CONFESSION OF SIN by William Covert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 21, 1892

CONFESSION OF SIN.

By William Covert

BY ELDER WILLIAM COVERT.

CONVICTION for sin makes the penitent long for that which he does not possess. Sin has become an ingredient of his nature, and when the sinner undertakes to put away his transgressions, he will learn that they have become a part of himself, and that self refuses to go. Solomon says, "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins." Prov. 5:22. The deplorable state of the wicked is well described by Paul where he says: "Unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Titus 1:15, 16. Confession must therefore include a letting go of all in nature that begets the wrong act.

Without such a confession there is no taking hold on Christ. God will have mercy on those who truly confess. The Lord says: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Prov. 28:13. This language will not admit of an apology for sin. Adam admitted that he did wrong in partaking of the forbidden fruit, but offered as an excuse for his wrong course that his wife had been the principal cause of it. Eve placed the blame of her departure upon the serpent. Thus they apologized for their conduct, instead of confessing it. Saul acknowledged that he did wrong in not executing all the Lord enjoined upon him, but then he pleaded that he was excusable because the people prevented his obedience. He went so far as to ask the prophet to honor him before the elders of his people. Self was not renounced. See 1 Sam. 15:24-30. David, who succeeded Saul in the kingdom of Israel, did not attempt to excuse himself for his sins. In Ps. 32:5 he wrote: "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."

To attempt to cover up sins is a refusal to acknowledge them. To do this is to own self and deny the Lord, who has bought us. The pride of heart abiding in the carnal mind forbids the acknowledgment of wrongs. How seldom do we hear the hearty, full, free confession of sin made to the one who has been wronged. Self is too dearly loved to admit of genuine confession, and unless self is renounced every day, the life becomes polluted and the mind darkened to all danger. This is Satan's manner of keeping moral sensibilities dulled so that sins are not discovered.

The adversary of your soul tells you not to confess that you have really done wrong, for if you do, it will disgrace you. Cautiously explain all matters so as to maintain your respectability. But if he can no longer keep

you blinded as to your sins, he will then tell you that God will not forgive if you do confess. But let none be deceived in either case, for the Lord says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." 1 John 1:8. And yet he says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:7.

The spirit of true penitence and humble confession must be obtained from the Lord, or else all is lost. Without victory at this point no lasting happiness is possible, no conquest obtainable. Unless self is abandoned, and the strongholds in Christ occupied, you will surely be defeated in every contest. Pray as did the publican in the parable, "God be merciful to me a sinner." If you feel the weight of your sins, remember that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners."

There is too much confession that is only general and not intended to refer to anything in particular. The Lord asked that if a soul did wrong "that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing." Lev. 5:5; Num. 5:7. Confession should be vocal; "for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Rom. 10:10.

Although the Scriptures teach a formal confession, yet it should be done in a hearty humility, with a proper realization of the hatefulness of sin. Christ convicts only that he may save the contrite one. The stripes of deep conviction are made with the chastening hand of a tender Father. "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Ps. 34:18. He also says: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa. 57:15.