Bible Penitence 

The great majority of professors (doubtless judging from their own experience,) hold that no one can possibly live in this world without committing sin every day in word, thought and deed.

Another class will admit that no sin can enter heaven and therefore we must be pure, but of course no one can hope to attain to such a state until just before death.

Then another class holds that we must put away all sin and live holy lives, but this is hardly to be expected of any one until he receives the "second blessing," that up to this time it is sort of an "up and down life."

And still a less number hold that conversion puts a stop to all outward and inward yielding to sin, consequently such souls have overcoming grace.

In this chapter we want to notice the Bible standard of penitence. Hence we believe and desire to prove that a true penitent does not habitually yield to outward or inward sin. The moment he turns his face toward God, he also turns his back on all sin. The very first step toward the kingdom implies a forsaking of everything sinful. Webster says, "Real penitence springs from a conviction of guilt and ingratitude to God and is followed by amendment of life."

Bible awakening puts a stop to going on any farther in sin, while repentance goes deeper and sends the sinner back over his life to undo as much of the past as possible.

Now does God command a soul to forsake all sin and not give him power to obey He has commanded him to stop sinning and given him a holy hatred for it, besides begetting within him an insatiable thirst after righteousness. Thus he is made to feel more keenly than ever, that his only hope is in the merits of Jesus Christ to bring about reconciliation between him and an offended God.

Let us notice a few passages showing the Bible standard of penitence or repentance.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." - Prov. 28:13. Here the sinner is commanded to confess and forsake his sins in order to arrive at the point where God will "have mercy" upon him and for Christ's sake, blot them out.

 "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. Here the repentant sinner is commanded to not only forsake his outward way, but his very inward thoughts, his impure desires, his grudges and party prejudices etc. He 'who thoroughly does this, will receive an abundant assurance to his acceptance with God. Such souls do not need to be sung up to "confess Christ" or coaxed to be quick to tell it or they may lose it. 0 no! They are the first to know it, and the pardon is just as positive and clear as to that prisoner who has been pardoned from a life's sentence. When he passes through one huge iron gate after another, until he finally comes out through the last one into the sunshine of liberty, he does not say, "I hope I'm free," "I think I'm free," etc., but he knows it beyond every shadow of a doubt. Thank God for a know-so experience.

"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." This is a wonderful Scripture, and comes as near specifying the different steps to be taken in order to get to God as any other passage which we can recall. It was addressed to backslidden Judah, who were told that when they "spread forth their hands" and "made many prayers," the Lord would not hear them because they were doing what many do to-day, -live an "up and down life." Most people to-day would think that any one who did all he was commanded to do, was quite an exemplary Christian, but God does not consider a person fit to "reason" with, until he has put away all sin. Then He says, "come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool." - Isa. 1:16-18. Hallelujah, for such a change!

We are not trying to make the penitent soul a saint. No! he is ruined and undone, has not one iota of goodness in him or about him, and were it not for the heaven-born desire begotten by the Holy Ghost to seek the favor of an offended God, he would immediately lapse back into the grossest kind of sins (as sometimes souls do) in order to forget his "wretched" state.

  The true penitent is like the guilty prisoner who knows he will finally be caught, so he turns "states evidence" against himself and confesses he is guilty. While doing so he is not anticipating more devilment, nor does he pride himself over daring deeds of the past, but throws himself upon the mercy of the court, knowing that unless he receives a pardon, the acts and guilt of the past, will outweigh all his present amendments and he will surely be condemned according to "his deeds."

Again, he is like one who has been ruled by the iron hand of a despot, until he inwardly determines to break away and swear allegiance to another government. While he may still be under the reign and dominion of the tyrant, yet he positively refuses to yield to any more of the diabolical demands, but makes every provision for escape. Thus like the "wretched man" in the seventh of Romans, with the mind he already serves the law of God but with the flesh the law of sin.

The marked difference then between the true penitent and one regenerated, is not seen so much in the general behavior, as it is during unpleasant circumstances and sudden provocations. The first has restraining grace, while the other has overcoming grace. The first may give way under sudden provocations while the other is not likely to do so. The first is struggling and resisting largely in his own strength, while the other is fortified with supernatural strength.

Let not the seeker think for a moment that there is the least virtue in his repentance, or that be can reform until God does not consider him as hopelessly ruined as the one who has not had the first thought of turning away from sin. Until he receives the unmistakable witness of the Spirit to his acceptance, he is still a sinner, he is still unfit for heaven, notwithstanding the encouragement and relief of conscience over having done his duty and thoroughly reformed. We read, "Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord." I. Chron. 16:10. Many times the truly penitent soul feels like rejoicing and even shouting over some newly gained victory; or in anticipation of final victory and right here is where many a soul stops and though he heareth the word and with Joy receiveth it, "Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by be is offended." So then the only time to stop is after having received the kiss of reconciliation, and the witness of the Holy Spirit that all the past is forgiven and put under the Blood.