Confession as a Mark of True Repentance

  Being new to blogging, I'm finding it difficult to summarize such deep & meaningful truths in snipets that can be read quickly...alas I continue as promised.  But please realize these are minimal highlights from this teaching, and I encourage you to use this as a jumping off point to digging deeper on your own.

  Watson states that the Nature of True Repentance continues with the all important...

3)Confession of sin.  He emphasizes the brokenness of spirit that accompanies a passionate sorrowing.   The humble sinner does more than accuse himself; he, as it were, sits in judgement and passes sentence upon himself.  He confesses that he has deserved to be bound over to the wrath of God.  (1 Cor. 11:31)  

  Now that sounds brutally tough.  I am reminded over and over of the picture of Adam & Eve in the garden hiding from God, in contrast to the Prodigal and the reception He received from the Father.  So, do I tremble and hide at the thought of offending God, or do I run to Him for an outpouring of grace to save me from the wrath I deserve?

 

  Watson goes on to even qualify a right & genuine confession, so that we may truly know...

a) It must be voluntary (Luke 15:18) 

b) It must be with compunction, (Psalm 38:4) the heart must deeply resent it, it must be felt.

c) It must be sincere-the hypocrite confesses sin, but loves it still.  He is afraid of leaving it too soon.  A good Christian is convicted & abhors the sins he confesses.

d) It must be particularized, have to be specific. (Judges 10:10, Daniel 9:6) As when going to a doctor, to get the best diagnosis, all details are given; so it should be when we come to God.

e) It points to the source, that it is our NATURE; and not that we are good except for this thing we confess.  Out nature is an abyss & seminary of all evil, from whence come the scandals that infest the world. (Ps. 51:5, Romans 7:18-21)

f) It must include all its circumstances & aggravations, that we continue to sin in light of the gospel truth, is an offense.  Confess sin against knowledge, against grace, against vows, against experiences, against judgements. (Psalm 78:31-32)  

g) Our confession must so charge ourselves as to clear God, in His righteous judgements, He has done us no wrong. (Neh. 9:33)  

h) Our confession must include a resolution not to act them over again, it is vain to confess and continue on in sin. (Isaiah 1:16)  If confession is the vomit of the soul whereby the conscience is eased of that burden, we must not return to this vomit.  (This picture helps me!)

 

  This teaching on confession was NEW to me.  It is deeper than the "telling of wrongs" that I was exposed to as a child in the Catholic church.  It is so much more about the heart, and really examining ourselves in the light of God's standards.  A Holy Confession exalts God, humbles the soul, eases the troubled heart, purges out sin, endears Christ to the soul, makes way for pardon and shows our obedience.