Sinning, repentance, and the like

[nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates)]

In article <C092896003647.7534@darkcastle.ecore.fnet.org>,
Dark_Dude <Dark_Dude@darkcastle.ecore.fnet.org> wrote:

[Yes, this is way off topic for comp.sys.apple2, but it was brought
up, and I feel a few misconceptions need to be fixed.]

>The Bible says: if someone does something wrong, forgive him. If he does it
>again, forgive him again. Repeat this 7 times 7 (am not sure about this one)

   Let's look at it in context. From the RSV translation at 
http://www.gospelcom.net/bible, Matthew 18:

15"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault,
between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your
brother.

16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,
that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three
witnesses.

17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he
refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile
and a tax collector.

[Snip]

21Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy
times seven.

   [Of course, verses 15-17 apply to dealings with other Christians.]

   Thus, if the person is desiring of forgiveness and repentance,
they'll get it a lot of times. However, repentance is more than saying
"I messed up," it's "I'm really sorry for what I've done, how can I
make up for it."  [That's the short version of the two Greek words
which are translated as repentance in English-- the first is not what
counts.]

   If you'd like a LOT more detail on this, I've published the notes
for a Bible Study on this topic which I helped lead this spring. Drop
by http://www.visi.com/~nathan/xtian/sinrepent.html  for the full
text. If you'd rather just read a few Bible verses, Luke 3:8 and
2nd Samuel 12:13-15 are good starting points: produce good works
in accordance with your repentance, and sin no more.

   Further theological discussion should be relegated to email. Thank
you.

Nathan Mates

--
<*> Nathan Mates http://www.visi.com/~nathan/      <*>
# What are the facts? Again and again and again-- what are the _facts_?
# Shun wishful thinking, avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors
# think-- what are the facts, and to how many decimal places?  -R.A. Heinlein