DAILY TEXT, Today Wednesday, September 13, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son (Luke 15:21).

DAILY TEXT, Today  Wednesday, September 13, 2023,  Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son (Luke 15:21).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2023

Wednesday, September 13

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son (Luke 15:21).

Jesus told a moving story about a lost son, which we can read in Luke 15:11-32. A young man rebelled against his father, left his home and “traveled to a far country.” There he led a riotous life. But, when problems came, he began to reflect on what he had done and realized how good it was in his father's house. As Jesus said, the young man “came to his senses.” He decided to go back and ask his father to forgive him. It was important for him to understand that he had made many bad decisions, but he had to make changes. The lost son showed that he was truly sorry. This parable is more than a moving story. It teaches some principles that can help elders determine whether someone who has committed a serious sin is truly repentant. w21.10 5 paras. 14, 15.

Why is it not easy for elders to determine if someone has truly repented?

It is not easy for elders to determine whether someone who has committed a grave sin is now truly repentant. Why not? Because they can't read hearts, so they have to try to find evidence that the brother has completely changed and now hates what he did. In some cases, the person may have sinned so blatantly that the elders who meet with him are not convinced that his repentance is true.

What example shows that a sinner may not be truly sorry even though he says he feels very bad? And what should the person who is truly sorry do? (2 Corinthians 7:11).

Let's look at an example. A brother commits adultery for many years. Instead of asking for help, he hides his immoral behavior from his wife, his friends, and his elders. But one day the elders find out what he has done. When they tell him that they have evidence that he has committed adultery, he admits it and even seems to feel very bad about it. Does that show that he is repentant? No. Without a doubt, the elderly need to see something else. This person did not commit a single sin on an isolated occasion, but rather he sinned gravely many times over many years. Furthermore, he did not confess voluntarily, but someone found out and told the elders. So they need to see evidence that the sinner has actually changed the way he thinks, feels, and acts (read 2 Corinthians 7:11). It may take you a long time to make the necessary changes to show that you are truly sorry. So it is very likely that he will be expelled from the congregation (1 Cor. 5:11-13; 6:9, 10).

How does an expellee demonstrate that he is truly repentant, and what will be the result?

How does an expelled person show that he is truly repentant? He should attend meetings regularly and follow the elders' advice to have good habits of prayer and Bible study. He must also do everything possible to avoid things that could lead him back to sin. If he works to repair his relationship with Jehovah, he can be sure that he will completely forgive him and that the elders will help him return to the congregation. Of course, elders know that each case is unique, so they carefully analyze each situation and try not to judge harshly.

What is a truly repentant sinner to do? (Ezekiel 33:14-16).

As we have seen, the truly repentant sinner does not just have to say that he feels very bad about what he has done. He also has to change his way of thinking and feeling, and demonstrate it with actions. He must abandon his bad behavior and return to obeying Jehovah's standards (read Ezekiel 33:14-16). For him, the most important thing should be to restore his good relationship with Jehovah.

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