TEXT: PSALM 51:17, 3 MATT. 26:69-75, 1 TIM. 1:15, HOSEA 10:12

BIBLE COLLEGE—first learned of “Christian Perfection”

COUNTERING POSITION—“a ‘sense of sin’ is necessary for any real Christian growth”

NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE

FROM OUR HYMNBOOK: “I WANT A PRINCIPLE WITHIN”

“I want a principle within of watchful, godly fear,A sensibility to sin, a pain to feel it near.”

ILL.-----I became convinced after returning to the church that I had somehow committed the unpardonable sin mentioned in the Bible

WALKING ON AIR—BACKSLIDE—DEEP DESPAIR

NO AMOUNT OF COUNSELING—would convince me otherwise

UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN THERE OR IN A SIMILAR SITUATION, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE

I FIND MYSELF IDENTIFYING WITH PETER MORE THAN I EVER USED TO

--and as I’ve been looking at Peter lately, I’ve been struck by one detail in his denial that never occurred to me before—none of the details we have of the girl by the fire, the rooster crowing—Peter would have paid it little attention at all, had it not been for Jesus’ wordsIN FACT, PETER MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN ON A PATH THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY TAKE HIM FAR AWAY FROM FAITH, AND PERHAPS EVEN ON A SIMILAR PATH TO JUDAS

--Jesus had planted a seed that wound up being the key factor in determining what would happen at that pivotal point

I WAS REMINDED—of the place in Revelation where Jesus addresses the churches, and tells the church at Laodicea:

“I wish you were either hot or cold”

GOD HAS NO PROBLEM WITH HOT OR COLD

--either way, hot or cold ppl are committed, all He has to do is get them pointed the right way (like Paul)

IT’S WHEN WE’RE LUKEWARM THAT THE TROUBLE STARTS

--take a hotplate and drop an ice cube on it

and watch what happens

MAYBE A GOOD PRAYER FOCUS FOR LENT WOULD BE “LORD, MAKE US HOTPLATE CHRISTIANS”

WHETHER WE CALL IT ”a sense of sin,” “a sensitivity to sin,” “a tender conscience,” or whatever

LET’S OPEN OUR HEARTS DURING THESE 40 DAYS FOR GOD TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US A RENEWED SENSE OF WHICH THINGS ARE THAT ARE PLEASING TO HIM, AND WHICH ARE NOT