Both Repentance & Forgiveness

Poor sinners cannot repent, because we will not admit that God is right to judge us for our sin. Whether under wrath, or in the longsuffering of God, we still will not repent.

But our Lord Jesus fully accepted the justice of God's wrath poured out upon Him as our substitute. He possessed the submissive attitude toward judgment that the wicked cannot and will not.

The glorious revelation of the promise of forgiveness of sin upon repentance is a Gospel revelation! In the Old Testament, it is barely perceptible. Repentance amounted to admission of guilt, followed by the judgment required by the law. Achan's stoning is a good example of this.

How can the law forgive sin upon confession? Admitting that God is right to judge our sin is but the duty of the sinner, to submit to wrath because it is right.

In Psalm 51, King David, the murderer and adulterer, declared the importance of sinners justifying God's wrath, so that it would be very clear that God is right to judge our sin. And yet he prayed desperately for an undeserved mercy that the law couldn't provide.

Job's attitude under the heavy hand of God's will is an example of a saint of God who finally broke down under suffering, demanding that God explain Himself.

Forgiveness of sin upon repentance only began to be preached by John the Baptist to announce the coming of the Lord Jesus! That is why it was called the Gospel - for it is good news indeed, the promise of remission of sin unto repentant sinners.

John the Baptist began to preach this Gospel to prepare the way for the coming of the One Who would save His people from their sin, God's Lamb of sacrifice for our redemption, Light shining in Darkness!