The Fruits and Practice of Repentance (Chapter 15, Paragraph 3)

“This saving repentance is an evangelical grace…”

It is called “evangelical” because it flows from the gospel. Repentance does not arise from legal threats alone but from knowing the mercy of God in Christ (Rom. 2:4).

“…whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin…”

True repentance begins with spiritual awareness. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see sin—not just its consequences, but its offense against a holy God.

“…does by faith in Christ humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency…”

Repentance involves hating our sin and grieving over it in a holy way—not merely feeling bad, but turning inwardly with revulsion toward sin and reverence toward God.

“…praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well pleasing in all things.”

This is the fruit of repentance: ongoing prayer, dependence on grace, and a renewed pursuit of holiness. It is not perfection, but a Spirit-empowered reorientation of life.

Application for the Believer:

Do not treat repentance as something that happened only at conversion. It is a continual grace in the believer’s life. Daily repentance keeps the heart tender before God and the conscience clean. Are you praying for strength to walk in obedience? Do you hate your sin or excuse it? Saving repentance leads to godly sorrow, not worldly regret (2 Cor. 7:10), and it bears fruit in humility, confession, and a changed walk. Ask the Spirit to show you hidden sins. Confess them. Rely on Christ. And walk before God with joy, knowing that repentance is not a burden—it is a path to spiritual renewal.