The Book of Confessions - The Presbyterian Leader

not by the law. A more detailed exposition of this matter will follow presently under the heading
of justification.
THE TEACHING OF THE GOSPEL IS NOT NEW, BUT MOST ANCIENT
DOCTRINE. And although the teaching of the Gospel, compared with the teaching of the
Pharisees concerning the law, seemed to be a new doctrine when first preached by Christ (which
Jeremiah also prophesied concerning the New Testament), yet actually it not only was and still is
an old doctrine (even if today it is called new by the Papists when compared with the teaching
now received among them), but is the most ancient of all in the world. For God predestinated
from eternity to save the world through Christ, and he has disclosed to the world through the
Gospel this his predestination and eternal counsel (II Tim. 2:9 f.). Hence it is evident that the
religion and teaching of the Gospel among all who ever were, are and will be, is the most ancient
of all. Wherefore we assert that all who say that the religion and teaching of the Gospel is a faith
which has recently arisen, being scarcely thirty years old, err disgracefully and speak shamefully of
the eternal counsel of God. To them applies the saying of Isaiah the prophet: "Woe to those who
call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for
sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isa. 5:20).
CHAPTER XIV - Of Repentance and the Conversion of Man
The doctrine of repentance is joined with the Gospel. For so has the Lord said in the
Gospel: "Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in my name to all nations" (Luke
24:27). WHAT IS REPENTANCE? By repentance we understand (1) the recovery of a right
mind in sinful man awakened by the Word of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit, and received by true
faith, by which the sinner immediately acknowledges his innate corruption and all his sins accused
by the Word of God; and (2) grieves for them from his heart, and not only bewails and frankly
confesses them before God with a feeling of shame, but also (3) with indignation abominates
them; and (4) now zealously considers the amendment of his ways and constantly strives for
innocence and virtue in which conscientiously to exercise himself all the rest of his life.
TRUE REPENTANCE IS CONVERSION TO GOD. And this is true repentance,
namely, a sincere turning to God and all good, and earnest turning away from the devil and all
evil. 1. REPENTANCE IS A GIFT OF GOD. Now we expressly say that this repentance is a
sheer gift of God and not a work of our strength. For the apostle commands a faithful minister
diligently to instruct those who oppose the truth, if "God may perhaps grant that they will repent
and come to know the truth" (II Tim. 2:25). 2. LAMENTS SINS COMMITTED. Now that
sinful woman who washed the feet of the Lord with her tears, and Peter who wept bitterly and
bewailed his denial of the Lord (Luke 7:38; 22:62) show clearly how the mind of a penitent man
ought to be seriously lamenting the sins he has committed. 3. CONFESSES SINS TO GOD.
Moreover, the prodigal son and the publican in the Gospel, when compared with the Pharisee,
present us with the most suitable pattern of how our sins are to be confessed to God. The former
said: "'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called
your son; treat me as one of your hired servants'" (Luke 15:8 ff.). And the latter, not daring to
raise his eyes to heaven, beat his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (ch. 18:13).
Copyright © 1996 by the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)