1689 Chapter 15, Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation

7/30/2019 1689 Chapter 15, Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation

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SavingFaith &

Repentance

To Life &

SalvationTHE 1689 BAPTIST CONFESSIONCHAPTER 14 & 15


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14OutlineI. The source of saving faith

A. The personal agent involvedB. The instrumental means involved

II The acts of saving faithA. Embraces Bibles infallibility & excellency

B. Responds appropriately to everything inBible

C. Saving faith trusts in Christ alone forsalvation from sin

III. The distinctiveness of saving faithA The fact of its distinctiveness

1. The fact qualified2. The fact emphasized

B. The fruit of its distinctiveness


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14 - Faith DefinedQ90: What doth God require of

us, that we may escape his wrathand curse due to us for sin?

A: To escape the wrath and curse ofGod due to us for sin, God requireth

of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance

unto life, with the diligent use of allthe outward means whereby Christ

communicateth to us the benefits of

redemption.


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14 - Faith DefinedQ91: What is faith in Jesus

Christ?

A: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving

grace , whereby we receiveand rest upon him alone for

salvation, as he is offered to us

in the gospel.


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14 - Faith DefinedQ95: How is the Word made

effectual to salvation?

A: The Spirit of God maketh the

reading, but especially thepreaching of the Word, an

effectual means of convincing

and converting sinners, and ofbuilding them up in holiness and

comfort, through faith, unto

salvation.


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Conversion:2 Divine-Human Activities

Conversion defined:

Our willing response to the

gospel call, in which wesincerely repent of sins and

place our trust in Christ for

salvation


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Conversion:2 Divine-Human Activities

Repentance defined:

Turning from sin

Faith defined:

Turning to Jesus


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What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Repent?Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 11:18; 17:30

Therefore repent and return, so that

your sins may be wiped away

Believe?

8:12-13; 10:43; 11:17; 13:39; 16:31through His name everyone who

believes in Him receives forgiveness

of sins.


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Why arent both always mentioned?There is only one solution to this difficultythat is logically consistent and in line withthe biblical data. Though faith andrepentance are distinct graces, they are

so intimately connected that one neverexist without the other.

Repentance and faith are distinct. Some

might think, The solution is thatrepentance and faith are two differentnames for the same thing. They are

synonyms. [cont.]


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This would be a false conclusion forthe biblical data does not permit it.

Repentance and faith depict differentrealities

One [Greek word for repentance] means

a change of mind about God and sin.The other means a turning from sin toGod. Faith is a conviction of the truth and

a commitment to Christ, a closely relatedbut distinct thing. Repentance and faithare directed towards different objects

(Acts 20:21). [cont.]


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Repentance focuses onGod and his law.

Faith focuses on Christand his grace.Repentance and faithpossess different roles insalvationFaith highlights the gracethat works salvation.

Repentance highlightsthe change thatsalvation works.

- p.193-194


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Both Intimately Connected

One cannot exist without the otherActs 20:21; 11:17-18; 17:30, 34

solemnly testifying to both Jews

and Greeks of repentancetoward God and faith in our LordJesus Christ.


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You cannot repentunless you believe.

You cannot believe

unless you repent.

All true faith isrepentant.

All true repentance is

believing.

Thus both are necessary

to be saved


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Which is prior, faith orrepentance? It is an

unnecessary question andthe insistence that one isprior to the other isfutile. There is no priority.The faith that is untosalvation is a penitent faithand the repentance that is

unto life is a believingrepentance. Repentance isadmirably defined in the

Shorter Catechism.


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Repentance DefinedQ92: What is repentance unto

life?

A: Repentance unto life is a

saving grace, whereby a sinner,out of a true sense of his sin, and

apprehension of the mercy of

God in Christ, doth, with grief andhatred of his sin, turn from it unto

God, with full purpose of, and

endeavour after, new obedience.


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Chapter 15 - Paragraph 1Some of the elect are converted

after their early years, having

lived in the naturala state for atime and served various evil

desires and pleasures. God

gives these repentance to life aspart of their effectual calling.1

a:without the Spirit


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15.1The Recipients [Riper]Titus 3:2-5 For we also once were

foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived,enslaved to various lusts and pleasures,spending our life in malice and envy,

hateful, hating one another.

4

But whenthe kindness of God our Savior and Hislove for mankind appeared, 5 He savedus, not on the basis of deeds which we

have done in righteousness, butaccording to His mercy, by the washingof regeneration and renewing by the

Holy Spirit,


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Are only thoseconverted at riper years

given repentance?

The answer of the

Confession to thequestion raised above is

clearly No. Both

paragraphs 2 and 4 makeclear that all believers

repent and thus are given

repentance. [cont.]


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The Confession makes this out of adesire to distinguish repentance as a

crisis experience from repentance as anordinary grace. All believers are markedby ordinary grace, but not all believers will

know, or need to know, repentance as acrisis experience [i.e. Manasseh, Paul,Philippian jailer]I believe our Baptist forefathers had

several practical concerns in making thisdistinction. Chiefly, they wanted to makesure that no one could accuse them of

believing that all Christians [cont.]


