Confession and Repentance

What does confession look like? What does repentance look like? Throughout scripture we see various forms of sorrow, from weeping to tearing the garments, sitting in sackcloth and ashes to hanging oneself. Yet whether one shows these outward signs of an aggravated conscience or not, we know from the Bible that true, “godly sorrow brings repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Confession, no matter how emotional, is empty without repentance. What exactly is repentance? Repentance is often defined as a change of mind. And if one truly changes his mind, a difference in behavior will manifest. In other words, repentance is true confession in action. Without a change of outward behavior, inward change likely did not happen. The chapter – and the book – ends with a list. Imagine having your name on this list! Rather than a place like Hebrews 11, the “Hall of Faith”, your name would be among those guilty of disobeying God, recorded in a chapter in the Bible for all to read for the next several thousand years! The sins of the people were public and so this was made public. However, thankfully, their repentance was also made public. Like these individuals, you and I are all on the list of sinners. The question is, are we also written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Such a privilege is only granted by God’s grace in Christ, and manifested in our confession and repentance of sin.