Repentance is to be preached in the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

(Acts 20:21) “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Sinners must be made aware in the preacher’s message of Grace in Christ Jesus, that Repentance is a must in the sinner (a change from the old man and his lusts, to the new man and his fruit unto holiness).

It must be preached that Repentance is not “worked up” by the sinner’s efforts, but is given to him by the Spirit of God in the Regeneration Process. Its fruit is proof that God has placed in the sinner, faith.

This is a perception that Christ is God; that the sinner’s hope is in Christ and in Him alone. He is a new creature; he no longer loves sin, but now he hates sin and its deeds.

The sinner comes to confess it is now his desire to turn from the lusts of the flesh and turn to the fruit of Holiness of God. This is proof that God now has made a change in the sinner’s mind; that now the sinner is ashamed of his sin and his sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. The sinner is so ashamed of his old sinful ways, that he cries out to God for mercy. He comes to see Christ is his Hope of Glory, and he confesses the same.

A Gospel Message of Jesus is not a complete Message of Grace unless the preacher tells the quickened sinner the must of Repentance; which is proof that God’s mighty Power of Grace is working in the sinner’s heart.

It is a must, this change (180 degrees) from sin to holiness. There can be no Confession without Repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ.

The sinner comes to say:

I am sorry for my sin; it is my sin against You, and only You, God. I am ashamed and I confess my wrong. However, I know now (by Faith; or by Christ, who is The Faith) that it was Christ (who is God in the flesh), my Substitute, my Sacrifice, and my Savior, that paid my sin debt in His Atonement on the Cross from 12 noon to 3 pm, when He was eternally separated from God (from Himself, since He is God; a mystery of all mysteries).

This Eternal Separation paid the sinner’s sin debt, spiritual death, which the sinner could never pay. This Atonement by Christ paid the debt; Redeemed, Reconciled, and Justified the sinner (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24-25; 5:1-2).

(Ephesians 1:7) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

(Romans 3:24-25) “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

(Romans 5:1-2) “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Therefore, because of the sinner’s Repentance toward God, and his faith (or perception) toward Jesus Christ (God in the flesh; the sinner’s Substitute, Sacrifice, and Savior) – he comes to confess his Salvation is in Christ and in Him alone.

So, Repentance is a Must in the journey from quickening to birth, or conversion; which is evidenced by the sinner’s confession (Romans 10:9-10).

Without Repentance, there is no spiritual life in the sinner.

Without Repentance, the sinner is still dead (spiritually dead) in sins and trespasses. The sinner is not alive, but dead.

Without Repentance and proof of “works meet for repentance,” the sinner’s confession is only words of the flesh and not of the spirit.

Without Repentance, his works are dead, for his faith is dead. He is only a professor of the Spirit of God in his words; he is not a possessor of the Spirit of God in his heart.

Without Repentance, the sinner may make a public profession by mouth and by water baptism; go to church every time the door is open the rest of his life; tithe; love the preacher; be a good moral person – and yet he is still dead in sins and trespasses, and is lost.

Reader, do you have True Repentance? Do you have fruits that manifest True Repentance in your attitude and action? If not, you are lost and dead in sins and trespasses.

What must be done? (Acts 2:38-41) “Repent,” Change, Turn to Christ; Confess Him as Christ and Lord.

You will know by your fruits if you have True Repentance.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,” (Galatians 5:19)

“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,” (Galatians 5:20)

“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” (Galatians 5:22)

“Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:23)