Steps to Christ, p. 23
SC 23
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Chapter 3—Repentance {SC 23}

How shall a man be just with God? How shall the sinner be made
righteous? It is only through Christ that we can be brought into
harmony with God, with holiness; but how are we to come to
Christ? Many are asking the same question as did the multitude
on the Day of Pentecost, when, convicted of sin, they cried out,
“What shall we do?” The first word of Peter's answer was,
“Repent.” Acts 2:37, 38. At another time, shortly after, he
said, “Repent, ... and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out.” Acts 3:19. {SC 23.1}

Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it.
We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we
turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the
life. {SC 23.2}

There are many who fail to understand the true nature of
repentance. Multitudes sorrow that they have sinned and even
make an outward reformation because they fear that their
wrongdoing will bring suffering upon themselves. But this is not
repentance in the Bible sense. They lament the suffering rather
than the sin. Such was the grief of Esau when he saw that the
birthright was lost to him forever. Balaam, terrified by the
angel standing in his pathway with drawn sword, acknowledged his
guilt lest he should lose his life; but there was no genuine
repentance for sin, no conversion of purpose, no abhorrence of
evil. Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Lord, exclaimed, “I
have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.”
Matthew 27:4. {SC 23.3}

The confession was forced from his guilty soul by an awful sense
of condemnation and a fearful looking for of judgment. The
consequences that were to result to him filled him with terror,
but there was no deep, heartbreaking grief in his soul, that he
had betrayed the spotless Son of God and denied the Holy One of
Israel. Pharaoh, when suffering under the judgments of God,
acknowledged his sin in order to escape further punishment, but
returned to his defiance of Heaven as soon as the plagues were
stayed. These all lamented the results of sin, but did not
sorrow for the sin itself. {SC 24.1}

But when the heart yields to the influence of the Spirit of God,
the conscience will be quickened, and the sinner will discern
something of the depth and sacredness of God's holy law, the
foundation of His government in heaven and on earth. The
“Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the
world,” illumines the secret chambers of the soul, and the
hidden things of darkness are made manifest. John 1:9.
Conviction takes hold upon the mind and heart. The sinner has a
sense of the righteousness of Jehovah and feels the terror of
appearing, in his own guilt and uncleanness, before the Searcher
of hearts. He sees the love of God, the beauty of holiness, the
joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed and to be restored to
communion with Heaven. {SC 24.2}

The prayer of David after his fall, illustrates the nature of
true sorrow for sin. His repentance was sincere and deep. There
was no effort to palliate his guilt; no desire to escape the
judgment threatened, inspired his prayer. David saw the enormity
of his transgression; he saw the defilement of his soul; he
loathed his sin. It was not for pardon only that he prayed, but
for purity of heart. He longed for the joy of holiness—to be
restored to harmony and communion with God. This was the
language of his soul: {SC 24.3}

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord
imputeth not iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no guile.” {SC 25.1}

Psalm 32:1, 2. {SC 25}

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness:
According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions.... For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my
sin is ever before me.... Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be
clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.... Create in me
a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. Cast
me not away from Thy presence; And take not Thy Holy Spirit from
me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; And uphold me with
Thy free spirit.... Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou
God of my salvation: And my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy
righteousness.” {SC 25.2}

Psalm 51:1-14. {SC 25}

A repentance such as this, is beyond the reach of our own power
to accomplish; it is obtained only from Christ, who ascended up
on high and has given gifts unto men. {SC 25.3}

Just here is a point on which many may err, and hence they fail
of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them. They
think that they cannot come to Christ unless they first repent,
and that repentance prepares for the forgiveness of their sins.
It is true that repentance does precede the forgiveness of sins;
for it is only the broken and contrite heart that will feel the
need of a Saviour. But must the sinner wait till he has repented
before he can come to Jesus? Is repentance to be made an
obstacle between the sinner and the Saviour? {SC 26.1}

The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent before he
can heed the invitation of Christ, “Come unto Me, all ye that
labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew
11:28. It is the virtue that goes forth from Christ, that leads
to genuine repentance. Peter made the matter clear in his
statement to the Israelites when he said, “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.” Acts
5:31. We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to
awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ.
{SC 26.2}

