The Word of the Day is "repentance." Repentance is not just a mere acknowledgment of sin but a deep, heartfelt sorrow for it, a turning away from it, and a resolution to live a life more in line with God's will.
In contrast to repentance, sin not only commits transgressions but also tries to excuse them. Humans have various ways of rationalizing, overlooking, and trivializing their wrongs and offenses, even when judging others who do the same. But in our reading of Romans 1:28-2:9 today, Paul declares unequivocally, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself" (OSB vs. 2:1).
Today, Paul cuts through all the ways that humans dismiss the seriousness of their sins and disregard the certainty of divine judgment against them. We learn from Paul that we might think we have escaped God's anger for our transgression. But God's judgment is inevitable and inescapable. The reason for the Almighty's forbearance is that He is giving us time to repent and amend our lives.
The folly of Condemning Others While Excusing Ourselves
It is the height of foolishness to condemn others for doing what we ourselves have done. Criticizing, blaming, and accusing others is a sure sign that we have stored our sins away in a forgotten chamber of our minds and banished the thought of God's righteous judgment.
We may excuse ourselves by thinking that our sins are not "that bad" or that the Almighty will overlook them. But in our reading, Paul repeats a clear and undisputable Word of scripture: "God… will render to each one according to His deeds" (OSB 2:6). The Lord himself said the same: "For the Son of Man will come in the glory and His Father with His angels and then He will reward each according to his works" (OSB Matthew 16:27).
We Must Appear Before the Judgment Seat of Christ
So, likewise, Paul said, "For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (OSB 2 Cor 5:10). And in John's revelation, the Book of Life was opened, "and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the book" (OSB Revelation 20:12).
No, God's final evaluation of our lives is as certain as our death. His judgment is assured because our sins are, in fact, an affront to His holiness. St. John Chrysostom says, "If men do not overlook these things [our wrongs], how should God make an oversight?" (NFPf1"11, 361-62).
For Reflection
Therefore, we should not discount the certainty of God's judgment. Yes, God is longsuffering, but God has suspended His case against us only to give us time for repentance. If God has not yet punished us, it is because of his goodness.
Our Only Recourse and Defense
Since we cannot put it off, we have only one recourse, only one "good defense before the awesome Judgment Seat of Christ" (St-Tikhon's 1984, 74). That last resort is the Cross of Christ. Thus, Paul says that the Lord Jesus "Has made us alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses) (OSB Colossians 2:1). Moreover, Paul teaches that the Lord has erased the handwriting of requirements against us, which was contrary to us (OSB Colossians 2:14). The word handwriting refers to a legal bond, a signed document of the obligation to pay a debt (Strong's #5498, 271). The Lord not only bore our sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), but he "wiped away" the debt God required of our sins. He expunged the conviction of the Law that once consigned us to His wrath. Consequently, Paul declares, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
But note that we can only access this release from the divine censure of our sins through repentance. When we face the wrath of God over our sins, we can only appeal to the mercy of God in Christ. But with repentance comes the amendment of life. The sincerity of our repentance is shown by our tears of sorrow over our offenses against God and our change of life. Therefore, Chrysostom says, "God showeth His goodness that you may get free from your sins, not that you may add to them" (NfPf1:11, 361).
Repentance does not excuse sin, nor does it presume on the mercy of God. But as it recalls and admits wrongdoing, it remembers and confesses the faith in the work of Christ for our salvation.
Shame Prompts Repentance
St. Nicholai Velimirovic said: 'Repentance is the abandoning of all false paths that have been trodden by men's feet, and men's thoughts and desires, and a return to the new path: Christ's path. But how can a sinful man repent unless he, in his heart, meets with the Lord and knows his own shame? Before little Zacchaeus saw the Lord with his eyes, he met Him in his heart and was ashamed of all his ways' (St. Nikolai Velimirovic). A sinful man has shame when he knows his guilt and fears the Lord, who has seen all he has done. This shame is not to be feared, but embraced, for it is the first step towards repentance and a return to Christ's path.
Works Cited
St-Tikhon's. 1984. Service Books of the Orthodox Church. Third ed. South Canaan, PA: St. Tikhon's Monastery Press.
St. Nikolai Velimirovic, "The Thirty-Second Sunday After Pentecost: The Gospel on Repentant Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1.)
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