Repentance That Does Not Count
Hosea 6:1–3
Come, let us return to the Lord. Hosea 6:1
The essential elements of a true confession are missing in Hosea 6:1–3. First, there is no reference to sin. There is acknowledgment of the consequences of Israel’s sin: injury and the absence of God himself. But there is no acknowledgment of the sin that caused them. There is nothing of the acceptable prayer of the tax collector, referred to by Jesus, who cried out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13).
A second missing element is a personal relationship with God. This is seen in the mechanical way the people conceive of God’s restoring them. Voltaire, the French atheist, once said sarcastically of God’s forgiveness, “Forgiveness? That’s his job!” That glib rejoinder is on Israel’s tongue in these verses. True, God has judged them. But he will restore them again. That’s the way he always does it. They have been down for two days, but they will rise on the third. The sun sets; the sun also rises. God will be like that with his people.
It is always an error to presume thus on God. We try to force him into our little boxes, thinking that in that way we can somehow control him and get him to do what we want. But God cannot be thus controlled, and it is the case rather that he conforms us to his wishes. We are never in greater danger than when we assume that he will always forgive us as long as we go through the outward forms of repentance. An example of genuine repentance is at the end of Hosea. We read: “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him, ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.’” This is a true confession, and where it occurs God promises, “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely” (Hosea 14:1–2, 4 NIV).
That is the secret—“Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously.’” First, confession of sin. Second, an appeal to God on the basis of his abundant grace.
It is the same in the New Testament. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8–9). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Rom. 10:9–10).
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.