Confession
27
When sin has deadened the moral perceptions, the wrongdoer does
not discern the defects of his character nor realize the enormity of
the evil he has committed; and unless he yields to the convicting
power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness to his sin. His
confessions are not sincere and in earnest. To every acknowledgment
of his guilt he adds an apology in excuse of his course, declaring that
if it had not been for certain circumstances he would not have done
this or that for which he is reproved.
After Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, they were
filled with a sense of shame and terror. At first their only thought
was how to excuse their sin and escape the dreaded sentence of death.
When the Lord inquired concerning their sin, Adam replied, laying the
guilt partly upon God and partly upon his companion: “The woman
whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did
eat.” The woman put the blame upon the serpent, saying, “The serpent
beguiled me, and I did eat.”
Genesis 3:12, 13
. Why did You make the
serpent? Why did You suffer him to come into Eden? These were the
questions implied in her excuse for her sin, thus charging God with the
responsibility of their fall. The spirit of self-justification originated in
the father of lies and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters
of Adam. Confessions of this order are not inspired by the divine
Spirit and will not be acceptable to God. True repentance will lead a
man to bear his guilt himself and acknowledge it without deception or
hypocrisy. Like the poor publican, not lifting up so much as his eyes
unto heaven, he will cry, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” and those
[41]
who do acknowledge their guilt will be justified, for Jesus will plead
His blood in behalf of the repentant soul.
The examples in God’s word of genuine repentance and humiliation
reveal a spirit of confession in which there is no excuse for sin or
attempt at self-justification. Paul did not seek to shield himself; he
paints his sin in its darkest hue, not attempting to lessen his guilt.
He says, “Many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received
authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death,
I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every
synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly
mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”
Acts
26:10, 11
. He does not hesitate to declare that “Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
1 Timothy 1:15
.