To amend this, God’s Word assures all that the Lord is gracious to those who genuinely repent and are resolute in their commitment to forsake their former transgressions. ‘There is no sin that overcomes the humanity of God.’ In contrast, the Lord's justice prevails for those who, due to disbelief or carelessness, refuse to repent, as well as for those who feign repentance but return to grievous sin without fear, while maintaining an unreasonable trust in His goodness. Additionally, there are Christians who repent yet withhold certain sins from confession, driven by shame. Such individuals, as the Apostle states, partake of the Holy Sacrament unworthily, and, as a consequence, become afflicted with various ailments, with some even facing death. The Apostle warns: ‘He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, he drinketh judgment to himself, not considering the body of the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 11:29). Some may argue, how can we avoid sinning when we often stray due to our weakness as if involuntarily? It is essential to distinguish between sin committed out of weakness and a sin that is forgivable, as opposed to carelessness that leads to serious sin. It is commonly known that there are mortal sins and those that are forgivable through words or thoughts. However, true and humble repentance is always necessary, along with a firm resolve not to revert to past sins. The Father's Book encourages us: ‘If you have fallen, rise up; if you fall again, rise up once more!’ Falling is not to be condemned, but remaining in sin is shameful and burdensome. May the Almighty Lord grant us His mighty assistance to persist in genuine and heartfelt repentance in accordance with the Gospel's teaching: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force, and those who strive for it seize it’ (Matthew 11:12), so that we may all receive the boundless mercy of the Son of God, born of the Blessed Virgin. Amen.
THEOSIS