When you teach, you learn even more

Managed to co-teach with Yenmii for this 18-lesson series to our beloved new Christians in Lifegroup. God has blessed us with 4 salvations in UQ6 and so we embarked on imparting basic Christian knowledge to them.

The lesson's on Repentance and Forgiveness!

Overall, by God's grace, I think all of us learnt alot from the lesson. For me, even as I was preparing and teaching, I learnt somethings that are so impt yet overlooked in the past.

1) Repentance is impt because it cleanses us and sets us free, prevents us from becoming more entrapped in sin; prevents separation from God; linked to our ability to experience God's love, grace and freedom; and also affects our ability to love and forgive others.

The part that stood out was the part on how non-repentance actually prevents us from truly loving and forgiving others and in turn, give rise to more sins. This instantly brought back memories of how 3-4 years ago, I found great difficulty in forgiving a fren for what she's done. No matter how hard I tried, there was no full or true forgiveness. Despite the fact that there was no hatred, unforgiveness was lingering in the background. True enough, I ended up hurting her. And until now, it hurts.

We must be right with God in true repentance, before we can effectively love and forgive others.

2) In 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Very profound yet simple. To repent, we need to come before God with a sincere heart to seek forgiveness just like how the sinful woman came to clean Jesus' feet and He forgave her. God sees your heart.

And in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

God is a God who keeps His promises. And when we truly repent our sins, God forgives us that leaves no regret but leads to salvation.

But many (like myself) have been griped with guilt for the sins made. The point is guilt is not from God but one that is worldly sorrow. It's a worldly concept that easily ensnares and hinders in ppl's walk with God. It "brings death".

YM said:" When God convicts us of our sin, He lifts us up, He doesnt do it to bring us down and neither does He do it to condemn us. That's liberation and hope in His discipline."

We are set free before God.

Thank you God!