J Heinrich Arnold-Freedom from sinful thoughts.pdf

FREEDOM FROM SINFUL THOUGHTS - REPENTANCE & REBIRTHThey may be aware of sin in their lives, and at a certainlevel they may struggle in vain, year in and year out, toovercome it. Underneath, however, they feel trapped.They feel their sins are really just “natural,”insurmountable human weaknesses, and so they resignthemselves to this.On the one hand, I have great compassion for suchpeople; on the other, I feel their excuses are whollyindefensible. If I insist that I am too great a sinner – if Idoubt that Christ can really help me –I hinder grace andprevent the Holy Spirit from entering my heart,because I am in actual fact doubting the victory of theresurrection. This doubt must be rejected. After all,Christ’s power lies in this: that he carried the sin of thewhole world, and yet overcame death (1 Jn. 2:2).Christ is always there, and so is the Holy Spirit, and ifany soul cries out to God, it will be heard. It is notwithout reason that Christ calls himself our “Advocate:”there is no one who has as much compassion and lovefor sinners as he does, and he promises that “everyonewho asks will receive…to him who knocks, the door willbe opened.” These promises are there for everyone. Wecannot hide behind our sins and say, “I am too weak,” or“I want to change, but I cannot.” Ultimately, theseexcuses have no foundation.56