We repent by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ. When we truly repent, then we can testify how God brought us to that point. That is to say, it is the goodness of God that leads us to repent (Romans 2:4).
Regeneration and repentance are inseparable. Regeneration is the work of God's Spirit changing our hearts. Repentance is our response to God's work in our hearts. At one time we had no desire to repent. There was delight in sin and no desire to change our lives. However, we repent when the Holy Spirit convicts us (John 16:8-11; Acts 2:37-39).
We repent turning by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38;16:31;17:30). The ability to do so is by looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ, to do in us what we could never do for ourselves. (Hebrews 12:2). Repentance is a change of mind that changes our lives (Romans 12:2). We turn from the old life to new life in Christ.
We repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is our response to the gospel by the grace of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of grace moving within us, there would be no desire to repent. God's Spirit convicts and enables us to repent, turning to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith (2 Timothy 2:25).
