Nature and Manifestations of.

REPENTANCE.

603. Nature and manifestations of repentance.

Job 42: 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee: 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Ps. 38: 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink, and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken : I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone. 18 I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.-51: 3 I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.-119: 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Ezk. 36: 31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities, and for your abominations. [Ezk. 20: 43.]

Mat. 26: 75 Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Lk. 15: 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.-18: 13 The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

2 Cor. 7: 9 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.

Dignity of Effects of Necessity of.

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. [See 30, 124, 356-7.]

604. Moral dignity of true penitence for sin.

Is. 57: 15 Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Lk. 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. 21 The son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him. [See 672.]

605. Effects of repentance and godly sorrow.

22

2 Cor. 7: 11 Behold this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. [See 602, 621.]

606. Repentance required—its necessity.

Ezk. 14: 6 Say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.—18: 30 I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Mat. 3: 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.-4: 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Lk. 13: 3 I tell you, Nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Ac. 2: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.-3: 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing

Encouraged.

shall come from the presence of the Lord. 8: 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. 17: 30 The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.—20: 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 26: 20 But shewed first unto 26:20 them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Rev. 2: 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. [Mk. 6: 12.] [See 357, 601.]

607. Repentance encouraged — promises.

2 Ch. 7: 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Ps. 34: 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 51: 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 147: 3 He healeth the

broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Is. 55:7 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. 66: 2 All those things hath my hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. '

Hos. 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Joel 2: 12 Now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Ascribed to God-Spurious repentance.

Zec. 1:3 Say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts : Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mat. 5: 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Lk. 15: 21 The son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry. [See 357.] 608. Repentance, as ascribed to God.

Gen. 6: 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Jer. 18: 7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it: 8 If that nation against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

26.2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: 3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. 13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; And the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

Ezk. 33: 14 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Jonah 3: 10 God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them: and he did it not.

609. Spurious repentance.

Mat. 27: 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he

Required and encouraged - Exemplified.

saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

2 Cor. 7: 10 The sorrow of the world worketh death. [See 191, 194, 411, 623, 689.]

REPROOF.

610. Faithful reproof required and encouraged.

Lev. 19: 17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.

Pr. 6: 23 The commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. 19: 25 Reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 24: 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. 28: 4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them. 23 He that rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Ezk. 16: 1 The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.

Mat. 18: 15 If thy brother shall trespass, against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Lk. 17: 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Ep. 5: 11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Col. 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

1 Th. 5: 14 We exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. [See 109.]

611. Reproving others exemplified.

Neh. 13: 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together,