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my thesis, Calvin maintains even in the statements made above the distinction between
faith and repentance. In other words, even if repentance and regeneration are in some
well-qualified sense prior to faith, they are still clearly distinguished from faith. The
statements cited make clear that in so far as repentance and regeneration precede faith
they do not convey "newness of life." Regeneration creates faith in and union with
Christ. It is in union with Christ that newness of life comes. Repentance in so far as it
precedes faith is not newness of life, but simply displeasure with ourselves and the fear of
God's judgment that makes us seek help. Thus, there is maintained a clear distinction
between faith and repentance. Calvin's comments on Psalm 130:4 makes this point.
When a man is awakened with a lively sense of the judgment of God, he cannot fail
to be humbled with shame and fear. Such self-dissatisfaction would not however
suffice, unless at the same time there were added faith, whose office it is to raise up
the hearts which were cast down with fear, and to encourage them to pray for
forgiveness. David then acted as he ought to have done when, in order to his
attaining genuine repentance, he first summons himself before God's judgment; but
to preserve his confidence from falling under the overpowering influence of fear, he
presently adds the hope which there was of obtaining pardon.
44
According to Calvin, the repentance that precedes faith is dissatisfaction,
shame, and fear--not newness of life. It is clearly distinguished from the faith that must
be added in order that forgiveness might be sought and attained. There is no danger,
then, that the ambiguity in the order of faith and repentance in Calvin should lead to a
confusion of faith and repentance or moral renewal. Even, then, in Calvin's "variant"
presentation of the order of faith and repentance, they remain quite distinct. Faith
continues to be clearly distinguished from repentance and regeneration.
The implication for the question. Generally, the terms repentance,
regeneration, and sanctification describe the process of moral renewal that takes place in
the Christian as a result of union with Christ. As we have seen, even where they
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44
Comm. Psa. 130:4. Shepherd, The Nature and Function of Faith, 37 also points to Luke
26:46; Acts 11:18; and Acts 17:31 with regard to this point.