Agree?
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Leadership on Apr 15th, 2011 | 10 commentsThis quote from Mark Dever, given at the 2009 Pastors Conference on the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian:
The difference between a Christian and non-Christian: When a non-Christian is convicted of sin, he sides with his sin. When a Christian is convicted of sin, he sides with God, against himself.”
Do you agree? Â Is this a good definition?
Please take a moment to leave a comment…
Thanks,
Todd
HT: Â DesiringGod
10 Responses to “ “Agree?”
Leave a Reply
Hmmmmmm…..I guess none of us would fit the bill then…..
So I’ve been chewing on this for a couple days trying to figure out what deeper meaning there is to tease out of the quote. I don’t think Mark Dever was saying this is the sum total of what a Christian is, but this principle is at the heart of Christian repentance.
I guess I don’t see what you are asking us to agree or disagree on?
For me it is an all too painful truth, it is like Paul wrote about the reality of the Christian Redeemed/Sinner dichotomy struggle in the book of Romans with me specifically in mind.
Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
“Sin” The one thing we all have in common yet the one thing no one wants to talk about. This statmetn from Bro. Denver makes perfect sense, If you become convicted of an area in your life that God says is sin, as a Christian you say “Yes God i recognize that short coming in my life as sin, I through the word will change the way I think about that particular thing and I turn it over to you.”
The problem with most of the American church is they have no idea what it means to trully repent. Becasue we’ve been taught for years that it means “to Turn and go the other direction.” But REPENT is the Greek Word “Metanoia” that means- to change the way you think. Most modern fundamentalist in the church are to obstructed by Humanistic thinking to ever surrender thier mind to the mind and will of Christ. So they hide behind a mis-interpretation of Paul to justify not changing the way they live.
But don’t you think it is ONLY because of Jesus that we are made right with God….I don’t think WE can change our sinful nature and change the way WE think on our own. We need to trust and rely on the power of the cross to do that work in our lives. If we could change the way we live and think on our own by OUR obedience we wouldn’t need the redemptive work of Christ. Just something I am trying to process through myself….
“Metanoia†means to change your mind afterwards. I’m guessing the afterwards part has to do with being realigned after encountering the truth illuminated by Jesus.
Yes…and I do agree we need to think on whatever is pure, lovely and right. I guess I was just taken back by the statement…” the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian….”
I think we ALL sin and just because you are a Christian doesn’t mean you become perfect in your obedience. The difference would be that the Christian is right and pure before God because of Jesus and the non- Christian isn’t. Something that I think a lot of our churches have sadly forget to mention.
So maybe I am just making more out of the statement then what was intended because of course we should hear the voice of God and obey. Like I said…that is just where I am at and what I am trying to process.
*forgotten
I do agree with that good quote. Of course there are exceptions. I have observed many people both within and outside churches, that would identify themselves as Christians, yet when seemingly convicted of sin, do not take the God side but get mad and keep on sinning.
Kim, you are right it is absolutly based on Jesus Christ and He alone.
When you get born again through excepting Christs finish work on the cross you are at that point “righteous” (in right standing with God)
You can never be more saved and on your way to heaven than you are at that point. You become innocent again. But God requires “Holiness” which is a level a purity and maturity as a Christian. Holiness comes from making a daily choice to be more like Jesus and less like your old sinful human nature.
We can not change oursleves but His word can change you.
As far as the afterwards part of “repentance that has to do with being realigned after encountering the truth illuminated by Jesus. Thats pretty elementry sin’t it?
I agree with this, on both questions or statements. I believe we side with God in how he sees us…that we are a sinner even after conversion and since His mercies are new everyday, we know that the atonement is ongoing.