What is true repentance?

Repentance is a change of attitude or behavior of feeling sorrow of personal sin and

turning to Christ for forgiveness and to be delivered from the burden of sin or the fear of
judgment of Hell. It is the total surrender of self to Jesus Christ. It is the willingness to give up sin
and to seek Jesus Christ.

I believe there is no conversion without repentance. And I have a great testimony of this
fact. I was one who believed in Jesus Christ. I had faith in Christ but I had no repentance.
Therefore, no true conversion.

For one to become fully regenerated one must repent and believe. You can’t repent
without believing and you can’t believe without repenting. Repentance and belief are separate
of each other but must occur simultaneously.

It other words a popular phrase is said that repentance and faith are two sides of the
same coin. That coin is called conversion. Repentance is the turning away from sin to Christ, and
faith or belief embraces Him as the only hope of salvation. This is conversion.

I do believe many churchmen that are professing themselves to be converted Christians

are simply not because they have no repentance in their heart. Anyone can believe, James says
that devils believe and tremble. But the devils have no repentance.

Characteristics of Repentance

Someone who is truly repenting continues to grow in repentance. Repentance is not a

onetime deal. In the same way when Christians ask God for more faith. We to must ask for more
repentance. Repentance is the continuous change of mind to seek Christ.

When a person becomes in repentance that person sees himself as God sees him. In
other words you start to see yourself the same way God sees you. You start to become
consciousness of your helplessness, (Psalms 51:11, 109:21,22) your guilt, (Psalms 51:4,9) your
contamination. (Psalms 51:5, 7, 10) Repentance is a growth just like faith.

In repentance you start to get a true sense of guilt in which results in a hatred of sin. As
you turn to God the sin that you once loved you now have a hatred for it. You desire it no more.
You desire righteousness.

Repentance can only come from God. In the same way Faith can only come from God.
When we pray we should ask for more repentance and faith. Not just faith. I believe when we
pray for others for their conversion or for God to save them. We must ask God to give the saving
faith and the gift of repentance. Repentance and faith are gifts from God and must be granted
from God.

Feb. 12, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen