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Question 23 :: What is repentance?

Answer: 

Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change in action as a believer turns from sin and toward God. 


Children: 

Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change in action. 


Acts 20:21 

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 

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Commentary: 

Repentance is a change or turning of intention from wanting to sin to not wanting to sin. It begins with a change of mind and bears fruit in turning away from sin (Luke 3:8). Biblically, repentance means to turn from sin with a heartfelt desire to change. Christians will fail in our war with our sin (Romans 7:19) but by God’s grace we able to turn to him again and receive forgiveness and cleansing through Christ. The word repent/repentance is used to mean a change of mind in some passages (Matthew  3:2), and as the turning away from sin in others (2 Corinthians. 7:9). These two uses are overlapping as heart change leads to turning from our sin.

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Further Study:

Matthew 3:2, 4:17; Luke 3:8, 5:32, 24:47; Acts 2:38, 5:31, 11:18, 17:30, 20:21, 26:20; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Timothy 2:25; 2 Peter 3:9 

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