Contrition is a feeling of deep regret and remorse over one’s sins. It involves grieving over the offense committed against God, as well as an acknowledgment of guilt and a willingness to make amends. The Bible has much to say about contrition and views it as an essential component of repentance.
Contrition Starts with Conviction of Sin
True contrition begins when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin (John 16:8). This conviction leads to godly sorrow over the guilt of sin, which leads us to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Conviction is an awareness that we have violated God’s holy law and offended His righteousness. When our eyes are opened to see sin as God sees it, we cannot remain indifferent; our conscience is stricken with sorrow over the offense. As Charles Spurgeon said, “It is one thing to be stricken with remorse, and another to be pierced with repentant grief.” Remorse is a natural feeling of regret over being caught; repentance is a Spirit-given grief over offending God.
Contrition Involves Confession of Sin
A crucial element of contrition is openly confessing our sins before God (Psalm 32:5, 1 John 1:9). This confession indicates agreement with God about the wickedness of our actions. We take personal responsibility for our wrongdoing without making excuses. As John Calvin said, “Confession of sin is the spontaneous homage which repentance renders to the truth and majesty of God.” Confession also reflects a willingness to expose our sin before God without attempting to hide. With contrition, we fully acknowledge the righteous judgment we deserve for our guilt (Ezra 9:13-15).
Contrition Requires Repudiation of Sin
Contrition involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God for mercy and forgiveness. We not only confess but also forsake our transgressions by repenting and turning away from them (Proverbs 28:13). As Thomas Watson said, “Repentance is a holy fire to consume the dross of sin.” In true contrition, we utterly renounce all unrighteousness and pledge our loyalty to follow Christ alone. There is a burning hatred of sin and a turning from idolatry to serve the living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Contrition repudiates the sins we once loved and clasps Christ as our only hope.
Contrition Springs from the Fear of the Lord
Contrition is grounded in the reverential awe and fear of God (Psalm 130:4, Isaiah 66:2). The more we behold God’s glory and tremble at His penetrating gaze, the more we gain the spirit of contrition. Calvin observed that “it is impossible to fear God without at the same time revering his holiness and justice.” Such holy fear causes us to shudder at offending our Creator, who sees the secret sins of the heart. It leads us to dread the thought of incurring His displeasure. Contrition flows from exalting the honor of Christ above all else.
Contrition Manifests in a Broken Spirit
When our hearts are soft and pliable toward God, it leads to contrition and brokenness over sin. David prayed, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). As Charles Bridges said, “The sacrifice is broken, not merely divided. All its precious joints and bands, that give it form and symmetry, are severed.” Likewise, the heart of flesh that God gives is shattered to pieces under the convicting power of the Word (Jeremiah 23:29). The eyes weep bitterly in contrition as spiritual sacrifices are offered to the Lord (Joel 2:12-13).
Contrition Produces Repentance
Contrition of heart always leads to repentance and its fruits (Acts 11:18). There is a radical change of mind toward both God and sin. We turn back to God and plead for mercy, realizing we cannot save ourselves. Repentance is granted by God to the contrite of heart – those who tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:2, Acts 11:18). Calvin affirmed that “where contrition is, there also is repentance.” They cannot be separated, as contrition is the inner response that precipitates change. As Watson said, “Sin is first felt before it is fled from.”
Contrition Seeks Reconciliation
The contrite soul urgently seeks reconciliation with the One who has been offended. Like the prodigal son, we return to the Father and confess our unworthiness (Luke 15:21). There is a longing for renewed communion and favor with God. Thomas Watson said, “A sinner never takes up the resolution to return to God, till he has felt the lashes of a correcting conscience.” Our desire is to be received, forgiven, and restored at the mercy seat of grace. We seek reinstatement into God’s household and a peaceful relationship with Him.
Contrition Leads to Joy in God’s Forgiveness
Contrition leads to the joy of receiving God’s pardon and the restoration of fellowship with Him. We go from mourning over sin to rejoicing in His forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-2). As Calvin expressed, “Our consciences feel no calm or quiet joy, until, having been reconciled to God, we have obtained pardon for our sins.” When the burden of guilt is lifted by grace, we overflow with grateful praise to Jesus for taking the full penalty we deserved. The sweetness of God’s mercy enhances the bitterness of conviction over sin.
Contrition Produces Hated of Sin
Contrition causes us to hate and abhor the sins which required Christ’s death to atone for them. We loathe sin with great intensity because of its offense against God. Thomas Watson said, “By repentance the heart points directly against sin. As in water face answers to face, so does the heart of a penitent sinner answer to sin. As two contrary tides beat against each other, so repentance and sin struggle with each other.” Repentance strikes at sin and does not spare it. Our contrite hearts are merciless toward besetting transgressions we once indulged.
