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To the editor:
A subject we hear either nothing or very little about in churches is repentance. So I believe it would be safe to say that most attendees of churches today know nothing of what true repentance toward God really is.
When Jesus began His ministry in Israel He did not plead for them to open their hearts and ask Him in. He commanded them to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:14-15).
So then what is true repentance? It is a change of the heart and turning from sin and turning to God. It is having sorrow for sin and acknowledgement and confession of our sin. It is rejecting our self righteousness and being obedient to God throughout our lives.
How do we become repentant? We repent by the working of the Holy Spirit changing our hearts of stone to hearts of flesh (Ezek.36:26-27) and giving us the desire and the ability to serve God. Repentance is a gift from God (Acts.11:18;2, Tim.2:25) as is the faith giving to us to trust in Christ's atoning work on the cross (Eph.2:8).
"For we are His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."(Eph.2:10).
Jim Batt
Mexico