Chapter II
CHAPTER II: DOES REPENTANCE EXIST?
§ 14. Before we proceed to explain the nature and parts of repentance, it must first be proven that repentance exists, that is, that a way back to God lies open to those who truly repent and that forgiveness of sins should be announced to them.
** The Photinians claim: “If someone falls into voluntary mortal sins, and sins against conscience, and does not truly grieve over them and repent as soon as he has committed them, he cannot thereafter anymore receive the forgiveness of sins, though he may ask for that with tears. ‘Deliberate sins have no sacrifice’ ” (Heb. 10[:26]). ([See] Matthaeus Radecke, the attorney [syndicus] of Danzig, in the book called Welche sind die Christum verleugnen.) Johannes Sommer writes: “Temporal punishments which are inflicted because of sins are not inflicted except by an angry God and are testimonies of eternal damnation.” **