Christ is the source of every right impulse. He is the only one
that can implant in the heart enmity against sin. Every desire
for truth and purity, every conviction of our own sinfulness, is
an evidence that His Spirit is moving upon our hearts. {SC 26.3}

Jesus has said, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will
draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32. Christ must be revealed to
the sinner as the Saviour dying for the sins of the world; and
as we behold the Lamb of God upon the cross of Calvary, the
mystery of redemption begins to unfold to our minds and the
goodness of God leads us to repentance. In dying for sinners,
Christ manifested a love that is incomprehensible; and as the
sinner beholds this love, it softens the heart, impresses the
mind, and inspires contrition in the soul. {SC 26.4}

It is true that men sometimes become ashamed of their sinful
ways, and give up some of their evil habits, before they are
conscious that they are being drawn to Christ. But whenever they
make an effort to reform, from a sincere desire to do right, it
is the power of Christ that is drawing them. An influence of
which they are unconscious works upon the soul, and the
conscience is quickened, and the outward life is amended. And as
Christ draws them to look upon His cross, to behold Him whom
their sins have pierced, the commandment comes home to the
conscience. The wickedness of their life, the deep-seated sin of
the soul, is revealed to them. They begin to comprehend
something of the righteousness of Christ, and exclaim, “What
is sin, that it should require such a sacrifice for the
redemption of its victim? Was all this love, all this suffering,
all this humiliation, demanded, that we might not perish, but
have everlasting life?” {SC 27.1}

The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to
Christ; but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus; a
knowledge of the plan of salvation will lead him to the foot of
the cross in repentance for his sins, which have caused the
sufferings of God's dear Son. {SC 27.2}

The same divine mind that is working upon the things of nature
is speaking to the hearts of men and creating an inexpressible
craving for something they have not. The things of the world
cannot satisfy their longing. The Spirit of God is pleading with
them to seek for those things that alone can give peace and
rest—the grace of Christ, the joy of holiness. Through
influences seen and unseen, our Saviour is constantly at work to
attract the minds of men from the unsatisfying pleasures of sin
to the infinite blessings that may be theirs in Him. To all
these souls, who are vainly seeking to drink from the broken
cisterns of this world, the divine message is addressed, “Let
him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17. {SC 28.1}

You who in heart long for something better than this world can
give, recognize this longing as the voice of God to your soul.
Ask Him to give you repentance, to reveal Christ to you in His
infinite love, in His perfect purity. In the Saviour's life the
principles of God's law—love to God and man—were perfectly
exemplified. Benevolence, unselfish love, was the life of His
soul. It is as we behold Him, as the light from our Saviour
falls upon us, that we see the sinfulness of our own hearts. {SC
28.2}

We may have flattered ourselves, as did Nicodemus, that our life
has been upright, that our moral character is correct, and think
that we need not humble the heart before God, like the common
sinner: but when the light from Christ shines into our souls, we
shall see how impure we are; we shall discern the selfishness of
motive, the enmity against God, that has defiled every act of
life. Then we shall know that our own righteousness is indeed as
filthy rags, and that the blood of Christ alone can cleanse us
from the defilement of sin, and renew our hearts in His own
likeness. {SC 28.3}

One ray of the glory of God, one gleam of the purity of Christ,
penetrating the soul, makes every spot of defilement painfully
distinct, and lays bare the deformity and defects of the human
character. It makes apparent the unhallowed desires, the
infidelity of the heart, the impurity of the lips. The sinner's
acts of disloyalty in making void the law of God, are exposed to
his sight, and his spirit is stricken and afflicted under the
searching influence of the Spirit of God. He loathes himself as
he views the pure, spotless character of Christ. {SC 29.1}

When the prophet Daniel beheld the glory surrounding the
heavenly messenger that was sent unto him, he was overwhelmed
with a sense of his own weakness and imperfection. Describing
the effect of the wonderful scene, he says, “There remained no
strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into
corruption, and I retained no strength.” Daniel 10:8. The soul
thus touched will hate its selfishness, abhor its self-love, and
will seek, through Christ's righteousness, for the purity of
heart that is in harmony with the law of God and the character
of Christ. {SC 29.2}

