EN－①－A－004－1/3　Basic Teaching English　2026(ver.9)　A group　Relationship with God

04 Repentance　2025/06/21

(HTLM) (WORD)

(Point) Removing what hinders your relationship with God (especially sin in this case)
Regarding the forgiveness of others, I would like to address it in Course 2 (B), which deals with human relationships.

[02]

"Salvation" can be received instantly when you believe in Christ. All the sins committed in the past and those you will commit in the future are forgiven. You may still sin, but you are no longer a slave to sin.
Even God Himself forgets our past sins (Micah 7:19).

[03]

Therefore, we should also not need to remember them. However, after being saved, there may be a need to deal with past matters over time. That’s because Satan accuses us using our past. To avoid giving the enemy a foothold between your conscience and yourself, it may help your spiritual walk to confess your sins before God as needed.

[04]

1) All people are sinners
As mentioned earlier, sin is a matter of heart nature. Even if you have immoral thoughts, the law does not punish you, but the Bible says, “Anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Thus, even if it’s not against human law, it is still sin in God's eyes.

[05]

Likewise, envying others or having a competitive spirit is not pleasing to God.
In this sense, every person has some kind of sinful heart nature.

[06]

2) Repentance of sin
The act of breaking the chains of sin is called "repentance."
Repentance is not just recalling past deeds and feeling sad about them.
A thief was caught and crying loudly. When asked why, he said, “My shoe came off while escaping, so I couldn’t run fast. I'm frustrated.” That’s regret, not repentance.

[07]

Also, merely stopping the bad behavior is not enough.
There was someone who constantly envied and resented others. But after winning big at horse racing, he felt financially secure for a while and stopped envying others.

[08]

However, that was only a break from envy?not true repentance. Since the sinful heart nature hadn’t changed, once the money runs out?or regardless of money?he will likely envy others again.

[09]

The meaning of the word “repentance” is to turn in the opposite direction from the way you were going. So it is not just about stopping the wrong actions.

[10]

3) A change of direction and fruit of repentance
Ephesians 4:28) He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

[11]

The Bible tells us not just to stop stealing but to become a giver.
This means that the direction of a person’s life has changed completely. If one has truly repented, the fruit of that repentance will be evident in their actions.

[12]

4) Confession of sin
(Psalm 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 32:4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”?and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah)

[13]

Today many people are mentally burdened, feeling guilt and rejection. One cause may be hidden sin or impure thoughts. But if you confess your sins to God, you can receive forgiveness.

[14]

Until the Middle Ages, people were taught they could not have a direct relationship with God and had to confess their sins to a priest for forgiveness to be valid. But that teaching is not correct. Christians are a priesthood of all believers, and “if anyone directly confesses to God, they can receive forgiveness.”

[15]

However, even after personally praying and confessing repeatedly to God, sometimes one may still struggle to be freed from sin's temptation or feel assured of forgiveness.
That’s because Satan sometimes whispers lies like, “You are not truly forgiven yet.”
The name Satan means “the accuser” (Revelation 12:10).

[16]

Zechariah 3:1) ...Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him... 3:3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. (abridged)... “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.”

[17]

Even though we are forgiven, we may still feel guilt or physical weakness. In such cases, we may need to use every method God has provided. This is when the church community truly comes into play.

[18]

5) Deliverance and community
Having a personal connection with God is a truth won during the 16th-century Reformation. But if someone says, “I don't need any help from other Christians” or “I don’t need to share my weaknesses or sins with anyone,” that’s an extreme stance.

[19]

The Bible says this:
(James 5:16) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

[20]

As this verse shows, even if forgiveness or healing is not fully experienced through your relationship with God alone, it can effectively happen within community relationships.
That’s because God’s plan is not just for individuals to connect directly to Him, but for people to be connected to each other and together be connected to God (Matthew 18:20) “Where two or three are gathered...”

[21]

“If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

[22]

■The Power of Community
(Galatians 6:2) Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

[23]

The "law of Christ" differs from the Old Testament law. It is the essence of what God desires from people. Although human deeds cannot meet God’s standards, God's requirement is “to bear each other’s burdens,” meaning “to remain in community.” By doing so, one is seen as fulfilling the law.

[24]

[25]

This healing through community is effective for deliverance from past trauma, bad experiences, wrongful spiritual covenants, and bondage caused by unforgiveness.

[26]

Also, for deliverance from addictions, it is effective to bring the issue into the light (by telling others and praying together). If anything comes to mind, it may be helpful to share with someone you trust.