Q70. What is repentance to life?
Repentance to life is a saving grace, by which a sinner, out of a genuine awareness of his sins and a recognition of God's mercy in Christ, turns from his sin to God with grief and hatred for what he has done, with a firm commitment to pursue new obedience.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Acts 11:18
“When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”
Acts 2:37
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Joel 2:13
“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
Jeremiah 31:18–19
“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.”
Psalm 119:59
“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.”