Proverbs 28:13
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
What mankind expresses outwardly only fools other people. God desires truth in the inward parts. Baby kissing politicians are an excellent allegory of this concept. The same politician publicly kissing the cheek of a six month old infant, thinks nothing of voting for a six month pre-born infant to be killed in the womb.
Psalm 51:6
Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
God commands ALL men everywhere to repent.
Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Sinners must repent before we can become the recipients of salvation by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Once saved, we must practice repentance so that we may enjoy unbroken fellowship with God. Someone once said – “I repented before I understood the meaning of the word, but since then as a Christian I have repented many times.”
Job 42:1-6
42 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
2 I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech Thee, and I will speak: I will demand of Thee, and declare Thou unto me.
5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Repentance itself, is a gift from God!
Acts 5:31
Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 11:18
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
The goodness of God is not merited – therefore – the results of His goodness (which is repentance) is a gift.
Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
This gift of repentance is an inward change produced by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God is proclaimed.
Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The result of preaching the Word of God is “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Faith that Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried and that He rose from the dead.
Acts 20:21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
4 And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
Repentance qualifies us for salvation – but it takes faith in christ to acquire it. countless very religious people are aware of their sinfulness – but since they do not fully trust christ for their salvation – they never acquire it. true repentance is always coupled with faith. it is impossible to have saving faith and not repent! “repentance toward god and faith toward our lord Jesus Christ” are essential and inseparable in salvation.
Faith without repentance is the ultimate hypocrisy – and repentance without faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is folly and futility.
The Vine Vigil 