Bible Question:

I have been searching your site to help me understand Matt. 5:4 which says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ” I discovered that true followers of Christ mourn their sin. In fact, the word Jesus used for mourn, Pentheo, refers to an “ongoing condition of mourning. ” My question is: we are told by many preachers that we should not dwell on our sin, that it is Satan trying to make us think that we are not saved. This being said, how then do we continually mourn?

Bible Answer:

Jesus was not talking about a morbid sorrow that results in a person becoming depressed, discouraged, and feeling hopeless. A follower of Jesus who becomes depressed and discouraged has forgotten that God has forgiven his/her sins. Yet, we should not become comfortable with sin. Some who claim to be Christians – followers of Jesus – are very comfortable with anger, gossip, power-plays, office-theft, pride, bragging, fighting, flattery, lust, sexual sins, pornography, breaking promises, and a variety of other sins. A quick review of the Bible questions at this website will reveal that some Christians are very comfortable with their sins.

Unfortunately, some Christians, including preachers and teachers, do not agree with Jesus. They encourage us to be become insensitive to our sins. The apostle Paul struggled with his sin. He was sensitive, but he also rejoiced in God’s forgiveness. Jesus was not talking about a preoccupation with sin, but a sorrow that occurs when we sin, which leads us to confession. The Apostle shows this balance in the following passage.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (NASB) Rom. 7:24-8:1

Paul mourned his sin, rejoiced in Jesus his Savior and Lord, and remembered that he was no longer condemned. He was at peace with God.

Conclusion:

Ongoing mourning should occur anytime a follower of Jesus sins. If you repeat the sin, you should be in sorrow again. Mourn when you sin and rejoice after you confess the sin to God. You are forgiven and destined for heaven.

The holier a man becomes, the more he mourns the unholiness which remains in him. – Spurgeon

Rejoice that you are forgiven. Checkout these verses.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Ps. 51:7 (NASB)

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Ps. 103:12 (NASB)

Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 (NASB)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NASB)

Suggested Links:

Blessed are the mourners
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Healing Starts Here
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