If we stumble...

We have heard the good news that Jesus died for our sins. He was buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead with victory over sin and death. We have obeyed this gospel and have repented of our sins, have been baptized in Jesus name, and have received the gift of His Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).

Then we stumbled and sinned. What are we to do?

When we realize we have failed God, we repent. We turn our back on that sin and commit to live a holy life for Jesus. When we repent, it is not just saying we are sorry, but SINCERELY meaning it and ACTING upon it.

The Bible says true repentance is with godly sorrow.

It came to Apostle Paul’s attention that there was sin going on in the church in Corinth. Paul wrote a letter, they were sorry, and repented.

Here are some verses:

"For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." - 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 KJV

Another translation of these verses:

"I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right." - 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 NLT

What do we do to get the sin we have fallen into out of our life?

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." - James 4:7-10 KJV

"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." - James 4:7-10 NLT

Jesus gave us power when we first received His Holy Ghost. When we stumble, we must repent and get refilled with His Spirit. We need to continually be refilled with His Spirit because it is by His Spirit that we have power over sin.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 KJV

When we have stumbled and failed God, we have hope through repentance. By His goodness, Jesus accepts our true repentance. By His mercy, we can find in Jesus forgiveness and the blessed renewing of His Holy Spirit.