Resolutions, Guilt, and Repentance

Dennis Hall and his guest George Whirley, Pastor, New Creation Restoration Church, and Prison Ministry, Indianapolis, Indiana examine the origins of New Year's Day celebrations. Celebrating New Year's Eve goes back 4000 years ago to the Babylonians who conducted a massive festival that lasted for 11 days, that involved making offerings to their pagan gods whose images were carried along the parade routes. They also made resolutions to their pagan gods. The excessive drinking and riotous behavior at today's New Year's celebrations seem very similar to the pagan cultures of the past. Most have already given up on their new year's resolutions by the middle of January. In the Christian faith, we also have a problem with resolutions and repentance. James 5:16 teaches "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." God is telling us to confess our sins to one another so that we can bear one another's burdens and be effective with prayer for others. Jesus has called us to repent from sinful lives. We cannot transform our lives without total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Can also be viewed on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/_E2p1yqT4tU