Contrition Incites a War against Sin
Since contrition breeds hatred of sin, it leads to a declared war against all remaining corruption. The contrite Christian strives vigorously against sin with desires to slay it altogether. John Owen declared, “Set faith at work on Christ for the killing of thy sin… for strong faith is the mother and nurse of repentance.” Faith in Christ’s power enflames our fight against indwelling sin. Contrition does not coexist peacefully with sin but storms the gates of hell to conquer through grace.
Contrition Values Small Victories over Sin
For the contrite believer warring against sin, even a small triumph is cause for rejoicing. There is thanksgiving to God for restraining or decreasing particular sins. Consider Charles Spurgeon’s perspective: “If we cannot yet say that we are all we would like to be, we can at any rate thank God that we are not what we once were.” The contrite heart celebrates incremental advances in holiness as foretastes of final victory in Christ. Lifelong contrition produces an insatiable hunger for righteousness.
Contrition Turns from Dead Works to Serve God
The fruit of contrition is consecration to the Lord and new obedience. Having turned from dead works, the contrite heart now lives to righteousness (Hebrews 9:14). Thomas Watson said, “Though repentance be a bitter pill to take, yet it is of excellent efficacy.” The power of contrition produces energetic service to Christ. We seek to please and honor Him in all things, being motivated by grateful love. Contrition moves us from selfish pursuits to doing His will wholeheartedly.
Contrition Evidences Saving Faith
While contrition itself does not atone for sin, it always accompanies saving faith in Christ’s atonement. Charles Spurgeon declared that “penitence is the tear which flows from the eye of faith.” Similarly, Calvin asserted that “wherever faith is found, of necessity repentance follows.” The New Testament writers saw repentance as the flip side of belief in Christ (Mark 1:15, Acts 2:38). A heart that truly trusts Christ will also grieve over and turn from sin.
Contrition Brings Refreshment to the Soul
Contrition brings a sweet sense of refreshment and joy to the believer’s soul. When the conscience is purged of guilt and reconciled to God, there is new freedom to draw near Him without shame. Owen said, “The true opening of sin causeth ease to the conscience.” The weeping of contrition softens hard hearts and revives our inner man. Confession and repentance restores the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12).
Contrition Exalts God’s Kindness and Longsuffering
The goodness of God in bearing with our sins should elicit contrition of spirit. Paul saw God’s kind forbearance in the midst of his blasphemy and violence as meant to lead him to repentance (Romans 2:4, 1 Timothy 1:13). The Lord’s patience highlights the magnitude of our guilt. His mercy in giving us time and space to repent should humble our hearts. Watson said the sinner should reason thus: “God does not strike me dead in the act of sinning, which he could do in justice. Oh, what unparalleled patience is this! Do I thus abuse his patience?” Seeing God’s longsuffering should tenderize our hearts toward Him.
Contrition Values Christ’s Redeeming Blood
Contrition exalts the precious blood of Christ, seeing this priceless atonement as our only hope of cleansing. The sin-hating, contrite heart prizes Jesus above all things. His cross is for us the supreme pledged of divine grace. Martyn Lloyd-Jones stated that contrition occurs “when a man comes to see that there is only one thing that can cleanse him, the blood…that was shed on the cross on Calvary’s hill.” A sense of our pardon through Christ’s redemption evokes constant sorrow over sin.
Contrition Incites Zeal for Amendment
The grace of contrition stimulates fervent desires for amendment and more consistent obedience. We feel holy dissatisfaction until our lives better match our standing as obedient children. Thomas Brooks said, “Repentance is a sincere, thorough change and conversion of the whole man from sin to God.” Obeying from the heart, we seek to uphold God’s honor through upright conduct. Our contrition increases as we aim for perfection.
Contrition Is Lifelong in the Redeemed
Contrition is not a one-time experience, but the continual character of Christ’s disciples. Believers persevere in repentance as they grow in holiness. Calvin asserted that “it must be our continued aim to resemble the image of Christ until we attain to heavenly glory.” Our remaining corruptions should frequently elicite contrition. The more sanctified we become, the more contrite we are over the least vestiges of sin. Lifelong contrition evidences maturity in grace.
Contrition Will Be Complete in Glory
In heaven, the redeemed will have a perfect hatred for all sin. Our contrition will be complete when we are glorified. Thomas Watson portrayed glorified contrition thus: “Then shall shame, the emblem of repentance, be taken away. The souls of believers shall be so inflamed with the love of God that they shall never cease wondering.” As John writes, when the Lord appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). Our contrition will be mixed with eternal wonder.