The third phase in repentance - confession. The quotes are from the book The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson. http://vimeo.com/17334371

2. Self-Accusing
“Confession is self-accusing: ‘Lo I have sinned’ (2 Sam.
24:17). And the truth is that by this self-accusing we
prevent Satan’s accusing. The humble sinner does more
than accuse himself; he, as it were, sits in judgment and
passes sentence upon himself. He confesses that he has
deserved to be bound over to the wrath of God. And
hear what the apostle Paul says: ‘If we would judge
ourselves we should not be judged’ (1 Cor. 11:31).”
The Doctrine of Repentance

3. It must be Genuine
Men like Judas and King Saul confessed their sin, but
theirs was not a true confession.
That confession of sin may be right and genuine, there
must be present eight qualifications:

4. 1. Voluntary
“It must come as water out of a spring, freely. The
confession of the wicked is extorted… When a spark of
God’s wrath flies into their conscience, or they are in
fear of death, then they will fall to their confessions.”
The Doctrine of Repentance

5. Water
Out of a spring – freely.
It does what it was created to do.

6. Born Again vs. Hypocrite
Born Again Hypocrite
0 Accuses himself
0 Is voluntary, done
freely
0 Passes sentence on
himself before the
judge does & makes
no excuses
0 Accuses others
0 Waits until death
threatens them or
until God’s wrath
flies into their
conscience
0 Makes excuses &
justifies their sin

7. 2. Compunction
“The heart must deeply resent it. A natural man's
confessions run through him as water through a pipe.
They do not at all affect him. But true confession leaves
heart-wounding impressions on a man. It is one thing to
confess sin and another thing to feel sin.”
The Doctrine of Repentance

8. Defining Compunction
n.
1. A strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt.
2. A sting of conscience or a pang of doubt aroused by
wrongdoing or the prospect of wrongdoing.

9. King David
“My guilt has overwhelmed me, like a burden too heavy to bear.”
Psalm 38:4

10. 3. Sincere
“Our hearts must go along with our confessions. The
hypocrite confesses sin, but loves it, like a thief who
confesses to stolen goods, yet loves stealing. A good
Christian is more honest. His heart keeps pace with his
tongue. He is convinced of the sins he confesses, and
abhors the sins he is convinced of.”
The Doctrine of Repentance

11. “Not yet Lord”
But I wretched, most
wretched, in the very
commencement of my
early youth, had begged
chastity of Thee, and said,
“Give me chastity and
contingency, only not yet.”
For I feared lest Thou
shouldest hear me soon,
and soon cure me of the
disease of concupiscence,
which I wished to have
satisfied, rather than
extinguished.

12. 4. Particularizing Sin
“A wicked man says, ‘Lord I have sinned’, but does not
know what the sin is; at least he does not remember,
whereas a true convert acknowledges his particular
sins. As it is with a wounded man, who comes to the
surgeon and shows him all his wounds – here I was cut
in the head, there I was shot in the arm – so a mournful
sinner confesses the several distempers of his soul.”
The Doctrine of Repentance

13. “We have served the Baals.”
In Judges 10:10, Israel particularized their sin by naming it for what it was.

14. 5. Sin in the Fountain
“He acknowledges the pollution of his nature. The sin of
our nature is not only a privation of good but an
infusion of evil. We are ready to charge many of our first
sins to Satan’s temptations, but this sin of our nature is
wholly from ours; we cannot shift it off to Satan. It is
this depravity of nature which poisons our holy things…
Oh confess sin in the fountain!”
The Doctrine of Repentance

15. Psalm 51:5
Surely I was sinful at
birth, sinful from the
time my mother
conceived me.

16. 6. All Circumstances and
Aggravations
“Those sins which are committed under the gospel
horizon are doubtless dyed in grain. Confess sins
against knowledge, against grace, against vows, against
experiences, against judgments. These are killing
aggravations which accent and enhance our sins.”
The Doctrine Repentance

17. Psalm 78:31-32
God's anger rose against
them; he put to death the
sturdiest among them,
cutting down the young men
of Israel. In spite of all this,
they kept on sinning; in spite
of his wonders, they did not
believe.

18. 7. Charge Oneself as to Clear
God
“Should the Lord be severe in his providences and
unsheathe his bloody sword, yet we must acquit him
and acknowledge he has done us no wrong. Nehemiah
in his confessing of sin vindicates God’s righteousness:
‘Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us.’
(Neh. 9:33). Mauritius the emperor, when he saw his
wife slain before his eyes by Phocas, cried out,
‘Righteous art thou, O Lord, in all thy ways.’”
The Doctrine of Repentance

19. Discipline is Love
“For I know the plans I
have for you,” declares the
Lord, “plans to prosper
you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and
a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“My son, do not make light
of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart
when he rebukes you,
because the Lord
disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone
he accepts as a son.”
Hebrews 12:6

20. 8. A Resolution Not to Act on
One’s Sins Again
“Origen calls confession the vomit of the soul whereby
the conscience is eased of that burden which did lie
upon it. Now, when we have vomited up sin by
confession we must not return to this vomit. What king
will pardon that man, who after he has confessed his
treason, practices new treason?”
The Doctrine of Repentance

21. Cease to do evil – Isa. 1:16

22. Is it Necessary? Yes.
0 It reproves those that hide their sins
0 It reproves those who confess their sin by halves; they
do not confess all, only a small part
0 It reproves those who lessen their sins
0 It reproves those who are so far from confessing sin
that they boldly plead for it – they defend their sin

23. Confession of Sin…
1. Gives glory to God. It exalts Him.
2. Humbles the soul.
3. Gives vent to a troubled heart.
4. Purges out sin.
5. Endures Christ to the soul.
6. Makes way for pardon.
7. Is a reasonable command!

24. Confession to Others
1. Where a person has fallen into scandalous sin and
by it has been an occasion of offense to some and
falling to others.
2. Where a man has confessed sin and yet still feels
burdened by it. He should confess it to a trusted
friend that can help take the thorn out of his
conscience.
3. Where anyone has slandered and damaged
another’s reputation by sinning against them.