Paul says that as “touching the righteousness which is in the
law”—as far as outward acts were concerned—he was
“blameless” (Philippians 3:6); but when the spiritual
character of the law was discerned, he saw himself a sinner.
Judged by the letter of the law as men apply it to the outward
life, he had abstained from sin; but when he looked into the
depths of its holy precepts, and saw himself as God saw him, he
bowed in humiliation and confessed his guilt. He says, “I was
alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin
revived, and I died.” Romans 7:9. When he saw the spiritual
nature of the law, sin appeared in its true hideousness, and his
self-esteem was gone. {SC 29.3}

God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are
degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well as in that of man;
but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes
of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man's judgment is
partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really
are. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will
exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and
covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are
especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the
benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is
the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into
some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and
poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no
need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite
blessings He came to give. {SC 30.1}

The poor publican who prayed, “God be merciful to me a
sinner” (Luke 18:13), regarded himself as a very wicked man,
and others looked upon him in the same light; but he felt his
need, and with his burden of guilt and shame he came before God,
asking for His mercy. His heart was open for the Spirit of God
to do its gracious work and set him free from the power of sin.
The Pharisee's boastful, self-righteous prayer showed that his
heart was closed against the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Because of his distance from God, he had no sense of his own
defilement, in contrast with the perfection of the divine
holiness. He felt no need, and he received nothing. {SC 30.2}

If you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better.
How many there are who think they are not good enough to come to
Christ. Do you expect to become better through your own efforts?
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?
then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.”
Jeremiah 13:23. There is help for us only in God. We must not
wait for stronger persuasions, for better opportunities, or for
holier tempers. We can do nothing of ourselves. We must come to
Christ just as we are. {SC 31.1}

But let none deceive themselves with the thought that God, in
His great love and mercy, will yet save even the rejecters of
His grace. The exceeding sinfulness of sin can be estimated only
in the light of the cross. When men urge that God is too good to
cast off the sinner, let them look to Calvary. It was because
there was no other way in which man could be saved, because
without this sacrifice it was impossible for the human race to
escape from the defiling power of sin, and be restored to
communion with holy beings,—impossible for them again to
become partakers of spiritual life,—it was because of this
that Christ took upon Himself the guilt of the disobedient and
suffered in the sinner's stead. The love and suffering and death
of the Son of God all testify to the terrible enormity of sin
and declare that there is no escape from its power, no hope of
the higher life, but through the submission of the soul to
Christ. {SC 31.2}

The impenitent sometimes excuse themselves by saying of
professed Christians, “I am as good as they are. They are no
more self-denying, sober, or circumspect in their conduct than I
am. They love pleasure and self-indulgence as well as I do.”
Thus they make the faults of others an excuse for their own
neglect of duty. But the sins and defects of others do not
excuse anyone, for the Lord has not given us an erring human
pattern. The spotless Son of God has been given as our example,
and those who complain of the wrong course of professed
Christians are the ones who should show better lives and nobler
examples. If they have so high a conception of what a Christian
should be, is not their own sin so much the greater? They know
what is right, and yet refuse to do it. {SC 32.1}

Beware of procrastination. Do not put off the work of forsaking
your sins and seeking purity of heart through Jesus. Here is
where thousands upon thousands have erred to their eternal loss.
I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of
life; but there is a terrible danger—a danger not sufficiently
understood—in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God's
Holy Spirit, in choosing to live in sin; for such this delay
really is. Sin, however small it may be esteemed, can be
indulged in only at the peril of infinite loss. What we do not
overcome, will overcome us and work out our destruction. {SC
32.2}

Adam and Eve persuaded themselves that in so small a matter as
eating of the forbidden fruit there could not result such
terrible consequences as God had declared. But this small matter
was the transgression of God's immutable and holy law, and it
separated man from God and opened the floodgates of death and
untold woe upon our world. Age after age there has gone up from
our earth a continual cry of mourning, and the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth together in pain as a consequence of
man's disobedience. Heaven itself has felt the effects of his
rebellion against God. Calvary stands as a memorial of the
amazing sacrifice required to atone for the transgression of the
divine law. Let us not regard sin as a trivial thing. {SC 33.1}

