steps to christ-第4章
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other time； shortly after； he said； 〃Repent； 。 。 。 and be converted； that your sins may be blotted out。〃 Acts 3：19。
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。
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
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Lord； exclaimed； 〃I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood。〃 Matthew 27：4。
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。
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。
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
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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 holinessto be restored to harmony and communion with God。 This was the language of his soul：
〃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。〃 Psalm 32：1； 2。 〃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。〃 Psalm 51：1…14。
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。
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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？
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。
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。
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
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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。
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？〃
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。
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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 restthe 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 lif
