REPENTANCE THAT LEADS TO LIFE

Acts 17:30-31 “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

  

Repentance which leads to life is the blessed product of the gospel working in believers’ lives. Along with the doctrine of faith in Christ, it is a doctrine to be preached by every minister of the gospel.

In this repentance the sinner is able to see his sins as God sees them, as filthy and hateful, and as involving great danger to the sinner, because they are completely contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God. Understanding that God in Christ is merciful to those who repent, the sinner suffers deep sorrow for and hates his sins, and so he determines to turn away from all of them. And turning to God, he tries to walk with him according to all his commandments.

Although repentance is not any satisfaction for sin and does not cause the forgiveness of sins (since forgiveness is an act of God’s voluntary grace in Christ), yet it is necessary to all sinners, and no one may expect to be forgiven without it.

            Just as there is no sin so small that it does not deserve damnation, so there is no sin so great that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent. Believers should not be satisfied with general repentance. Rather, it is everyone’s duty to try to repent of every individual sin individually.

Everyone is also bound to confess privately his sins to God and to pray for forgiveness for them. Confession, prayer for forgiveness, and the forsaking of sins which have been forgiven will find God’s mercy.

Similarly, anyone who sins against his spiritual brother or the church should be willing to confess, privately or publicly, to demonstrate sorrow for his sin, and openly to state his repentance to those whom he has hurt. They in turn are to be reconciled to him and to receive him in love.

The Westminster Confession of Faith