Biblical explanation
John the Baptist preached, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (). Jesus preached the same fundamental message: “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (). Repentance is therefore not merely feeling bad. Paul distinguishes godly sorrow from worldly sorrow in . Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation. David's prayer in demonstrates genuine repentance. He acknowledges his sin, asks God for cleansing, and asks for a renewed heart. Repentance also produces fruit. John the Baptist told people to “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (). This does not mean a person must make himself perfect before coming to Christ. Rather, coming to Christ includes a willingness to turn from known sin and submit to God's transforming work. summarizes the biblical pattern: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”
In brief
John the Baptist preached, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” ().
Bible references
Go deeper into this topic Saved by Grace: Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Start the studyThis answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.