TRUE REPENTANCE

INNERS must not believe, that their forgiveness lies in their repentance and sorrow for sin, nor in their inherent holiness. I mean, it is not for the sake of their repentance, nor for the worth of their faith, nor that their inherent holiness is any part, or matter of their justifying righteousness before God; or for the sake and worth of which they are pardoned and justified; but only by the active and passive obedience of Christ.  “Be it known unto you therefore, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things,” Acts 13:38-39.

                Consider that repentance, sorrow for sin, and humiliation, faith itself, are the effects of Christ’s death and merits; and that all sense of sin, and such a believing or confidence, which an ungodly person may have, before he obtains a vital union with Christ, are but dead works, and profits no man to justification; and know also, that true repentance is the immediate product of saving faith, though faith itself is a fruit of God’s Spirit, Gal.5:22.  The sense of divine love in free forgiveness works brokenness of heart, and true sorrow for sin.                                                                                                  BENJAMIN KEACH – 1640-1704