Faith is a part of repentance.
Faith is a part of repentance.
§ 42. With the following arguments we demonstrate that true faith in Christ is no less required for salutary repentance and that it constitutes the second part of it.
(1) Repentance is a “work unto life” (Acts 11:18) through which one obtains forgiveness of sins (Jer. 36:3; Acts 3:19), the grace of God, righteousness, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the turning away or mitigation of punishments, and eternal life, as will be shown more fully in its own place [§ 140]. But these find no place without faith, without which “it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). Indeed, these benefits are obtained only by means of faith in Christ. Therefore faith cannot be excluded from the parts of true repentance. Instead, all the things said about repentance are said with respect to faith in that manner of predication by which the property of a part is attributed to the whole because of that part.
(2) Anything through which true and salutary repentance is distinguished from false and destructive repentance must not be excluded from the essential parts of true and salutary repentance. But now, it is through faith that true and salutary repentance is distinguished from that which is false and destructive. Therefore faith must not be excluded from the essential parts of true and salutary repentance. The minor premise is established from the definition of both [sorts] of repentance given earlier [§ 34]. Judas repented of his betrayal [Matt. 27:3–4] no less than did Peter of his denial [Matt. 26:75], but the repentance of Judas was not salutary because it was not united with true saving faith in Christ, by which Peter again lifted himself up in the torments of his conscience.
(3) Anything required as an essential part in the description of true and salutary repentance does not come as something to be excluded from the number of its parts. But faith is required as an essential part in the description of true and salutary repentance. “But you, seeing it, did not even afterward repent, that you might believe Him” (Matt. 21:32). “Repent and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). “I testified to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
** “John preached, saying, ‘Repent’ ” (Matt. 3:[1–]2). “John baptized with the Baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in the One who was going to come” (Acts 19:4). **
Therefore faith must not be excluded from the number of the parts of repentance. The further specification, that it is required as a “part,” is added because of the new obedience, which is likewise required in the description of true repentance, but as a fruit, not as a part. “Bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matt. 3:8). “I preached to the Gentiles to repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance” (Acts 26:20).
(4) If faith is removed from the number of essential parts of repentance, there is no ending point [terminus ad quem] in conversion, no distinction remains between salutary and destructive repentance, firm comfort is taken away from terror-stricken consciences, and all repentance would then be the work of the Law, and thus it would not be “repentance unto life” and “unto salvation” (Acts 11:18; 2 Cor. 7:10). Since all this is absurd, it certainly cannot be denied that faith is a part of repentance.