Page 49 - GRACE

GRACE, Exploring Its Riches

If you are familiar with the story, then you remember that
Peter ought to have used the opportunity of Gethsemane to
pray about what Jesus had revealed about him. He neither
prayed, nor was even thoughtful about the matter. Sadly,
that very night, he denied the Lord three times just as the
Lord predicted. But here is the point. Having sinned by his
denial of the Lord, what Peter did afterwards in verse 75
was commendable.

“And Peter remembered the word of Jesus
who had said to him, “Before the rooster
crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he
went out and wept bitterly.”

Was Peter’s bitter cry mere crocodile tears, a spontaneous
reaction to ordinary remorse just to free his heart from
guilt? I say no; because, Peter proved his sincere repentance
by ever after cleaving to the Lord. Believers who fall into
temptation and sinned, whether deliberately or not, should
follow the example of Peter by repenting from their sins,
trusting in the mercy and love of God. Two scriptures by
Apostle John in his general epistle assure us of God’s
pardon and cleansing again:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness... My little children, these things
I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if
anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He

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