Join Rev. Patrick Hines, Rev. Henry Johnson, Rev. Jess Stanfield (for the first time today!), and Ruling Elder Ryan Kiser for today's podcast on the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 15, "Of Repentance Unto Life." CHAP. XV.—Of Repentance unto Life. I. REPENTANCE unto life is an evangelical grace (Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18 18 And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life. ), the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the Gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ ( Luke 24:47 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ; Mark 1:15 15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel. ; Acts 20:21 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ). II. By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of His mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God (Ezek. 18:30-31; 36:31; Isa. 30:22; Ps. 51:4; Jer. 31:18-19; Joel 2:12-13 12 Yet even now, saith Jehovah, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil. ; Amos 5:15 15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. ; Ps. 119:128; 2 Cor. 7:11), purposing and endeavouring to walk with Him in all the ways of His commandments (Ps. 119:6, 59, 106; Luke 1:6 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ; 2 Kings 23:25 25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to Jehovah with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. ). III. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof (Ezek. 36:31-32; 16:61-63), which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ (Hos. 14:2, 4; Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7); yet is it of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it ( Luke 13:3 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. , 5; Acts 17:30-31 30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: 31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. ). IV. As there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation (Rom. 6:23; 5:12; Matt. 12:36); so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 8:1; Isa. 1:16, 18). V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to endeavour to repent of his particular sins, particularly (Ps. 19:13; Luke 19:8 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold. ; 1 Tim. 1:13, 15). VI. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof (Ps. 51:4-5, 7, 9, 14; 32:5-6); upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy (Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ); so, he that scandalizeth his brother, or the Church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession, and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended ( James 5:16 16 Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. ; Luke 17:3-4 3 Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. ; Josh. 7:19; Ps. 51), who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him (2 Cor. 2:8).