Lord’s Day 33
Q88. What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion?
Two things: the dying of the old self, and the coming to life of the new.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Romans 6:1–11
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also of resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with , that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man in Christ, a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Ephesians 4:22–24
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Colossians 3:5–10
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new , which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
Modernized Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
This question, which concerns the motivating reasons for good works, is placed before the question about conversion, not because good works come before conversion, but because this ordering creates a more compelling connection with what has already been said. Human reason draws the following conclusion from the doctrine of free satisfaction: the person for whom another has already paid the debt is not required to pay it himself. Christ has paid that debt for us. Therefore, we have no need to perform good works. Our reply is that this conclusion goes beyond what the premises actually support. What legitimately follows is simply this: we ourselves are not required to make satisfaction, which we freely grant on two counts.
1. With respect to God's justice, which does not demand a double payment.
2. With respect to our salvation, which would be no salvation at all if it depended on our own payment. Even so, we remain bound to render obedience and perform good works, for the reasons the Catechism identifies and explains: