ThewordrepentanceinGreekis metanoiawhichmeanschangeyour thinking. In other words tune into God’s will rather than your own. Change your view or orientation in life and set course for heaven. The primary reason that Christ, as God, became Man, and entered our world was to redeem us from our sins. The word redeemmeanstopayback.Another term is atonement: at – one -ment. All sin has been redeemed, including original sin, and paid for by the Precious Blood of ourSaviourontheCross.InJulywe honour the Blood of Christ. A debt was owing on humanity and the Lord Jesus willinglyofferedhimselfastheblood Sacrifice to wipe away all sin. This is what we mean by justification. One should not confuse redemption with sanctificationorsalvation.Theyare connected as a foot is to the leg – yet remain distinct. One may lose their foot but retain their leg. All are redeemed but notallwillbesaved.Redemption occurredwithoutusbutsalvation requires our effort. Our holiness or path to heaven involves a constant effort to work with God’s grace and avoid sin. Sin be it personal or original prevents us frombeingunitedtoGod;itisan obstacle to heaven. Even the baptized, onceoriginalsinhasbeenremoved, need to repent dailyof personal sins.
