Harrison Perkins | Understanding the Doctrine of Repentance

Video from Reformed Forum

Harrison Perkins | Understanding the Doctrine of Repentance

"In this episode, Camden Bucey speaks with Dr. Harrison Perkins about his new book A Penitent People: The Doctrine of Repentance. Their conversation brings the warmth of pastoral ministry together with the clarity of confessional Reformed theology. Perkins explains that repentance is often misunderstood—as if it were a dreary duty or an entrance requirement for grace. Instead, Scripture presents repentance as a saving grace, a divine gift through which Christ frees his people from sin’s enslaving power and draws them into renewed joy. Repentance is not the price we pay to come to Christ; it is the fruit of having already been brought to Him by the Spirit through faith.

Together they explore key biblical passages (Psalm 51, Psalm 38, 2 Corinthians 7, Luke 3), the Reformed confessions, unhealthy distortions of penance, and the pastoral challenge of helping people see repentance not as a terror but as a mercy. Repentance doesn’t merely involve feeling guilty—it involves embracing Christ, turning from sin, and tasting the joy that accompanies renewal. They also discuss what a repentant church culture looks like: a community marked by humility, honesty, grace, and a shared approach to the Lord’s Table as those who come on equal footing—sinners saved by a gracious Redeemer." from the video introduction

0:00:07 Introduction 0:10:03 Background to the Book 0:16:22 Reframing Our Understanding of Repentance 0:20:39 The Joy of Repentance 0:24:35 The Reformed Confessions on Repentance 0:37:17 Psalms 38 and 143 0:43:26 Bearing Fruit in Keeping with Repentance 0:48:15 Distinguishing Fruits of Repentance from Acts of Penance 0:53:28 Illustrations of Repentance 1:00:41 Exodus 24, Covenant, and the Repentant Community 1:06:45 Hope for Readers of This Book 1:12:06 Conclusion

#extraordinarygod