March 16, 2009 | By Paul F. South

NEW ORLEANS - Spiritual brokenness took on the simplicity of pen and paper, hammer and nail, as New Orleans Baptist Seminary students nailed a written record of sin into a rugged replica of Calvary's cross. This powerful image of repentance marked the opening of the seminary's campus revival.

Contrition for sin was the theme of Dr. Jake Roudkovski's opening message at the three-day revival, March 10-12. Hundreds of blank sheets of paper became written confessions before God at the conclusion of the message. Some students remained deep in prayer long after the service ended.

Preaching from I John 1:8 and following, Roudkovski reminded his audience that until they stand before God in Heaven, they will face a never-ending struggle with sin. 

"Until that glorious moment, you and I will have to deal with and battle sin daily," Roudkovski said. "We will have to deal with sins of omission, sins of commission. Will have to deal with secret sins . . . sins that so easily entangle us. How will we deal with our sin?" 

Sin must be dealt with, even in a seminary setting, Roudkovski said, because "sin suffocates the work of God." He pointed to Joshua 6 and the victory at Jericho, and the defeat of the children of Israel at Ai in Chapter 7, a loss sparked by the sin of one person.

Revival will come only through the work of God, not through the work of men, Roudkovski said. But sin must be confessed.

"A single sin that is not confessed and dealt with, hinders and suffocates the work of God," Roudkovski said. 

Sin also stifles intimacy with God, an intimacy described in Rev. 3:20.

"God has no friends, just intimates, God desires an intimacy with you," Roudkovski said. "But I believe that a single sin will destroy that intimacy, that closeness with God."

Salvation brings an intimate relationship with God, Roudkovski said, and a bond that is secure forever. However, sin can stifle that intimacy. The father of two drew an example from his own home.

"No matter what they do to me, they will always be my children. I will never, ever denounce them. However, if they disobey me or their mother, that intimacy, that closeness, that fellowship is destroyed. Likewise our relationship with God is secure, but our intimacy with God depends on how we deal with our sin." 

Sin also suffers the discipline of God, Roudkovski said. Citing a recent message by Pastor Steve Gaines of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, we can find ourselves in one of three places when it comes to sin in our lives.

"You can find yourself in the will of God, where you have dealt with your sin, and you have confessed your sin and living a pure and holy life before God. or you can find yourself in the woodshed of God, where God is disciplining you for the sin that you refuse to confess and deal with. Or, you can find yourself under the wrath of God."

The remedy is found in specific confession, then cleansing of sin.

"I'm afraid that sometimes we sin retail, then want to confess wholesale," Roudkovski said. "I believe we must be willing to be specific in our confession."

Roudkovski provided the audience with a "sin inventory" obtained from Saddleback Church, which covered virtually every area of sin from our relationships to our finances to our attitudes and lifestyle choices and to ministry.

After repentance comes cleansing through Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. His blood cleanses away sin.

"When we confess our sin here on earth, Jesus Christ becomes our defense attorney. He becomes the satisfaction for our sins," Roudkovski said.

Sin must also be conquered by changing our behavior.

"John is saying that our conduct should support our confession," Roudkovski said.

Roudkovski closed with the story of Welsh miner Evan Roberts. His preaching sparked global spiritual awakening in Wales, across Europe and around the globe in 1902. In the first two months, 70,000 gave their lives to Christ. At the heart of the revival: Repentance, and genuine dealing with sin.

Professors prayed with students, who then streamed down the aisle to nail their confessions to the cross. On the revival's second day, Roudkovski urged his audience to refocus on Christ. The revival closed with a message from John 5:13. Roudkovski urged listeners to increase their influence for Christ in an increasingly corrupt culture

The services are the culmination of prayer, devotional Bible study and reading in the days and weeks leading to the revival.  Earlier this month, 72 students gathered in hour-long shifts at Martin Chapel to read through the Bible, while other students and staffers came to pray.