p. 9 | Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 3, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 47.

Our Bible Reading

Repentance and Confession

1. What is the sinner's first duty when truth is presented to him?

"Repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1: 15.

2. Of what are we to repent?

"Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee." Acts 8: 22.

3. But what is sin, or wickedness, of any kind?

"Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3: 4.

"Howbeit, I had not known sin, EXCEPT THROUGH THE LAW: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7: 7.

4. What is the meaning of true repentance?

"Ye were made sorry after a godly sort. . . . For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter." 2 Cor. 7: 9-11.

NOTE.—The only way by which true repentance may be brought into our hearts is to accept what God says regarding sin. If while feeling comparatively well we were told by a physician in whom we had confidence that we were sick with a deadly disease, it would certainly cause alarm and sorrow. How much more, when God tells us that we are sinners, that there is no hope for the sinner save in the putting away of the sin, that all the evils which have come into the sinner's life and into the world have been the result of sin, should it lead not only to alarm, but sincere sorrow of heart, because of our condition; and then to think that all this sin is against God, who is so good, who has naught against us, and whose chief desire is that we should be saved from sin!

5. What should a consciousness of sin lead us to do?

"I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." Ps. 32: 5.

NOTE.—God in His great goodness does not demand that every sin which mortals commit shall be confessed to the public. All that He requires is that the sin shall be put away. If we have sinned against God, let us make our confession to Him. If we have sinned against men, and have done them wrong, let us make it right with them. It is well for the sinner to read such passages as Eze. 18: 21-24.

6. What encouragement does the Lord give to the one who confesses his sins?

"For this let every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him." Ps. 32: 6.

7. How has God again assured us that He will meet the sinner who confesses his sin?

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous 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 Jehovah, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55: 7.