whose hearts He breaks over their sin: over both their sin nature and their acts of sin. Paul wrote of this sorrow worked by God – this “affliction” that causes them to mourn. He said, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death,” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Not heard of “godly sorrow” before? This kind of sorrow works “repentance.” You may have not heard that God requires repentance. But repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ are the demands of the gospel. John the Baptist preached saying, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 3:2). After John's imprisonment Jesus Himself preached the same message for we read: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 4:17). Paul preached “to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Acts 20:21).

Has God afflicted your inner man with “godly sorrow” so that you believe His Word? If so you will not believe those who tell you just to pray a little prayer or make a decision for Christ or be baptized or do this or that or the other thing in order to get in good with God. Those that are born of God are “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God,” (John 1:13). Did you get that? It is not “of the will of man!” “Ye must be born again,” (John 3:7).