Every act of transgression, every neglect or rejection of the
grace of Christ, is reacting upon yourself; it is hardening the
heart, depraving the will, benumbing the understanding, and not
only making you less inclined to yield, but less capable of
yielding, to the tender pleading of God's Holy Spirit. {SC 33.2}

Many are quieting a troubled conscience with the thought that
they can change a course of evil when they choose; that they can
trifle with the invitations of mercy, and yet be again and again
impressed. They think that after doing despite to the Spirit of
grace, after casting their influence on the side of Satan, in a
moment of terrible extremity they can change their course. But
this is not so easily done. The experience, the education, of a
lifetime, has so thoroughly molded the character that few then
desire to receive the image of Jesus. {SC 33.3}

Even one wrong trait of character, one sinful desire,
persistently cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power
of the gospel. Every sinful indulgence strengthens the soul's
aversion to God. The man who manifests an infidel hardihood, or
a stolid indifference to divine truth, is but reaping the
harvest of that which he has himself sown. In all the Bible
there is not a more fearful warning against trifling with evil
than the words of the wise man that the sinner “shall be
holden with the cords of his sins.” Proverbs 5:22. {SC 34.1}

Christ is ready to set us free from sin, but He does not force
the will; and if by persistent transgression the will itself is
wholly bent on evil, and we do not desire to be set free, if we
will not accept His grace, what more can He do? We have
destroyed ourselves by our determined rejection of His love.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation.” “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not
your hearts.” 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 3:7, 8. {SC 34.2}

“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh
on the heart”—the human heart, with its conflicting emotions
of joy and sorrow; the wandering, wayward heart, which is the
abode of so much impurity and deceit. 1 Samuel 16:7. He knows
its motives, its very intents and purposes. Go to Him with your
soul all stained as it is. Like the psalmist, throw its chambers
open to the all-seeing eye, exclaiming, “Search me, O God, and
know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be
any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23, 24. {SC 34.3}

Many accept an intellectual religion, a form of godliness, when
the heart is not cleansed. Let it be your prayer, “Create in
me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10. Deal truly with your own soul. Be as earnest, as
persistent, as you would be if your mortal life were at stake.
This is a matter to be settled between God and your own soul,
settled for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will
prove your ruin. {SC 35.1}

Study God's word prayerfully. That word presents before you, in
the law of God and the life of Christ, the great principles of
holiness, without which “no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews
12:14. It convinces of sin; it plainly reveals the way of
salvation. Give heed to it as the voice of God speaking to your
soul. {SC 35.2}

As you see the enormity of sin, as you see yourself as you
really are, do not give up to despair. It was sinners that
Christ came to save. We have not to reconcile God to us, but—O
wondrous love!—God in Christ is “reconciling the world unto
Himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:19. He is wooing by His tender love
the hearts of His erring children. No earthly parent could be as
patient with the faults and mistakes of his children, as is God
with those He seeks to save. No one could plead more tenderly
with the transgressor. No human lips ever poured out more tender
entreaties to the wanderer than does He. All His promises, His
warnings, are but the breathing of unutterable love. {SC 35.3}

When Satan comes to tell you that you are a great sinner, look
up to your Redeemer and talk of His merits. That which will help
you is to look to His light. Acknowledge your sin, but tell the
enemy that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners” and that you may be saved by His matchless love. 1
Timothy 1:15. Jesus asked Simon a question in regard to two
debtors. One owed his Lord a small sum, and the other owed him a
very large sum; but he forgave them both, and Christ asked Simon
which debtor would love his Lord most. Simon answered, “He to
whom he forgave most.” Luke 7:43. We have been great sinners,
but Christ died that we might be forgiven. The merits of His
sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf.
Those to whom He has forgiven most will love Him most, and will
stand nearest to His throne to praise Him for His great love and
infinite sacrifice. It is when we most fully comprehend the love
of God that we best realize the sinfulness of sin. When we see
the length of the chain that was let down for us, when we
understand something of the infinite sacrifice that Christ has
made in our behalf, the heart is melted with tenderness and
contrition. {SC 35.4}

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