C ONFESIÓN DE FE DE W ESTMINSTER

CAPÍTULO XV
Del arrepentimiento para vida

I. El arrepentimiento para vida es una gracia evangélica,[1]     cuya doctrina ha de ser predicada por todo ministro del evangelio, así como la de la fe en Cristo.[2]   

[1]     Zacarías 12:10. Y derramaré sobre la casa de David, y sobre los moradores de Jerusalén, espíritu de gracia y de oración; y mirarán a mí, a quien traspasaron, y harán duelo por él como quien se lamenta por su único hijo. , y tendrá amargura por él, como quien siente amargura por su primogénito. Hechos 11:18. Oyendo estas cosas, callaron, y glorificaron a Dios, diciendo: De manera que también a los gentiles ha dado Dios arrepentimiento para vida.

[2]     Lucas 24:47. y que se predicase en su nombre el arrepentimiento y el perdón de pecados en todas las naciones, comenzando desde Jerusalén. Marcos 1:15. Y diciendo: El tiempo se ha cumplido, y el reino de Dios se ha acercado; arrepentíos, y creed en el evangelio. Hechos 20:21. Testificando tanto a los judíos como a los griegos, el arrepentimiento para con Dios y la fe en nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

II. Por ella, un pecador, fuera de la vista y el sentido no sólo del peligro, sino también de la inmundicia y odio de sus pecados, como contrarios a la naturaleza santa y la ley justa de Dios; y sobre la comprensión de su misericordia en Cristo para aquellos que son arrepentidos, se afligen tanto y odian sus pecados, como para volverse de todos ellos a Dios,[3]     proponiendo y esforzándonos por andar con él en todos los caminos de sus mandamientos.[4]   

[3]     Ezequiel 18:30-31. Por tanto, yo os juzgaré, oh casa de Israel, a cada uno según sus caminos, dice el Señor DIOS . Arrepentíos, y convertíos de todas vuestras transgresiones; para que la iniquidad no sea vuestra ruina. Echad de vosotros todas vuestras transgresiones en que habéis transgredido; y os haga un corazón nuevo y un espíritu nuevo; porque ¿por qué moriréis, oh casa de Israel? Ezequiel 36:31. Entonces os acordaréis de vuestros malos caminos, y de vuestras obras que no fueron buenas, y os aborreceréis de vosotros mismos por vuestras iniquidades y por vuestras abominaciones. Isaías 30:22.También profanarás la cubierta de tus imágenes talladas de plata, y el ornato de tus imágenes fundidas de oro; le dirás: Vete de aquí. Salmo 51:4. Contra ti, contra ti solo he pecado, y he hecho este mal delante de tus ojos, para que seas justificado en tus palabras, y seas claro en tus juicios. Jeremías 31:18-19. Seguramente he oído a Efraín lamentándose así; Me azotaste, y fui azotado, como a un becerro que no está acostumbrado al yugo: conviérteme, y seré convertido; porque tú eres el SEÑORDios mío. Ciertamente después que me convertí, me arrepentí; y después de haber sido instruido, me golpeé en el muslo; me avergoncé, sí, me confundí, porque llevé el oprobio de mi juventud. Joel 2:12-13. Por tanto, ahora también, dice Jehová , convertíos a mí con todo vuestro corazón, y con ayuno y llanto y lamento; y rasgad vuestro corazón, y no vuestras vestiduras, y convertíos a Jehová vuestro Dios . porque es clemente y misericordioso, tardo para la ira y grande en misericordia, y se arrepiente del mal. Amós 5:15. Odien el mal, y amen el bien, y establezcan juicio en la puerta: por ventura el SEÑOR Dios de los ejércitos tendrá piedad del remanente de José. Salmo 119:128.Por tanto, estimo rectos todos tus preceptos acerca de todas las cosas; y odio todo camino falso. 2 Corintios 7:11. Porque he aquí, esta misma cosa, que os afligisteis según Dios, qué cuidado obró en vosotros, sí, qué limpieza de vosotros mismos, sí, qué indignación, sí, qué temor, sí, qué deseo vehemente, sí, qué celo, sí ¡Qué venganza! En todo os habéis aprobado a vosotros mismos para ser claros en este asunto.

[4]    Psalm 119:6, 59, 106. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.... I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.... I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Luke 1:6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 2 Kings 23:25. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

III. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof,[5]    which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ;[6]    yet it is of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.[7]   

[5]    Ezekiel 36:31-32. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. Ezekiel 16:61-63. Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the LORD God.

[6]    Hosea 14:2, 4. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.... I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Romans 3:24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

[7]    Luke 13:3, 5. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Acts 17:30-31. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

IV. As there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation;[8]    so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent.[9]   

[8]    Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Matthew 12:36. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

[9]    Isaiah 55:7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Romans 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Isaiah 1:16, 18. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil.... Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

V. 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.[10]   

[10]    Psalm 19:13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Luke 19:8. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 1 Timothy 1:13, 15. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.... This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

VI. As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof;[11]    upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy;[12]    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,[13]    who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.[14]   

[11]    Psalm 51:4-5, 7, 9, 14. 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. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.... Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.... Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.... Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Psalm 32:5-6. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

[12]    Proverbs 28:13. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[13]    James 5:16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Luke 17:3-4. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. Joshua 7:19. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. Psalm 51.

[14]    2 Corinthians 2:8. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.



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