What is repentance unto life?
Repentance unto life is a saving grace1, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ2, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God3, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience4.
Scripture proofs
The Westminster Assembly's proof texts (KJV). The bracketed numbers in the answer above mark the clause each set of references supports; expand a row to read the verses.
1 Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2 Ps. 51:1-4; Joel 2:13; Luke 15:7, 10; Acts 2:37
Ps. 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Ps. 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Ps. 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Ps. 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
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.
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
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?
3 Jer. 31:18-19; Luke 1:16-17; 1 Thess. 1:9
Jer. 31:18 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.
Jer. 31:19 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.
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
4 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 119:57-64; Matt. 3:8; 2 Cor. 7:10
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Ps. 119:57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Ps. 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
Ps. 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Ps. 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Ps. 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
Ps. 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Ps. 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Ps. 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
This doctrine across the Standards
Where the Confession and the Westminster Larger Catechism treat the same matter, so the question can be studied alongside its parallel statements.
In the Westminster Confession
XV.1 Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of …
Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.
→ XV.1 · Of Repentance unto LifeXV.2 By it a sinner, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of …
By it a sinner, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God, and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for and hates his sins as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.
→ XV.2 · Of Repentance unto LifeXV.3 Although repentance be not to be rested in as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the …
Although repentance be not to be rested in as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof, which is the act of God's free grace in Christ; yet is it of such necessity to all sinners that none may expect pardon without it.
→ XV.3 · Of Repentance unto LifeXV.4 As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation, so there is no sin so great …
As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation, so there is no sin so great that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent.
→ XV.4 · Of Repentance unto LifeXV.5 Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavor …
Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavor to repent of his particular sins particularly.
→ XV.5 · Of Repentance unto LifeXV.6 As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon …
As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof, upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy; so he that scandalizeth his brother, or the Church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended, who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.
→ XV.6 · Of Repentance unto LifeIn the Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.76 What is repentance unto life?
Repentance unto life is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and word of God, whereby, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, and upon the apprehension of God's mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, he so grieves for and hates his sins, as that he turns from them all to God, purposing and endeavoring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience.
→ Open Q.76