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must have a crisis conversion likethat of the Philippian jailor. They were

saying, Though we insist emphatically onpersonal conversion, we understand thatthe experience of a child raised in a

Christian home may be quite differentfrom that of one who is converted withoutthe benefit of Christian nurture as a child.Both converts will experience repentance,

but both may not have a crisis conversionexperience. [cont]


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Do not doubt your salvation merelybecause you lack a crisis experience

like that of some respected brother or sisterin the Lord. Do not demand of others acertain type of conversion experience as a

necessary mark of true grace. Anemotional earthquake, radical, externalchanges in ones life-style, knowing theexact time of ones rebirth, an extended

work of conviction by the law, immediatesudden joyall of these may accompanyconversion, but none are necessary marks

of true repentance.


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Chapter 15 - Paragraph 2

There is no one who does good anddoes not sin.2 Even the best may fallinto great sins and offenses, through

the power and deceitfulness of thecorruption in them, along with thestrength of temptation. Therefore,

God has mercifully provided in thecovenant of grace that believerswho sin and fall will be renewed

through repentance to salvation.3


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15.2The Recipients [All]

There is no one who does good anddoes not sin

Eccl. 7:20 Indeed, there is not a

righteous man on earthwho continually does good and

who never sins.

Prov. 20:9 Who can say, I havecleansed my heart, I am purefrom my sin?


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Even the best may fall into greatsins and offenses, through the

power and deceitfulness of the

corruption in them, along with thestrength of temptation

2 Sam. 11:1-27 [King David]

Luke 22:54-62 [Peters Denial]


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Therefore, God has mercifullyprovided in the covenant of grace

that believers who sin and fall will

be renewed through repentance tosalvation.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and righteous toforgive us our sins and to cleanse

us from all unrighteousness.


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Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon,behold, Satan has demanded

permission to sift you like wheat;

but I have prayed for you, thatyour faith may not fail; and you,

when once you have turned

again, strengthen your brothers.


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Jer. 32:40 I will makean everlasting covenant with

them that I will not turn away from

them, to do them good; and Iwill put the fear of Me in their

hearts so that they will not turn

away from Me.

Ch t h 3


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Chapter 15 - Paragraph 3This saving repentance is a

gospel grace4 in which those whoare made aware by the Holy Spirit of

the many evils of their sin, by faith in

Christ humble themselves for it withgodly sorrow, hatred of it, and self-

loathing.5 They pray for pardon and

strength of grace and determine andendeavor by provisions from the Spirit

to live before God in a well-pleasing

way in everything.6

5 3 It N t


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5.3Its NatureThis saving repentance is a

gospel grace2 Tim. 2:14-15 with gentleness

correcting those who are in

opposition, if perhaps God maygrant them repentance leading

to the knowledge of the truth,

5 3 It N t


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5.3Its NatureActs 5:31 He is the one whom

God exalted to His right hand asa Prince and a Savior, to grant

repentance to Israel, and

forgiveness of sins.Acts 11:18 When they heard this,

they quieted down and glorified

God, saying, Well then, God hasgranted to the Gentiles also the

repentance that leadsto life.

5 3 Wh t i b i f t d?


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5.3What is being refuted?Lutherans are wont

[accustomed or in the habit] tostress the fact that repentance is

wrought by the law and

faith by the gospel. Itshould be borne in mind,

however, that the two

cannot be separated;they are simply

complementary parts of

the same process.- p. 487


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Rom. 2 3 But do you suppose this,O man, when you pass judgment

on those who practice such thingsand do the same yourself, that you will

escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do

you think lightly of the riches of Hiskindness and tolerance and patience,not knowing that the kindness of God

leads you to repentance?5

Butbecause of your stubbornness andunrepentant heart you are storing up

wrath for yourself in the day of wrath

5 3 It N t


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5.3Its Naturein which those who are made

aware by the Holy Spirit of the manyevils of their sin, by faith in Christ

humble themselves for it with godly

sorrow, hatred of it, and self-loathingEzek. 36:31 Then you will remember

your evil ways and your deeds that

were not good, and you will loatheyourselves in your own sight for your

iniquities and your abominations.

0


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2 Cor. 7 10 For the sorrow that isaccording to the will ofGod

produces a repentance without regret,leading to salvation, but the sorrow ofthe world produces death. 11 For behold

what earnestness this very thing, thisgodly sorrow, has produced in you:what vindication of yourselves, what

indignation, what fear, what longing,what zeal, what avenging of wrong! Ineverything you demonstrated

yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

5 3 G dl S


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5.3Godly SorrowPs. 51 1 Be gracious to me, O

God, according to Yourlovingkindness; According to the

greatness of Your compassion blot

out my transgressions. 2 Wash methoroughly from my iniquity

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, Andmy sin is ever before me. 4 AgainstYou, You only, I have sinned And

done what is evil in Yoursight

5 3 G dl S


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5.3Godly SorrowLuke 15 17 But when he came to

his senses, he said, How many of myfathers hired men have more than

enough bread, but I am dying here

with hunger! 18 I will get up and go tomy father, and will say to him, Father,

I have sinned against heaven, and in

your sight;19 I am no longer worthy tobe called your son; make me as oneof your hired men.20 So he got up

and came to his father

5 3 W ldl S


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5.3Worldly SorrowMatt. 27 3 Then when Judas,

who had betrayed Him, saw thatHe had been condemned, he felt

remorse and returned the thirty

pieces of silver to the chief priestsand elders, 4 saying, I have sinned

by betraying innocent blood. But

they said, What is that to us?See to that yourself! 5 and he

went away and hanged himself.

