Chapter 15: Of Repentance unto Life

1: Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace,^[291] the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the Gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.^[292]

Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith

3: This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong;^[287] may be often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory:^[288] growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance, through Christ,^[289] who is both the author and finisher of our faith.^[290]

Q. 73. How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?
A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it,^[304] nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification;^[305] but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness.^[306]

Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith

2: By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein;^[282] and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands,^[283]trembling at the threatenings,^[284] and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come.^[285] But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.^[286]

Q. 72. What is justifying faith?
A. Justifying faith is a saving grace,^[297] wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit^[298] and Word of God,^[299] whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition,^[300] not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel,^[301] but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin,^[302] and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.^[303]

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,^[178] whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.^[179]

Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith

1: The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls,^[278] is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,^[279] and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word,^[280] by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.^[281]

Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law?
A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ,^[990] and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation.^[991]

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?
A. To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life,^[176] with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption.^[177]

Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love,^[100] peace of conscience,^[101] joy in the Holy Ghost,^[102] increase of grace,^[103] and perseverance therein to the end.^[104]

Q. 77. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?
A. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification,^[330] yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ;^[331] in sanctification of his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof;^[332] in the former, sin is pardoned;^[333] in the other, it is subdued:^[334] the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation^[335] the other is neither equal in all,^[336] nor in this life perfect in any,^[337] but growing up to perfection.^[338]

Chapter 13: Of Sanctification

3: In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail;^[274] yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome;^[275] and so, the saints grow in grace,^[276] perfecting holiness in the fear of God.^[277]

Chapter 13: Of Sanctification

2: This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man;^[271] yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part;^[272] whence arises a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.^[273]

Westminster Larger Catechism

Q. 78. Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in believers?
A. The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins,^[339] are hindered in all their spiritual services,^[340] and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God.^[341]

Q. 75. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit^[314] applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them,^[315] renewed in their whole man after the image of God;^[316] having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts,^[317] and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened,^[318] as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.^[319]

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 35. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace,^[97] whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,^[98] and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.^[99]

Chapter 13: Of Sanctification

1: They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection,^[265] by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them:^[266] the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,^[267] and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified;^[268] and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,^[269] to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.^[270]

Q. 74. What is adoption?
A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God,^[307] in and for his only Son Jesus Christ,^[308] whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children,^[309] have his name put upon them,^[310] the Spirit of his Son given to them,^[311] are under his fatherly care and dispensations,^[312] admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow-heirs with Christ in glory.^[313]

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 34. What is adoption?
A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace,a whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.^[96]