On Wednesday 9 March, the majority of Christians in the world observe Ash Wednesday. It is the first day of Lent, the season in which we remember the suffering of Jesus Christ, culminating on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
And then follows the great contrast when we celebrate Easter Sunday with immense joy, remembering the resurrection of our Lord!
Ash Wednesday is primarily a day of repentance – of sorrow because of our sins and the grief it caused our Saviour Jesus Christ, his work and the people with whom we share our lives.
According to the Bible, repentance consists of…
• an earnest sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness;
• an expectation of God's grace and mercy in Jesus Christ, our Saviour;
• an actual hatred of sin itself
• a turning from sin to God; and
• a determined effort seeking a holy life in obediently walking with God.
2 Cor 7:10 - Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
The remorseful understands himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be:
guilty, impure and helpless!
But repentance understands not only such a sense of guilt, but even more importantly, also anticipates grace and mercy,
Psalm 130:4 - But with You there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.
Many millions of Christians will go to church on Ash Wednesday to repent and to receive a message of hope and forgiveness.
At the Centurion West Presbyterian church we meet at 19:00 on 9 March.
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