Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
Savoy Declaration · 15.1–15.5
15.1. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling giveth them repentance unto life.
Proof texts
- Zech. 12:10 — [10] “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
- Acts 11:18 — [18] When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
- Luke 24:47 — [47] and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
- Mark 1:15 — [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
- Acts 20:21 — [21] testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Zech. 12:10 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 15.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
15.2. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
Whereas there is none that doth good, and sinneth not, and the best of men may through the power and deceitfulness of their corruptions dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath in the covenant of grace mercifully provided, that believers so sinning and falling, be renewed through repentance unto salvation.
Proof texts
- Ezek. 18:30, 31 — [30] “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. [31] Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?
- Ezek. 36:31 — [31] Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.
- Isa. 30:22 — [22] Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”
- Ps. 51:4 — [4] Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
- Jer. 31:18, 19 — [18] I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God. [19] For after I had turned away, I relented, and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
- Joel 2:12, 13 — [12] “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; [13] and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
- Amos 5:15 — [15] Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
- Ps. 119:128 — [128] Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.
- 2 Cor. 7:11 — [11] For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
- Ps. 119:6, 59, 106 — [6] Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. [59] When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; [106] I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.
- Luke 1:6 — [6] And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
- 2 Kings 23:25 — [25] Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Ezek. 18:30, 31 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 12 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 15.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
15.3. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person being by the Holy Ghost made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth by faith in Christ humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose, and endeavour by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.
Proof texts
- Ezek. 36:31, 32 — [31] Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. [32] It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.
- Ezek. 16:61, 62, 63 — [61] Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. [62] I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD, [63] that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord GOD.”
- Hosea 14:2, 4 — [2] Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. [4] I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.
- Rom. 3:24 — [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
- Eph. 1:7 — [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
- Luke 13:3, 5 — [3] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. [5] No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
- Acts 17:30, 31 — [30] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] 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.”
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Ezek. 36:31, 32 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 7 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 15.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
15.4. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof; so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.
Proof texts
- Rom. 6:23 — [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Rom. 5:12 — [12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned —
- Matt. 12:36 — [36] I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
- Isa. 55:7 — [7] let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Rom. 8:1 — [1] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Isa. 1:16, 18 — [16] Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, [18] “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Rom. 6:23 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 6 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 15.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
15.5. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace, for the preservation of believers unto salvation, that although there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation; yet there is no sin so great, that it shall bring damnation on them who truly repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.
Proof texts
- Ps. 19:13 — [13] Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
- Luke 19:8 — [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
- 1 Tim. 1:13, 15 — [13] though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, [15] The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Ps. 19:13 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 15.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?