5 3 It N t


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5.3Its NatureThey pray for pardon and

strength of grace and determineand endeavor by provisions from the

Spirit to live before God in a well-

pleasing way in everything.Ps. 119:128 Therefore I esteem right

all Yourprecepts concerning

everything, I hate every false way.

5 3 It N t


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5.3Its NatureProv. 28:13 He who conceals

his transgressions will not prosper,But he who confesses and forsakes

them will find compassion.

Ps. 119:59 I considered my waysAnd turned my feet to Your

testimonies.

Ps. 119:104 From Your preceptsI get understanding; Therefore I

hate every false way.

5 3 Its Nat re


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5.3Its NatureLuke 3:8 Therefore bear fruits in

keeping with repentance, and donot begin to say to yourselves, We

have Abraham for our father, for I

say to you that from these stonesGod is able to raise up children to

Abraham.

5 3 Its Nature


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5.3Its NatureActs 26:20 but kept declaring

both to those of Damascus first,and also at Jerusalem and then

throughout all the region of Judea,

and even to the Gentiles, that theyshould repent and turn to God,

performing deeds appropriate to

repentance.

5 3 Its Nature


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5.3Its Nature1 Thes. 1:9 For they themselves

report about us what kind of areception we had with you, and

how you turned to God from idols

to serve a living and true God,


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Chapter 15 - Paragraph 4Repentance must continue

throughout our lives, because ofthe body of death and its

activities. So it is everyones duty

to repent of each specific,known sin specifically.

Matt. 5:4 Blessed are thosewho mourn, for they shall becomforted.

5 4 Its Continuance


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5.4Its ContinuanceLuke 19:8 Zaccheus stopped and

said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half ofmy possessions I will give to the poor,

and if I have defrauded anyone of

anything, I will give back four times asmuch.

1 Tim. 1:13 even though I was formerly

a blasphemer and a persecutor and aviolent aggressor. Yet I was shown

mercy because I acted ignorantly in

unbelief;


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Chapter 15 - Paragraph 5God has made full provision

through Christ in the covenant ofgrace to preserve believers in their

salvation. Thus, although there is no

sin so small that it is undeserving ofdamnation,8 yet there is no sin so

great that it will bring damnation on

those who repent.9 This makes theconstant preaching of repentance

necessary.


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5.5 Its ProvisionGod has made full provision

through Christ in the covenant ofgrace to preserve believers in theirsalvation. Thus, although there is no

sin so small that it is undeserving ofdamnation

Ps. 130:3 If You, LORD, should mark

iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?


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5.5 Its ProvisionPs. 143:2 And do not enter into

judgment with Your servant,For in Your sight no man living isrighteous.

Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is

death, but the free gift of Godis eternal life in Christ Jesus our

Lord.


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Chapter 15 - Paragraph 5yet there is no sin so great that

it will bring damnation on those whorepent.9 This makes the constantpreaching of repentance necessary.

Is. 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his

way And the unrighteous manhis thoughts; And let him return to

the LORD, And He will have

compassion on him, And to our

God, For He will abundantly pardon.

5 5 Its Provision


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5.5 Its ProvisionIs. 1:16-18 Wash yourselves,

make yourselves clean; Remove theevil of your deeds from My sight.

Cease to do evil, Learn to do good;

Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless,Defend the orphan, Plead for the

widow. Come now, and let us reason

together, Says the Lord, Though yoursins are as scarlet, They will be as

white as snow; Though they are red

like crimson, They will be like wool.

REPENTANCE t b bitt ill


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REPENTANCE seems to be a bitter pillto take, but it is to purge out the bad

humour of sin. By some Antinomian spirits itis cried down as a legal doctrine; but Christhimself preached it. From that time Jesusbegan to preach, and to say, Repent, &c.Matt iv IT In his last farewell, when he wasascending to heaven, he commanded thatRepentance should be preached in his

name. Luke xxiv 47. Repentance is a puregospel grace. The covenant of works wouldnot admit of repentance; it cursed all that

could not perform perfect and personal

obedience Gal iii 10


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obedience. Gal iii 10.

Repentance comes in by the

gospel; it is the fruit of Christspurchase that repentingsinners shall be saved. It iswrought by the ministry of thegospel, while it sets beforeour eyes Christ crucified. It isnot arbitrary, but necessary; there is no

being saved without it. Except ye repent,ye shall all likewise perish. Luke xiii 3. Wemay be thankful to God that he has left us

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1689 Chapter 15, Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation

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