KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:3 KJV” Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,”

After the Lord was condemned to die, Judas realised he had betrayed an innocent blood. He brought the price of the betrayal to the high priest and said “I have betrayed an innocent blood…”He threw the thirty pieces of silver to the floor and left. Judas ultimately ended up committing suicide. Judas was sincerely remorseful yet his repentance was not complete. He was not free from the guilt of sin. Repentance is complete when we accept our forgiveness from the Lord. The scripture said, we must confess our sins, for God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Judas was under the impact of condemnation and guilt. He could not forgive himself and so he could not accept Christ forgiveness. His repentance was therefore incomplete.

Dear one, are you free from your wrong actions? Various people are not free because they do not go through a complete repentance. What is a complete repentance? It is the act of being convicted of your sins such that you ask the Lord for forgiveness, and accept His forgiveness by faith, then you change your mind completely about your actions, or you stop that action outright. The end result of a complete repentance is a changed mind, changed action with a free heart and mind. The sign that the Holy Spirit is in charge of one’s life and heart is joy and peace. Romans 14:17 KJV” For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Dear one, the reign of the Holy Spirit in your life is when the following virtues manifest in you, righteousness, peace and joy. If you are truly repented from your ways, then you are no longer in charge of yourself, but the Holy Spirit is.

The following are the reasons many are not truly at peace or the Holy Spirit is not in charge of their lives. They confess their sins, yet they still hold on to those wrong ways.

Some are indeed very remorseful, and change their actions, but do not accept Christ forgiveness, and so carry the sense of guilt.

There is a third group, they are those who confess their wrong ways, accept that they are forgiven, yet they do not change their ways. In all these three cases the Holy Spirit cannot rule their lives. Dear one, you can be totally free. Make a complete repentance today.

THOUGHT: RIGHTEOUSNESS, JOY AND PEACE ARE NOT HUMANLY MANUFACTURED, BUT THROUGH THE REIGN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the blood of my Lord Jesus, that washes away all my sins, I walk in the light of the word, and am filled with the Holy Spirit, who manifests righteousness, peace and joy in my life.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 8:14 KJV” For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”.

Galatians 5:1 KJV” Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”