There are too many confessions like that of Pharaoh when he was suffering the judgments of God. He acknowledged his sin in order to escape further punishment, but returned to his defiance of heaven as soon as the plagues were stayed. Balaam’s confession was of a similar character. Terrified by the angel standing in his pathway with drawn sword, he acknowledged his guilt, lest he should lose his life. There was no genuine repentance for sin, no contrition, no conversion of purpose, no abhorrence of evil, and no worth or virtue in his confession. Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Lord, returned to the priests, exclaiming: “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” But his confession was not of such a character as would commend him to the mercy of God. It 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 drew forth this acknowledgment of his great sin. There was no deep, heartbreaking grief in his soul that he had delivered the Son of God to be mocked, scourged, and crucified; that he had betrayed the Holy One of Israel into the hands of wicked and unscrupulous men. His confession was only prompted by a selfish and darkened heart. {5T 637.1}

Det arbejde som du skal gøre fra din side, er tydeligt foreskrevet dig: »Tvæt jer, rens jer, bort med de (631) onde gerninger fra mine øjne! Hør op med det onde, lær det gode, læg vind på, hvad ret er; hjælp fortrykte, skaf faderløse ret, før enkens sag!« »Idet han giver pant tilbage, godtgør, hvad han har ranet og følger livets bud uden at øve uret, så skal han leve og ikke dø.« Herren erklærer: »så siger dine landsmænd: »Herrens vej er ikke ret!« Og i siger: »Herrens vej er ikke ret!« »Hør dog, Israels hus! Er det min vej, der ikke er ret? er det ikke snarere eders vej, der ikke er ret?« »Jeg har ikke lyst til nogens død, lyder det fra den Herre Herren. Omvend eder derfor, så skal I leve!« »Derfor dømmer jeg enhver af eder efter hans veje, Israels hus, lyder det fra den Herre Herren. Vend om og omvend eder fra alle eders overtrædelser, at de ikke skal blive eder årsag til skyld. Gør eder fri for alle de overtrædelser, i har øvet imod mig og skab eder et nyt hjerte og en ny ånd; thi hvorfor vil i dø, Israels hus? Thi jeg har ikke lyst til nogens død, lyder det fra den Herre Herren. Omvend eder derfor, så skal I leve!«