Chapter 49—Surrender and Confession
[
This article appeared in
The Signs of the Times, December 12, 1892
.]
But in repenting of sin we need not go into a cell, as did Luther,
imposing penances upon ourselves to expiate our iniquity, thinking
by so doing to gain the favor of God. The question is asked: “Shall
I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the
sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what
doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and
to walk humbly with thy God?” (
Micah 6:7, 8
). The psalmist says,
“A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (
Psalm
51:17
). John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins” (
1 John 1:9
). The only reason that we have not
remission of sin is that we have not acknowledged to Him whom we
have wounded by our transgressions, whom we have pierced by our
sins, that we are at fault, and in need of mercy. The confession that
is the outpouring of the inmost soul will find its way to the heart of
infinite pity; for the Lord is nigh unto him that is of a broken heart,
and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
How mistaken are those who imagine that confession of sin will
detract from their dignity, and lessen their influence among their fellow
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men. Clinging to this erroneous idea, though seeing their faults, many
fail to confess them, but rather pass by the wrongs they have done
others, so embittering their own lives, and shadowing the lives of
others. It will not hurt your dignity to confess your sins. Away with
this false dignity. Fall on the Rock and be broken, and Christ will
give you the true and heavenly dignity. Let not pride, self-esteem, or
self-righteousness keep anyone from confessing his sin, that he may
claim the promise. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but
whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (
Proverbs
28:13
). Keep nothing back from God, and neglect not the confession
of your faults to your brethren. “Confess your faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (
James 5:16
). Many
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