Identifcational Repentance

IDENTIFCATIONAL REPENTANCE

This term was made popular a few years ago by Peter Wagner, and simply means that we can "identify" with the sins of others, especially those of our ancestors, and repent of that sin. This act will not change their standing with God, but can affect the circumstances that have been a result of their sin! Probably the best examples in scripture of this type of prayers of repentance for the sins of their for-fathers would be (Dan 9:3-19), and (Neh 9:1-38). In both of these passages we see where they identified with the past sins that had been committed by their ancestors. This act on their part apparently satisfied God that they were serious about these sins, and He moved to change their immediate circumstances. We may not be aware that the sins of others can affect our walk with the Lord, but it is a fact!

 

Satan is identified as the first sinner, when he tried to introduce a "second will" in heaven as recorded in (Isaiah 14:12-14). Up until that time there was never a thought of anything but God's perfect will in heaven. We read that Satan made 5 declarations of his will, which included "I will be like the Most High". God could not allow this rebellion, nor have a "second will", that opposed His will to exist in His Kingdom, so we know the result was the expulsion of Lucifer and the angels under his control from the presence of Almighty God! Satan apparently set up his own kingdom in opposition to the "Kingdom of God", and started a "cosmic war" that continues to this day. These two kingdoms exist side by side in our present world, so that we can have a choice as to which kingdom we want to be part of. Paul explains the effect of the existence of these two kingdoms in his letters. For example (Eph 2:1-10), and (Col 1:9-18), and makes it clear that we can be saved from Satan's kingdom, and transferred into the Kingdom of God! The choice is always up to us. God never forces us to do things against our human will. If He did we would be nothing more than a robot that He could program to only do His will. That fact that He created us with a free will allows us to make choices. Sometimes we make "right choices", and other times we make "wrong choices"! God knew we would not always make right choices so He made provision for us to be forgiven for our wrong choices. Read (1 John 1:5-10) for God's formula for dealing with sin in our lives. God is Holy, and cannot look on sin except through "the blood" of His Son. This blood must be applied to our lives to be effective, and this can only be done by confessing our sin and turning away from it "completely"!!If you haven't done that yet, I would encourage you to do it today!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer