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Bible Repentance: Path to Love - Robert J. Wieland

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claims <strong>to</strong> be “covered” with the righteousness of<br />

Christ are empty and futile. If we would accept the<br />

gracious provision that “in Christ shall all be made<br />

alive” we must recognize the equal truth that “in<br />

Adam all die.”<br />

This simple truth found in the New Testament<br />

shatters selfesteem and complacency. Once let<br />

Paul’s truth of corporate identity be recognized, we<br />

begin <strong>to</strong> appreciate something of the guilt of the<br />

sins of the world and our smug superiority is<br />

melted down <strong>to</strong> deep contrition and love for “every<br />

repenting sinner” on the face of the earth.<br />

Immediately we feel in our hearts that we are<br />

“deb<strong>to</strong>r both the Greeks, and <strong>to</strong> the barbarians.”<br />

The miracle of miracles takes place in our proud<br />

lukewarm hearts: we begin <strong>to</strong> love sinners exactly<br />

like Christ loves them.<br />

To make this very practical, how did Christ<br />

love sinners? If He were <strong>to</strong> come in<strong>to</strong> our churches<br />

<strong>to</strong>day, we might be scandalized.<br />

He “recognized no distinction of nationality, or<br />

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