Modern 1689 Confession

 Original

Reeves

Chapter 15:

Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation

1. 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. ( Titus 3:2-5 )

2. Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth not, and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption 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.

( Ecclesiastes 7:20; Luke 22:31, 32 )

3. This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit 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-abhorrency, 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.

( Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18; Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Psalms 119:6; Psalms 119:128 )

4. 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.

( Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15 )

5. 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 that repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.

( Romans 6:23; Isaiah 1:16-18 Isaiah 55:7 )

Chapter 15

Repentance to Life and Salvation

1. Some of the elect are converted after their early years, having lived in the natural^a state for a time and served various evil desires and pleasures. God gives these repentance to life as part of their effectual calling.¹

^awithout the Spirit

¹Titus 3:2-5.

2. There is no one who does good and does not sin.²  Even the best may fall into great sins and offenses, through the power and deceitfulness of the corruption in them, along with the strength of temptation.  God has mercifully provided in the covenant of grace that believers who sin and fall will be renewed through repentance to salvation.³

²Ecclesiastes 7:20. ³Luke 22:31, 32.

3. This saving repentance is a gospel grace⁴ in which those who are made aware by the Holy Spirit of the many evils of their sin, by faith in Christ humble themselves for it with godly sorrow, hatred of it, and self-loathing.⁵ They pray for pardon and strength of grace and determine and endeavor by provisions from the Spirit to live before God in a well-pleasing way in everything.⁶

⁴Zechariah 12:10; Acts 11:18. ⁵Ezekiel 36:31; 2 Corinthians 7:11. ⁶Psalms 119:6, 128.

4.  Repentance must continue throughout our lives, because of the body of death and its activities. So it is everyone’s duty to repent of each specific, known sin specifically.⁷

⁷Luke 19:8; 1 Timothy 1:13, 15.

5. God has made full provision through Christ in the covenant of grace to preserve believers in their salvation. Thus, although there is no sin so small that it is undeserving of damnation,⁸ yet there is no sin so great that it will bring damnation on those who repent.⁹ This makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.

⁸Romans 6:23. ⁹Isaiah 1:16-18; 55:7.