528. VI. Real repentance is examining oneself, recognising and acknowledging one's sins, appealing to the Lord and beginning a new life.

There are in the Word many passages and plain sayings of the Lord which establish that the act of repentance is definitely required, and a person's salvation depends upon it. The following quotations will serve for the present.

John preached the baptism of repentance and said, Produce fruit worthy of repentance, Luke 3:3, 8; Mark 1:4.

Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, Matthew 4:17.

And He said, Repent, because the kingdom of God is at hand, Mark 1:14-15.

Again:

Unless you have repented, you will all perish, Luke 13:5.

Jesus told his disciples that they should in His name preach to all nations repentance and the forgiveness of sins, Luke 24:47; Mark 6:12.

Therefore Peter preached repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, Acts of the Apostles 2:38. Peter also said:

Repent and be converted, so that your sins may be wiped out for you, Acts of the Apostles 3:19.

Paul preached to all everywhere that they should repent, Acts of the Apostles 17:30.

Paul also announced in Damascus, in Jerusalem, throughout the whole district of Judaea, and to the gentiles, that they should repent, turn towards God and do deeds worthy of repentance, Acts of the Apostles 26:20.

He also preached both to Jews and to Greeks repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts of the Apostles 20:21.

The Lord told the church in Ephesus:

I hold it against you that you have abandoned your first love. Repent; otherwise, I will remove your lampstand from its place, if you have not repented, Revelation 2:2, 4-5.

He told the church in Pergamum:

I know your deeds. Repent, Revelation 2:13, 16.

He told the church in Thyatira:

I will hand it over to affliction, if it has not repented of its deeds, Revelation 2:19, 22-23.

He told the church of Laodicaea:

I know your deeds. Be zealous, and repent, Revelation 3:15, 19.

He also said:

There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, Luke 15:7.

There is more elsewhere. It is plain from these passages that the act of repentance is definitely required; it will be shown in the following sections what kind of repentance, and how it is to be effected.