The Doctrine of Repentance
Puritan Book Reviews
How do we break down the doctrine
of repentance? Watson does this in a pithy style.
The Doctrine of Repentance
by Thomas Watson
Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA: 1999
122 Pages, Paperback
What is repentance?
This word (repentance) is one of the most importance words in all
of the Bible. Thomas
Watson, being sorely aware of this, shows how the doctrine is pivotal,
not only for the wicked who are unrepentant, but for the Christian who
continues in an attitude of repentance before Jesus Christ for their
life. Repentance is not
something that is popular today. It
assumes that a person is a sinner because they need to repent.
It holds them over the flames of hell instead of coupling them
before the gates of heaven.
In this needful little
book, Thomas Watson explains the doctrine of repentance in six
particulars which are useful if memorized: Repentance is sight of sin,
sorrow for sin, confession of sin, shame for sin, hatred of sin and
turning from sin. This can
be applied to either the Christian or non-Christian, though the nature
of the nature of the sins is still the same. Among the chapters of the book he discusses the “Nature of
Repentance” in two chapters, “Powerful Motives to Repentance” and
“The Removing of Impediments to Repentance.”
Watson believed the two
great graces essential to the believer were faith and repentance,
They are hallmarks of his conversion and should be exercised
daily. He shows how
Christians often just come to “confess” without taking into
consideration, or having due meditation, on the complete doctrine of
repentance which he shows comprises the other five elements as well if
it be true.
This is another one of
those inexpensive books to hand out to those struggling with sin.
Whether they be a believer or not makes no difference.
I have personally found his 6 points of the doctrine especially
helpful in formulating my own devotional and prayer time. Without understanding what it means to repent, and using
these points as a checklist for true piety, real repentance may be
turned into some type of formalistic prayer for the sake of duty. In memorizing and understanding these points, they have become
a help to a more complete and knowledgeable way to pray for forgiveness
before Jesus Christ.
Some Quotes:
“Repentance is not
arbitrary. It is not left to our choice whether or not we will repent,
but it is an indispensable command.
God has enacted a law in the High Court of heaven that no sinner
shall be saved except the repenting sinner, and He will not break His
own law.”
“There are two sorts
of persons who will find it harder to repent than others: Those who have
sat a great while under the ministry of God’s ordinances but grow no
better. Those who have
sinned frequently against the convictions of the Word, the checks of
conscience, and the motions of the Spirit.”
“A piece of lead,
while it is in the lump, can be put to no use, but melt it, and you may
then cast it in to any mould, and it is made useful.
So a heart that is hardened into a lump of sin is good for
nothing, but when it is dissolved by repentance it is useful.
A melting heart is fit to pray.”
“It
is natural to us to procrastinate and put off repentance.” |
