Steps To Christ
Confession, Repentance and Justification
Objectives
At the end of this study each member should be able to:
1. Define confession, repentance and justification;
2. Differentiate between false and genuine confession,
repentance and justification;
3. Apply, by depending on the strength of the Spirit of God, the
principles learnt to the daily life showing an assurance of
salvation.
Reference
Luke 15:17-19
Steps to Christ Chapter 3.
Repentance
"state of being penitent [sorry for offenses committed],
sorrow and contrition [brokenness of spirit for having
given offense, deep sorrow for sin or guilt with the
purpose of not sinning again], for sin or wrongdoing
resulting in vigorous abandonment of it in one's life,"
Repentance goes beyond feeling to express distinct
purposes of turning from sin to righteousness; the Bible
word most often translated repentance means a
change of mental and spiritual attitude toward sin.
Repentance
Hos 13:14 repentance shall be hid from mine
eyes.
Desistance "to stop, cease from some action or
proceeding,"
(Act 5:31)“to give repentance to Israel, and
forgiveness of sins.”
compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by
implication reversal (of [another’s] decision):
Repentance
to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to
feel compunction): - repent.
Repentance is a
Gift
(Act 5:31)
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince
and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and
forgiveness of sins.
(2Ti 2:25)
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth;
(Act 11:18)
When they heard these things, they held their peace,
and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the
Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
(2Co 7:10)
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to
be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death.
(Rom 2:4)
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
(See 2Peter3:9)
The Call
(Luk 5:32)
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
(Luk 24:47)
And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem.
Fruit of Genuine
Repentance
(Luk 3:8)
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and
begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our
father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to
raise up children unto Abraham.
(Act 26:20)
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem,
and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do
works meet for repentance.
Fruit of Genuine
Repentance
Therefore 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. Cast away from you all
your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and
make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye
die, O house of Israel?
(Eze 18:30-31)
Fruit of Genuine
Repentance
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
(Luk 15:18)
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half
of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any
man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
(Luk 19:8)
Fruit of False
Repentance
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.
(Heb 12:16-17)
See also Acts 8:18-24, 1Samuel 15:19-22 and Matthew 27:3-5
The Genuine and
the False
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to
be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death.
(2Co 7:10)
The Cart before
the Horse
Christ Way
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in
their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the
apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 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.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent.
(Rev 3:19)
Confession
"action of confessing, acknowledgment of a fault or
wrong,"
Confession
(Psa 32:5)
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.
Confession and
Repentance
(Pro 28:13)
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them
shall have mercy.
True Confession
True confession is always of a specific character, and
acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to
be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be
confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or
they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly
confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point,
acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. SC 38.1
Confession and
Repentance
Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, [ acknowledges
his sin]he said, How many hired servants of my father's
have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with
hunger! [The goodness of God]
(Luk 15:18)
I will arise and go to my father,[repentance] and will say
unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and
before thee,[confession]
Confession and
Repentance
Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere
repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in
the life; everything offensive to God must be put away. SC 39.1
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 who do
acknowledge their guilt will be justified, for Jesus will plead His
blood in behalf of the repentant soul. SC 40.2
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. SC 41.1
Justification
Acquittal:as "relieve (someone) of an
obligation, release from a pledge,"
hence the meanings "set (an accused
person) free from charges, pronounce
not guilty,"
(Job 25:4)
How then can man be justified with God? or
how can he be clean that is born of a
woman?
(Psa 143:2)
And enter not into judgment with thy
servant: for in thy sight shall no man living
be justified.
"action of justifying, showing something to
be just or right" is from late. Theological
sense "act by which the soul is reconciled to
God"
Justification means the saving of a soul from
perdition, that he may obtain sanctification,
and through sanctification, the life of heaven.
Justification means that the conscience,
purged from dead works, is placed where it
can receive the blessings of sanctification.
17LtMs, Ms 113, 1902, par. 26
God requires the entire surrender of the
heart, before justification can take place;
and in order for man to retain justification,
there must be continual obedience,
through active, living faith that works by
love and purifies the soul. RH November
4, 1890, par. 4
Justification a free
Gift
(Rom 4:25)
Who was delivered for our offences,
and was raised again for our
justification.
See also Romans 5:16-18
Justification a
free Gift
(Rom 4:25)
Who was delivered for our offences,
and was raised again for our
justification.
See also Romans 5:16-18
Job 25:4 How then can man be justified
with God? or how can he be clean that is
born of a woman?
(Isa 45:25)
In the LORD shall all the seed of
Israel be justified, and shall
glory.
Act 13:38-39 Be it known unto you
therefore, men and brethren, that
through this man is preached unto
you the forgiveness of sins: (39)
And by him all that believe are
justified from all things, from which
ye could not be justified by the law of
Moses.
Sanctification
Form the verb sanctify, which means:
to be (causatively make, pronounce or
observe as) clean (ceremonially or
morally): - (be, keep) holy
"act or fact of being made holy; state of being
made holy," c. 1400, sanctificacioun, from Old
French sanctificacion and directly from
Church Latin sanctificationem, noun of action
from past-participle stem of Late Latin
sanctificare "to make holy," from sanctus
"holy"
The righteousness by which we are
justified is imputed; the
righteousness by which we are
sanctified is imparted. The first is our
title to heaven, the second is our
fitness for heaven. FLB 116.2
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and
be ye holy: for I am the LORD
your God. And ye shall keep my
statutes, and do them: I am the
LORD which sanctify you.
(Lev 20:7-8)
And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved
blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
(1Th 5:23)
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might
sanctify the people with his own blood,
suffered without the gate.
(Heb 13:12)
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption: That, according as it is
written, He that glorieth, let him glory in
the Lord.
(1Co 1:30-31)
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word
is truth. As thou hast sent me into the
world, even so have I also sent them into
the world. And for their sakes I sanctify
myself, that they also might be sanctified
through the truth.
(Joh 17:17-19)
What does sanctification looks like?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-7
2Peter 1:1-10
It [sanctification] requires that our habits of
eating, drinking, and dressing be such as
to secure the preservation of physical,
mental, and moral health, that we may
present to the Lord our bodies—not an
offering corrupted by wrong habits but—“a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.”
FLB 116.6
