Lord’s Day 33
Q89. What is the dying of the old self?
It is to be genuinely sorry for sin, to hate it more and more, and to run away from it.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Psalm 51:3–4, 17
“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, be clear when thou judgest. The sacrifices of God a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
Joel 2:12–13
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Romans 8:12–13
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
2 Corinthians 7:10
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
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: