However quaint or eccentric the creed or faith, all claiming to be Christians declare repentance necessary; but many mistake shadow for substance. They talk of being founded on the Rock, while they are really tottering on the sand.
It is of vital import to know wherein true repentance consists. Repentance of the Bible will be found to include the four C’s—
Conviction, Contrition, Confession, Conversion.
The very first thing is conviction of sin—a clear sight , knowledge, a realizing sense of sinfulness. Without these there can be no repentance; for none but sinners can repent. Of what are we to repent? Sin! What is sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4
No man can sin unless the law is binding on him. All men, have sinned! Rom. 3:9, 23; Gal. 3:22. Therefore, the law is binding on all! Rom. 3:19. Again, sinners, and not the righteous, can repent. Matt. 9:13, None are sinners but those under the law. Rom. 3:19. All are commanded to repent. Acts 17:30. Therefore, all are under the law—all can repent!
Repentance signifies change of mind. As we meditate upon the pure, holy, and perfect law of God, we realize that it demands constant obedience all the life long—not alone doing ALL, but ALWAYS. By gazing into the law, we see our deformity, and are convicted as transgressors. James 1:22, 25. The law is spiritual. It reaches to the most secret thoughts, desires and purposes of the mind. Heb. 4:12. It forbids and condemns sins of the heart. Ps. 19:7, 12.
A convicted sinner is sensible of heart sins. He sees his best duties and services tainted by sin—that all his life he has lived without God; that he has loved self far more than God and that he has done these things, contrary to light and knowledge, and notwithstanding all the mercies and judgments which God has sent to reclaim him.
When there is conviction of sin there will be contrition for sin. Contrition for sin is a sincere, godly sorrow for violation of the holy, just and perfect law of God—real sorrow— an actual pain at heart. This is removing the hart of stone and getting a heart of flesh. “The sacrifices of God-are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Ps. 51:17. Men despise broken things; the Pharisee despised the the broken-hearted publican; God does not! He accounts the sorrow and shame of the penitent far more valuable than costly sacrifice of rams and bullocks. 1 Sam. 5:22. He values a heart that trembles at the word of God a heart, breaking, not in despair, but in humiliation—a heart breaking within itself and breaking away from sin, even as Peter “went out and wept bitterly.”
There is indeed a false sorrow which many mistake for the true. The sick fear death, express sorrow for sins, declare that if God will spare life they will amend; but they are only sorry that God is holy, that his law is so strict,
are not grieved because they have offended God, their friend and benefactor, who has followed them with mercy and goodness all the
days of their life. The rottenness of such repentance is shown on recovery. So the criminal on the gallows repents, is truly sorry, not for the sin, but that punishment overtook him. So each winter under preaching of everlasting hell fire, many are terrified and claim to repent. It is not contrition for violation of the pure and holy law of love, but fear, and they draw near with their mouth, and with their lips do honor God, while their hearts are far removed from him, and their fear toward him is taught by the precepts of men. Isa. 29:13.
Contrition, or the sorrow of the true penitent, is for sin committed against the holy and good God. Ps. 51:4. The goodness and forbearance of God to sinners may well excite godly sorrow, much more considerations His redeeming love; “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Oh! love beyond degree! beyond expression! Let the penitent remember that Jesus, the innocent, the loving, the gentle Jesus, left the throne above. The infinite one became an infant, was born in a manger, became a homeless wanderer, suffered at Gethsemane, died at Calvary, “poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bear the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa. 53:12. Now, in the sanctuary of Heaven he pleads for sinners. Oh ! that we may look unto him and be lightened.
Conviction and contrition will prompt confession.
By nature we are disposed to conceal, deny and excuse our sins, to say we are no worse than others, or not so bad as they, we could not help committing sin, &c., &c. To hide or deny our own sin is to mock and dishonor God; but to confess our sins is to honor his holy law, his power which beholds, his justice which might take vengeance, his forbearance which has so long spared us.
A frank, full, free confession of sin is the best way to find peace. Ps. 32:5. Secret sins require secret confession to God, but open violation of his law demands reparation and; confession. Conviction, contrition, and confession, to complete genuine repentance, must be followed by conversion, a word much used yet it occurs but once in the whole Bible, Acts 15:3, epistrophee, to turn about, to turn back from.
Conversion is turning from disobedience to obedience of God’s holy law. Without conversion, conviction, contrition and confession are utterly in vain. Floods of penitential tears are all as naught. Cain’s terror, Pharaoh’s promises, Ahab’s humiliation, Herod’s gladly hearing John, Judah’s confession— though all were combined in one man— would not prove him a real penitent so long as love of one sin remained in his heart. True repentance is not content with loss of branches, but applies the ax to the root. The devil will suggest that your sin is only a very little one and may be indulged; but one small leak sinks a ship—one indulged sin will keep
from Heaven. “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least
in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matt. 5:19. However dear, therefore, a lust may be, however hard to forsake, it must be forsaken; for “whosoever offends in one point he is guilty of all.” If we do not die to sin, we shall die for sin. If we do not slay our sins, our sins will slay us. As surely as we live, we cannot harbor any sin and gain eternal life.
We find, then, that the Bible teaches there can be no true repentance without law, if the law was changed in even one jot or tittle, we could not repent, for we could not tell what sin is; “for where no law is there is no transgression.” If part, if one precept, is altered, all may be.
May God help us to be freed from every error, to love his perfect, just and holy law, to truly repent of our every sin, and find peace and pardon through the mediation of our great High Priest, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
CHAS. B. REYNOLDS.
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald May 13, 1875