A Penitent People: The Doctrine of Repentance

A Penitent People: The Doctrine of Repentance

In this refreshing exploration of a frequently misunderstood spiritual discipline, Harrison Perkins invites Christians to reconsider repentance not as a dreary obligation, but as a joyful gift of grace.

With theological depth and pastoral sensitivity, Perkins shows how repentance is about freedom--Christ freeing His people from sin’s enslaving power.

Drawing from Scripture and Reformed tradition, A Penitent People illuminates repentance as both personal posture and communal practice. Through thoughtful examinations of key biblical passages, Perkins demonstrates that genuine repentance flows from faith, propels us toward Christ, and transforms both individuals and churches.

This book challenges common misconceptions, showing that repentance isn’t about earning God’s favor but experiencing the freedom Christ purchased. Rather than focusing on guilt, Perkins emphasizes how repentance allows believers to enjoy the ’twofold benefit’ of Christ--justification and progressive sanctification.

Perfect for pastors, students, and everyday Christians seeking to deepen their spiritual life, A Penitent People offers a biblical vision of repentance that liberates rather than burdens--inviting readers to discover the sweet relief of turning from sin to embrace the goodness of God.

Harrison Perkins (PhD, Queen’s University Belfast) is pastor at Oakland Hills Community Church (OPC), Senior Research Fellow at the Craig Center for the Study of the Westminster Standards, associate online faculty in church history at Westminster Theological Seminary, visiting faculty at Birmingham Theological Seminary, visiting lecturer in systematic theology at Edinburgh Theological Seminary, and author of ’Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction’.