3.3 Repentance and Confession – Thy Way Saves Oh Lord!

Lesson 3.3

There are some who at times endeavor to excuse sin. This should not be. When Adam and Eve sinned they made a choice. We are free moral agents with the right of choice – we may choose right or we may choose wrong.

To be forgiven of sin what is necessary?

“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

To whom is sin to be confessed?

“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. Selah.”

Psalm 32:5

Note: Sins of a personal or private nature should be confessed to God in Christ’s name. Christ is the mediator between Christ and man. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1, last part. All sin is against God and should be confessed to Him through Christ. In addition, open sin should be confessed openly, and when a wrong has been done to a person, that wrong should be made right with the person offended

What must accompany a true confession of sin?

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Proverbs 28:13

Note: When the Pharisees and the Sadducees came to be baptized of John he told them to “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Mathew 3:8

Whom did Jesus come to call to repentance?

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Mathew 9:13, last part

What leads a person to repentance?

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Romans 2:4

What is God’s attitude toward the repentance of people?

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

It appears that repentance and the acknowledging of truth go together (2 Timothy 2:25).

Read 2 Corinthians 6:2

What accompanies repentance?

Paul says, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

2 Corinthians 7:9, 10

Note: The original note of repentance here is the change of mind and produces a change of life. The godly sorrow leads to repentance and separation of sin and a firm determination to resist by God’s grace the temptation which led to sin in the first place

Did Judas repent of his sin?

“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.”

Mathew 27:3, 4

Note: The word of repented here denotes only a change of feeling. Judas had a desire that what had been done should be undone. He confessed his sins to his partners rather than to God. His was a sorrow that “worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Did Esau ever repent of his sin?

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

Hebrews 12:16, 17

Note: Esau never repented of his sin. He regretted having sold his birthright. By his own choice his character was bent and he found no way to regain the birthright he had despised

What will result from true repentance?

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

Acts 3:19

Note: A person cannot be pardoned if he continues unrepentant. If the person has committed the unpardonable sin this has come about through continued resistance to God so that the heart is hardened and there is no longer any response to God’s voice. But if one is sorry for his sins and desires to repent and confess them, this fact is evidence that the Holy Spirit is still appealing to his heart

Conclusion

As a result of genuine repentance there is joy in heaven. (Luke 15:7, 10). When the dying thief confessed his sins and repented Jesus gave him the assurance of salvation (Luke 23:43). When Zacchaeus confessed his sins and repented Jesus said, “This say is salvation come to this house.” Luke 19:9

3.2 Why Christ Came To Earth 3.4 Saved By Grace