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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