“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matt. 3:8 ESV)
Repentance: To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for something one has done or left undone. Especially, to experience such sorrow for sin as produces amendment of life; be grieved over one's past life, and seek forgiveness; be penitent. More commonly the translation is "turn" or "return." Two requisites of repentance are "to turn from evil, and to turn to the good." Most critical theologically is the idea of returning to God, or turning away from evil.
John the Baptist preached repentance
“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark. 1:4 ESV)
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matt. 3:11 ESV)
Jesus preached repentance
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17 ESV)
“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32 ESV)
“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3 ESV)
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7 ESV)
Peter preached repentance
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 ESV)
Paul preached repentance
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent…” (Acts 17:30 ESV)
God's patience and kindness is meant to lead you to repentance
“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4 ESV)
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)
Jesus calls the church to repentance and gives a warning
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Rev. 2:5 ESV)
“Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” (Rev. 3:3 ESV)
God calls His people to repentance and gives a promise
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14 ESV)
Therefore…
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Prov. 28:13 ESV)
“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19 ESV)
Quotes:
“There is no repentance where a man can talk lightly of sin, much less where he can speak tenderly and lovingly of it.” - Charles H. Spurgeon
“It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, "Wait on time.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
“Deep sorrow does not come because one has violated a law, but only if one knows he has broken off the relationship with Divine Love. But there is yet another element required for regeneration, the element of repentance and reparation. Repentance is a rather dry-eyed affair; tears flow in sorrow, but sweat pours out in repentance. It is not enough to tell God we are sorry and then forget all about it. If we broke a neighbor's window, we would not only apologize but also would go to the trouble of putting in a new pane. Since all sin disturbs the equilibrium and balance of justice and love, there must be a restoration involving toil and effort. To see why this must be, suppose that every time a person did wrong he was told to drive a nail into the wall of his living room and every time that he was forgiven he was told to pull it out. The holes would still remain after the forgiveness. Thus every sin after being forgiven leaves “holes” or “wounds” in our human nature, and the filling up of these holes is done by penance, a thief who steals a watch can be forgiven for the theft, but only if he returns the watch.” - Fulton J. Sheen
