Are you still checking for responses? I'm new to this website and group. I apologize that no one could manage an encouraging word for you before now.

You are right. God does know what is in our hearts. He loves us and want each of us in a healthy relationship with Him. Let me ask you this? If someone was doing something that bothered you, and apologized for doing it with the intention of doing it again, would you consider that a real apology? or would you be upset to be treated that way? God won't get upset the way people do, but doesn't He deserve the same respect that you would want from others?

To answer your question: Asking for forgiveness without any intention of repenting (giving up or at least trying to give up your sin) is worthless. The fact that you are worried about this says you know you are living in sin. Don't assume the miscarriage was some kind of judgment from God. It may be God's way of getting your attention, but your baby is in heaven with God where there is no suffering or pain.

I wonder about the tax collector Karen. When he beat upon his chest and prayed to God, Jesus said he went down to his house righteous, compared to the Pharisee. What God deserves and what we give him are two entirely different things. To look for mercy, is the first step to being granted the ability to think differently about our sin. Do you read it differently than me? Wasn't his humility due to his willingness to admit his bondage to sin? Maybe he had "tried" to give up his very lucrative occupation, but if he knew he was powerless and helpless without God and alone in the world... you say his prayers were worthless?! He was worried like Ireland82 is. Maybe since Ireland seems to be a Christian, she needs to have more power in her life, than this pitiful man Jesus praised. But he was going to continue feeding his family until God delivered him.

Luke 18:13,14 "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

Where does it say that this particular publican was cheating anyone or that his sin was being a tax collector. How do you know he wasn't humbling himself before God because he realized his cheating others was sin and he was ready to repent. I don't know this is true, but you don't know what you seem to be assuming about him is true either.

The tax collectors in Jesus' day were disliked b/c they demanded more than what the government required and kept all of the extra for themselves. A little extra for their pay would have been appropriate, not necessarily appreciated by the people, but they were taxing the people very heavily so that they could get rich. This made a publican a good character for Jesus' parable, because he represented that even the most hated of people could humble themselves and be forgiven.

But even if his sin had been overtaxing the people, it doesn't say that he went back to overtaxing the people. it's important not to read more into Scripture than is really there by assuming facts that are not present.

Looking for mercy is the first step, but to assume from this Scripture alone. while ignoring other Scripture about repentance that humility alone is all we need for forgiveness in every situation is bad exegesis--bad interpretation of Scripture.

Also, I never said his prayers were worthless--I never mentioned him at all. God works with us as individuals. What God expects from one person is not necessarily what He expects from another. God looks at where we are in our walk.

I said to confess without any intention of repenting was worthless--that's not the same as intending or trying and failing. God doesn't expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to be willing to let Him work in our lives and change us. This takes time. God looks at our hearts and our intentions. He may forgive individuals at times for humbling themselves and asking for forgiveness without stopping to think about repentance--that's up to God, but to assume that everyone has this option on a regular basis is to ignore what we are told in Scripture about repentance and obeying God's commands.

Thank you for bringing to my attention that I did not allow for those who are new to recognizing their sin and who have not learned to turn to God for the power to repent. I believe even if repenting means giving up a lucrative job, that is what God expects, and He will provide in some other way.

Hope this clarifies what I believe.

This morning during my quiet time I felt God impress upon me to add to/correct what I said.

God forgives our sins b/c of what Christ has done to pay the penalty for our sins. Scripture does say that if we confess our sins He is faithful to forgive us. I do believe this.

I would have better worded my point had I made the distinction that confession and repentance are important for reconciliation with God, for building our relationship with Him, so that we can enjoy the peace He gives as we walk with Him. Without this peace, we can feel like we have not been forgiven when we have.

Well said, Karen! Peace and reconciliation and repentance are the fruit of Christ's work on the cross and in our lives. This is the way we walk with him, hand in hand. I hope that ireland82 has a chance to read these responses, even though it has taken so long to post them. Others will read.

If she married the man would it sanctify the relationship? I know that you can't "unscramble eggs", but I was thinking about the Lord Jesus and the Samaritan women at the well of Jacob. I don't want to "read into" what the Lord said, but I do want to take all the "exegesis" that is available. I don't want to "miss a thing" or take away from his word. Didn't he say to her, "go get your husband"? Was he suggesting that this first evangelist to Samaria was "in the eyes of God", married to the one she was living with? Don't get me wrong, now. I just want to know! Look, he still used her to carry the message. She was bubbling like living water! Did she not return home and tell the man she was living with? I know, I know. We don't know. But what do we know? When she told him (we assume she did), and if he believed... did they need to go get a priest to sanctify the marriage?

John 4:39
"And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did."

But we don't know what "bubbled in her". Maybe she (the Samaritan woman) was like the ones in Hebrews that had "tasted of the heavenly gift" but didn't get enough to fully save them:

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. Heb 6:4-8

I'm trying to remember what I learned about Greek while I was in seminary on this verse. The Greek word translated if or since in this passage actually was used in hypothetical situations which the readers would have known cannot happen. So it was understood that what the author was saying was that we cannot fall away if we have been truly saved, but if we could we'd be crucifying Christ again and putting Him to open shame. This is something we should never do if we truly love Christ.

Some people do hear the Word and appear to embrace it, but then fall away. These people never had a true relationship with Christ. An example of this is Jane Fonda. She made a profession of faith a few years ago, and pastors who heard about it, mine at the time included, and asked her pastor if her profession was real, were assured it was. But then about 8 years later she was interviewed on tv and asked about her conversion. Her response along the line of that she had dabbled in Christianity for awhile, but had moved on to other things. Some people "convert" for the wrong reasons. Maybe they heard about the abundant life, or were told God would take away all their problems, or maybe they just wanted fire insurance to stay out of hell. For whatever reason, they never confessed to God that they were sinners. Until a person recognizes that they are a sinner, they cannot accept Christ as Savior. Accepting Him under any other terms does not lead to salvation. But these false conversions can lead to the appearance of salvation for awhile. Ray Comfort has written several books on this. Kirk Cameron(former tv star) works with him in ministry.