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Pastor's Blog April 2, 2020
April 2, 2020
"Confession, Repentance and Reformation"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
Last week we looked at a claim Ellen makes about confession that is often misunderstood; this week we will look at a second, related claim about confession. Ellen states, "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" ("Steps to Christ," 24-25; 1977 edition).
Based on these lines, as well as her quotation of Isaiah 1:16-17, Ezekiel 33:15, and 2 Corinthians 7:11 which follow, many conclude that Ellen lays the responsibility of our reformation of character and lifestyle on our own shoulders - and that God won't accept our confession and acknowledgement of sin unless they are preceded by repentance and reformation. But this interpretation ignores everything else she says in the second half of her chapter on confession.
The contexts of her three biblical passages maintain that the proper fruit of confession is repentance (our turning away from sin) that results in reformation (our obedience to God), and Ellen knew this. Likewise, Ellen makes clear that God is the one who works reformation and a change of life in us. To be sure, confession of sin is worthless if it is not accompanied by reformation of life (25). But according to Ellen, the work of repentance and reformation is not something we do at all! "Unless he yields to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit he remains in partial blindness to his sin" and cannot confess or repent of it (25) - so our work is not to make ourselves repent, but to yield to the Holy Spirit and let him do that work in us.
"Those who do acknowledge their guilt will be justified, for Jesus will plead His blood in behalf of the repentant soul" and only Jesus' blood can cleanse us from sin and change our lives (26) - so our work is not to reform ourselves, but to come to Jesus so we can receive his pardon and purification as he lives his holy life in us.
Friends, make no mistake: confession without repentance and reformation is a lifeless, meaningless exercise. But friends, make no mistake as well: only the Holy Spirit can lead us to repentance and only Jesus can reform us by his power and love. Brothers and sisters, confess your sins to God and entrust yourselves to him, for he will forgive, save, and transform you.
(*) Steps to Christ 1977 edition; Chapter 4, “Confession”
God Bless.
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
