The following verse from Ezekiel says much about how we ought to feel about our sins when we repent. Below it, are a few accompanying references.
I chose the book of Ezekiel for a clear picture of idolatry, judgment for sin, repentance…because this book provides the clearest picture of God as He occurred to His prophets via visions (see chapters 1-3); also, I think it provides more specifics about the definition of idolatry than most (see chapter 14 for the clearest description of idolatry in Ezekiel, although idolatry is confronted very frequently in the entire book; and in the prophets in general).
However, the following verses refer mostly to how sinners ought to view themselves during repentance; furthermore, I am guessing that Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven;” suggest such attitudes and thoughts about oneself. The beatitudes were Jesus’ description of His true kingdom citizens; the truly regenerate; those truly born-again.
Note what the following verse says about how God feels when He is sinned against; and how those who sin against Him should view themselves during repentance (please read the context of the following verses on your own for greater understanding).
NAS Bible:
Ezekiel 6:8 “However, I shall leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. 9 “Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes, which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. 10 “Then they will know that I am the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would inflict this disaster on them.”’
Ezekiel 20:41 As a soothing aroma I shall accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I shall prove Myself holy among you in the sight of the nations. 42 “And you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the land which I swore to give to your forefathers. 43 “And there you will remember your ways and all your deeds, with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done. 44 “Then you will know that I am the LORD when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD.’”
Ezekiel 36:24 “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. 25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 “And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 “And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 “Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you. 30 “And I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, that you may not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 “I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!” [The new covenant is described above in verses 25-27, and thereafter, the appropriate response to God’s mercy.]
Ezekiel 16:60-63 “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. 61 “Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both your older and your younger; and I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. 62 “Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD, 63 in order that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord GOD declares. [Cross references on these verses in the NASB, tie it to Romans 3:19, stopping the mouth; see that below, in addition to a brief commentary on what God’s word means by “shutting of the mouth.”]
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
[Paul begins to talk about justification by faith right after the above verse.]
From John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: Romans 3:19 – There is no fear of God before their eyes. The place referred to is Ps 36:1, by the “fear of God”, is not meant a fear of God’s wrath, of hell and damnation; nor a fearful distrust of his presence, power, providence, and grace; much less an hypocritical fear; but a reverential affection for God, and which is peculiar to the children of God, which springs from a sense of divine goodness, is attended with holiness of heart and life, is consistent with faith, even full assurance of it, and with spiritual joy in its highest degree; it stands opposed to pride and haughtiness, and is a blessing of the covenant of grace: now this is not to be found in unregenerate men, for this springs from grace, and not nature, and is only implanted in the heart in conversion; it appears from the whole life and conversation of unconverted men, that the fear of God is not in their hearts, nor before their eyes.
The Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas L Constable: Paul added that, whatever the law (here the Old Testament) says, it addresses to those involved in it, namely, all the Jews. He wrote this to take the ground out from under a Jewish reader who might try to say that the passages just quoted refer only to the Godless. The result of its condemnation is that no one will be able to open his mouth in his own defense (cf. Rev. 20:11-14). “All the world” describes all of humanity again.
“Probably Paul is using an implicit ‘from the greater to the lesser’ argument: if Jews, God’s chosen people, cannot be excluded from the scope of sin’s tyranny, then it surely follows that Gentiles, who have no claim on God’s favor, are also guilty.” 6
The purpose of the law was not to provide people with a series of steps that would lead them to heaven. It was to expose their inability to merit heaven (Gal. 3:24). Jesus had previously said that no one carries out the law completely (John 7:19). Paul had more to say about the works of the law (i.e., works done in obedience to the law, good works) in Romans (cf. Gal. 2:16; 3:2, 5, 9-10). If someone breaks only one law, he or she is a lawbreaker. The law is similar to a chain. If someone breaks even one link, the chain cannot save. If someone wants to earn God’s commendation of being perfectly righteous, he or she must obey God’s law perfectly (cf. Matt. 5:48). It is impossible therefore to earn justification (a righteous verdict from God) by performing the works that God’s law requires. 7 Verse 20 probably serves to confirm human accountability rather than giving a reason for it. 8
Every human being needs the gospel because everyone is a sinner and is under God’s condemnation. In this first major section of Romans (1:18—3:20), Paul proved the universal sinfulness of humankind. He first showed the need of all people generally (1:18-32). Then he dealt with the sinfulness of self-righteous people particularly (2:1—3:8). He set forth three principles by which God judges (2:1-16), proved the guilt of Jews, God’s chosen people (2:17-29), and answered four objections Jews could offer to his argument (3:1-8). Then he concluded by showing that the Old Testament also taught the depravity of every human being (3:9-20).
[If you are interested in better understanding what true repentance looks like, then you might want to examine other commentaries and Bible cross references to the above verses.]
A few personal observations based on the topics examined in this blog:
- The contemporary church knows little to nothing of this kind of repentance. They seem to be busy having a good time on their communal bus ride to heaven, instead of individually striving to enter in to the narrow gate and narrow way, living a beatitude life
- No one could arrive at poverty of spirit or self-loathing over sin unless he is seeing it, owning it, confessing it, fighting against it, watching and praying about it to God…
- Related to the above, as one is coming to own his sin, he will be experiencing God the Holy Spirit smashing his idols; showing him his self-indulgent ways; his self-reliance; the idols he relies upon…. The pastor I have heard speak most about these things is Paul Washer. But I have blogged on it, most specifically, the works of Jonathan Edwards, glimpses into his spiritual life. Edwards was most certainly given to the church by God; he was greatly used by God and left much for us to read and consider that might enable us to grow in holiness.