True Repentance, part 3: The Insufficiency of Penance

Penance is a personal, outward attempt by a guilty party, upon recognition of his culpability, to make a satisfaction to God for his wrongdoing. In the Roman Catholic Church, it was meant to be preceded by contrition (sorrow) and confession (Council of Trent, Canons on Penance, Canon 4 [1551]). Although Protestant Christians reject the Catholic penitential system as an unbiblical attempt to add to the completed work of Christ, many professed believers erringly endeavor to compensate for their sins through penance. Penance, at its core, is a faithless act. It can be performed by believer and unbeliever alike. One who attempts to make a satisfaction for his own sin apart from repentance and trust in Christ’s ability to atone is acting in unbelief, even if he feels sorrow and confesses. Penance demonstrates a trust in man’s ability to appease God, rather than Christ’s.

Furthermore, acts of penance are simply an external means to please God without any true desire for change. Feeling a sense of worldly grief, many seek to absolve themselves of the guilt and consequences of sin by an outward pious action without ever focusing on “the inward renewal of the mind, which bears with it the true correction of life (Calvin, Institutes, 3.4.1, p 623).” Those who resort to penance are not dissatisfied with the corruptness of their hearts which produce sin. They only want freedom from the results of their sin. Stuart Scott adds that penance focuses on: 1) what the person wants rather than what God wants, 2) what the person does rather than on what Christ has done on their behalf, 3) a semi-public display versus a private display before God and 4) a human priest or advocate. Without concern for the way God desires reconciliation, the one who resorts to penance attempts to make restitution for his sin on his own terms.

Both Judas and Saul were guilty of performing penance. Judas indeed felt sorry for his betrayal, but instead of repenting, he tried to justify himself by returning the money and confessing to the Pharisees. Rather than humbling himself before God and seeking to reconcile to him on his terms, Judas did it his own way by taking his life. Saul confessed his sin and begged Samuel to go out with him so that he could worship God. But his heart was not changed. He still feared man.

There are numerous other biblical examples of attempts to appease God through penance (a few examples are Zech 7:5-14; Jer 14:10-12; Hos 6:1-6; Lk 18:9-14). Israel attempted to merit God’s favor by fasting in Isaiah 58. In verse 1, God told Isaiah to declare to Israel their transgression. This is in spite of the fact that they: “seek me daily and delight to know my ways…they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God” (v. 2). The people wondered why God had not seen their fast. They assumed that they had humbled themselves, yet God did not respond. Why? It is because they were still transgressing They were unrighteous, having forsaken God’s judgments (v. 2). They sought their own pleasure, fought each other, and oppressed their workers (v. 3-5). Although they were keeping the religious rituals of the Law, and even showing contrition through fasting, their hearts were not changed. In the rest of the chapter God proclaims that he chooses the fast that shows compassion on others. This is the fast of the truly penitent. If the Israelites would love their neighbors, God would be present with them to protect, provide for, and guide them.

Are you attempting to outwardly appease God? Are you trying to come to him on your own terms rather than on his? Are you efforts external rites rather than inward change? Are you seeking to atone for your sins or are you truly resting in the sufficient blood of Christ? David said in Psalm 51:16-17, "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." May we not seek to cover our sin by our own feable efforts, but let us mourn over and hate our sin as we run to and rest in the only sacrifice that can truly atone for our transgressions: the precious blood of Jesus Christ.