Chapter 15 - OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE AND SALVATION

1 Even some of God's chosen people, who were called to faith later in life, lived for a time in their natural, sinful state, chasing after various worldly pleasures. In their effectual calling (the moment God draws them to himself), he grants them repentance unto life.

2 Since no one is completely good and everyone sins, even the most devout people can be overcome by temptation and the deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, leading them into serious transgressions. However, through the covenant of grace, God has mercifully ensured that when believers fall into sin, they will be renewed through repentance, leading to their salvation.

3 Saving repentance is a grace given by the gospel. Through this grace, the Holy Spirit awakens a person to the many evils of his sin. Trusting in Christ, he humbles himself with a godly sorrow and a hatred for his sin, even despising himself for it. He prays for forgiveness and for the strength to change, and he makes a sincere effort, relying on the Holy Spirit's help, to live in a way that is pleasing to God in every aspect of his life.

4 We're to keep repenting throughout our lives because of the ongoing struggle with remaining sin dwelling in our body of death. It's also every person's duty to specifically repent of individual sins they know they've committed.

5 God, through Christ, has established a covenant of grace that ensures the preservation of believers until their salvation. This provision means that while even the smallest sin deserves damnation, no sin is so great that it will bring damnation to those who repent. This is why the constant preaching of repentance is essential.

6 Both saving faith and genuine repentance are not products of inherent human ability or autonomous human will, but are sovereign gifts graciously bestowed by God. The Scriptures unequivocally declare that salvation, from its inception to its consummation, is entirely a work of divine grace. Therefore, the church must steadfastly maintain its focus upon God's absolute sovereignty in the process of salvation, acknowledging that He initiates, sustains, and brings to completion the work of conversion in the hearts of His elect. This truth humbles man and glorifies God alone for salvation.