2 Corinthians 10:4-6 English Standard Version

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, ⁶ being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

When they preach the Good News they don’t tell us this.

Ephesians 4:1-3 English Standard Version

¹ I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Rebellion is not a good word. We did not think ourselves to be in rebellion with God when we sought mercy from the Lord. We were only thinking about being set free from the pain with no consideration for the cause of the pain. We were held captive by the flesh and being torn away from the flesh is a painful process.

God in all His mercy and grace is kind and gentle as we finally find peace with God. Peace comes at a price which is not evident at first. As babes in Christ we are held in gentle arms that protect us and make us feel safe.

Then we grow up in Christ and as we do we come to know the truth. He captured us with His love but captives we are and He is Lord even if we did not know it at first.

We know Christ line upon line precept upon precept. All that Christ is in identity, personality, and Lordship is in the Word. Our first perceptions of His touch on us is found in the bible.

If we believe we know it all, we fool ourselves. We are meant to be full of Christ not full of ourselves.

He loves us and will not force Himself on us, we need only surrender.

Luke 18:9-14 English Standard Version

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed^{[prayed to himself]} thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We might see a few things clearly here that identify the nature of a sinner’s prayer.

First is the pious individual who prays to himself. His pride is quick to point to the sins of others and declare that he is better than others. He boasts of good things as if his salvation can be bought.

The tax collector in this example does not name his sins but confesses his condition when he begs for mercy. This man understands that forgiveness of sin is the purview of God and God alone. He does not compare himself with others nor does he try to justify himself.

The last thing seen here is while begging for mercy our Lord justifies the man. So often we seek forgiveness and the Lord gives us what we need even if we do not understand it. Justification comes first. Salvation and sanctification are renewed day after day, as needed. Justification is performed only once in our first moments of surrender.