Lesson # 87—Repentance unto Life

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Shorter Catechism Q & A #87

Q. 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 and hatred and of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience.

Memorize Q&A—Exposition

‘Repentance unto life’ is called a saving grace, because it is by the mercy of God alone that we repent. We do not repent to obtain or merit salvation or life in Christ; for “God having resolved to take pity on men for the express purpose of leading them to repent” (John Calvin’s Institutes).

What does it mean?

Discuss the meaning of repentance unto life:

1. As a saving grace, Acts 2:37–38
2. With a true sense of sin
3. Of the mercy of God, Joel 2:12, Jer. 3:22
4. Of a true hatred of sin which turns us to God, Jer. 31:18–19, Ezek. 36:31
5. With an endeavor to obey God, 2 Cor. 7:11, Isa. 1:16–17

What is our practice?

If we hurt someone with words, we repent and seek to bless that person with words of love and encouragement. If we steal from a neighbor, we repent and seek to do good in returning the item or by other means show acts of kindness. Acts which bring about sin ought to be repented of and replaced by acts of righteousness that glorify God and bring joy to others.

Quotes for thought and discussion:

“Repentance unto Life” (Acts 11:19) “The word ‘repentance’ alone is expressed in this place, but when he addeth ‘unto life’, it appeareth plainly that it is not separated from faith. Therefore, whosoever will rightly profit in the gospel, let him put off the old man, and think upon newness of life. (Eph. 4:22); that done, let him know for a certainty that he is not called in vain unto repentance, but that there is salvation prepared for him in Christ. So shall it come to pass, that the hope and assurance of salvation shall rest upon the free mercy of God alone, and that the forgiveness of sins shall, notwithstanding, be no cause of sluggish security.” (John Calvin, Commentary)

“Conversely, we are God’s: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God’s: let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are God’s: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal [Rom. 14:8; cf. 1 Cor. 6:19]. O how much has that man profited who, having been taught that he is not his own, has taken away dominion and rule from his own reason that he may yield it to God! For, as consulting our self-interest is the pestilence that most effectively leads to our destruction, so the sole haven of salvation is to be wise in nothing and to will nothing through ourselves but to follow the leading of the Lord alone.” (John Calvin, Institutes)

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