In his book The Doctrine of Repentance, Puritan pastor Thomas Watson begins by discussing the relationship between faith and repentance in the life of the believer, and specifically where the convert’s repentance at the time of salvation is concerned. Many have touched on this topic, but Watson puts it in words that are easy to grasp.
I shall not dispute the priority, whether faith or repentance goes first. Doubtless repentance shows itself first in a Christian’s life. Yet I am apt to think that the seeds of faith are first wrought in the heart. As when a taper (candle) is brought into a room the light shows itself first, but the taper was before the light, so we see the fruits of repentance first, but the beginnings of faith were there before.
That which inclines me to think that faith is seminally in the heart before repentance is because repentance, being a grace, must be exercised by one that is living. Now, how does the soul live but by faith? ‘The just shall live by his faith’ (Heb. 10:38). Therefore there must be first some seeds of faith in the heart of a penitent, otherwise it is a dead repentance and so of no value.
Whether faith or repentance goes first, however, I am sure that repentance is of such importance that there is no being saved without it.
I am so moved by Watson’s simple style of communicating profound truths, as demonstrated here. Next up, the good pastor teaches us what are the hallmarks of counterfeit repentance.
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