WCF 15.1
Westminster Confession of Faith
15.1. Of Repentance unto Life
Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the Gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.
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?
- WSC Q85 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WSC Q86 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WSC Q85 · WSC Q86 · WSC Q87 · WLC Q76 · HC Q86 · BC 6.3 · BC 6.4 · BC 6.5 · SC60 5.1 · SC60 5.2 · SC60 5.3 · SC60 5.4 · IAR 5.6 · SHC 5.1 · SHC 5.2 · SHC 5.3
Leader's notes
A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): These Sections teach the following truths : 1st. That as to the grounds of it, true evangelical repentance rests upon (a) a true sense of the guilt, pollution and power of his own sinfulness, and of his own sinful deeds ; and (6) a true apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ. 2d. That as to the essence of it repentance consists (a) in true hatred of sin and sorrow for his own sin ; (6) in an actual turning from them all unto God ; (c) in a sincere purpose and practical endeavour to walk with God in the way of his commandments. 2^5 3d. That as thus defined this true repentance is an evangelical grace, like faith…
An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): The repentance described in this chapter is called repentance unto life, because it is inseparably connected with the enjoyment of eternal life, and to distinguish it from the sorrow of the world, which worketh death. It is styled a grace, because it is the free gift of God, and is wrought in the heart by the operation of his Spirit. " Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." — Acts xi, 18. " Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; surely after that I was turned, I repented." — Jer, xxxi. 18, 19. This repentance is also denominated an evangelical grace, to distinguish it from legal repentance. The latter flows from a dread of God's…