Repentance That Glorifies God
Revelation 16:9
Don Fortner
John saw men and women
tormented by the vials of God's holy wrath poured out upon them, and declares,
"They repented not to give him glory." They were sorry for the
judgments of God upon them. They wanted desperately to escape God's wrath. But
they repented not to give God the glory.
Repentance is much more
than the fear of punishment, or even a deep remorse over the sin that calls for
punishment. Repentance is the gift of God the Holy Spirit. It arises not from
the fear of punishment and the dread of wrath, but from the goodness, love,
mercy and grace of God in Christ (
l. True repentance attempts to hide nothing from God, but
confesses all, recognizing, reverencing and adoring his omniscience (Psa.
139:1-6).
2. True repentance acknowledges the righteousness of God's holy
law and the evil of sin (
3. True repentance glorifies the justice of God in the punishment
of sin, taking sides with God against itself (Psa. 51:4).
4. True repentance glorifies God in the sovereign exercise of his
mercy and grace (Matt. 8:2;
5. True repentance glorifies God as a just God and a Savior,
realizing and rejoicing in the fact that there is only one way by which God can
both be just and justify the ungodly (Rom. 3:24-26).
6. True repentance glorifies God by taking him at his word and
receiving the atonement by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom.